Mold Threatens Long Island Gardens

John Mitty Friday, May 10, 2013

For the past couple of years, gardeners on Long Island have been struggling with mold problems.  The watery mold which has taken hold in the soil of so many gardens on the island is particularly deadly to impatiens, one of the most popular annual plants which gardeners can buy.  Impatiens are beautiful, colorful flowers, and are generally a best-seller at garden centers.  This year however, many garden centers are actually displaying signs advising their customers not to bother purchasing impatiens because they will only die once they are planted. 

The mold, called downey mildew, remains in the soil for two to three years, which means that mildew which settled in the soil last year will continue to harm plants this year and next.  It will take a couple of years for it to die off and for it to be worthwhile to plant impatiens once again.  The mildew is particularly deadly to plants during the spring and summer months, since the heat causes the mildew to thrive.  Garden centers and nurseries are advising customers to instead consider begonias or New Guinea impatiens, which look similar to the flowers that are killed by the mildew, but which offer higher levels of resistance.

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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