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Thursday, February 02, 2012  The warm temperatures are leading to premature growth of plants.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009  Unseasonably warm temperatures are causing an itch that growers like Rebekah Cline can't scratch just yet. The co-owner of Rebekah's Garden knows temptation can be costly. "I'm in that position. Haha. I'm ready to plant.  But I know we're going to get hit with another cold," says Cline. Cline used to go by the old rule of thumb which claimed it was safe to plant after March 15th. But the last two years changed her philosophy. In 2007 an Easter freeze killed South Carolina's peach crop. In 2008 farmers and growers took a hit when a march freeze hit strawberries and plants. Now, warm conditions are tempting customers to plant early. Cline says, when to plant, is the hot question at her business. "All the time. Every single day. We just tell them the truth. We don't know for sure. But we think we're going to have another cold spell," says Cline. Before the likely temperature drop, safe plants to buy include perennials, shrubbery, trees and ferns. Cline says to hold off on tender plants, like annuals, impatients and begonias, because they're grown in climate controlled greenhouses. Until mid spring, mother nature is playing a waiting game on cline her customers. "I hope God grants us some beautiful weather so we can plant," says Cline.