As Central New York braces for a potential frost late Monday night through early Tuesday morning, local gardeners are advised to proceed with caution. Tim Ballantyne, co-owner of Ballantyne Gardens in Liverpool, said now is the right time to plant despite the fluctuating spring temperatures.
“People are excited. It was been a long hard winter. We want to get our hands in the dirt,” said Ballantyne.
While the region has experienced heavy rainfall, Ballantyne noted that gardeners are finding opportunities to work in their gardens. “We just kind of get through this period. We haven’t had anything disastrous yet,” he said.
Ballantyne emphasized the importance of having a protection plan for frost, especially for those who have already started planting. “It’s full steam ahead particularly if people are doing raised bed vegetable gardening,” he said. Raised beds offer advantages such as faster drainage and warming, leading to a better yield.
“We just got to be smart. If you plant it and you’re concerned, be able to protect it. Otherwise, really it looks like we’re gonna be okay,” Ballantyne advised.
He also recommended using native plants, which are better suited to handle local weather conditions. Despite the challenges, Ballantyne remains optimistic about the planting season. “Nobody wants to be getting wet out in their garden, but I think in the end when we look at our harvest, we’re all gonna be happy,” he said.