Chilly weather driving down plant sales, say Calgary greenhouses

Rising temperatures in May usually bring gardeners flooding back to Calgary's greenhouses to load up for another growing season.

But this year, some garden centres say chilly conditions are making it more difficult to sell their stock of annual plants.

At Glow GardenCentres in Calgary and other Alberta locations, retail plant sales are down about 25 per cent for the month, according to retail manager Daryl Driegen.

"It's definitely created a bit of a stall in the industry," he said.

"If you're looking in the greenhouse, we're normally much further through our crops. We're crossing our fingers and hoping."

Environment Canada data shows average temperatures in Calgary this May are on track for a five-year low.

Daily temperatures have averaged 9.2 C this month. Daily lows have averaged 3.5 degrees.

Driegen said many annuals (plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season) need overnight lows to stay above five degrees to survive.

Calgary's recent near-freezing nighttime lows have kept gardeners from picking up fresh begonias or marigold flowers, he says.

"Seventy per cent of our year's sales are in the month of May," said Driegen.

"So when it doesn't sell through the way you're used to and it drags into June, it becomes challenging."

Foot traffic and sales have also slowed at the Cobblestone Garden Centre in Calgary, according to owner TriciaKatelnikoff.

She says currenteconomic conditions are also straining the industry.

"A lot of Albertan families are having a challenge with their monthly costs of living," Katelnikoff said.

"We really moved into food production, and we're really trying to offer up edible plants like tomatoes for so many of the families that are really looking close to their budget."

Dialling back on annuals for more fruits and vegetables has helpedCobblestonemanage the industry-wide challenges, Katelnikoff said.

Gardeners wait for warmth

Calgary Horticultural Society program co-ordinator Michelle Edworthy said fewer gardeners have been spending time in her community garden this spring, due to the cold and rainy nights.

"I think everyone's on this holding pattern where we have a few things planted, but not as much as we've had in previous years," said Edworthy.

"People are afraid things are going to rot or wash away or that it won't be warm enough."

Both Edworthy and Driegen are optimistic interest will pick back up when sunny skies and warmer weather return.

Environment Canada is forecasting higher temperatures, with overnight lows above five degrees for the first part of next week.