Warm Weather Means Big Business for Gertens

Spring has sprung early this year, which means that nursery is bringing in an unseasonable amount of green.

March is typically a slow month for the garden center, but the warm weather is drawing customers to the retailer.

"Having an early spring is really good for business," Gertens manager Dale Konetschka told Patch.

As of March 22, Gertens sales for March 2012 were twice those of March 2011. The nursery had also sold $11,530 worth of pansies, compared to no pansy sales the previous March.

Gardeners may be eager to begin planting, but not all their summer favorites are currently available.

Gertens grows their summer annuals, such as tomatoes, peppers, petunias and geraniums, on a calendar. Regardless of the balmy temperatures, the store’s stock of warm weather plants won’t be available until late April or early May.

In fact, Konetschka recommends that gardeners refrain from planting summer annuals until after May 12, which is the Twin Cities’ frost-free date. According to Brian Jensen, an employee in the annuals department at Gertens, the plants are not equipped for freezing temperatures and won’t withstand weather typical for early April.

"Gardener beware," Jensen said, in reference to customers’ desire to plant summer annuals.

Fortunately, there are several more resilient options for gardeners who simply can’t wait to start planting.

Pansies are among the few annuals that can withstand cold. They are currently available, and will likely see a long season, Konetschka said.

Perennials, which are resilient to cooler weather and are safe to plant in mid-April, will be available in the coming weeks.

Gardeners who plant early should be prepared to take special care of their gardens in the event of erratic weather. Annuals should be covered with a sheet or brought indoors if the weather dips below 50 degrees, with the exception of pansies, which can withstand temperatures above 32 degrees.

"Be ready to cover them up," Jensen concluded.