VIDEO: Spring gardening season underway across Kelowna

Thursday marked the first official day of spring and nurseries around the valley are busy helping residents establish their gardens.

However, fluctuating temperatures at this time of year can make it difficult to keep various plants alive.

Among the local nurseries open for the season is The Greenery Garden Centre. It had a strong start to the season but slowed down slightly after recent cold temperatures.

So far, some of the favourite plants selected by customers are daffodils, hyacinths and primulas because they’re colourful and among the first to flower.

“People wanna get some colour and some fragrance because they’ve been sitting there in the house, long winter – and that's what they come in here…it’s like fresh air to them,” said The Greenery manager Kirsten Segler before adding that those plants can withstand some frost.

Segler’s recommendation to keep plants looking beautiful throughout the early parts of spring is to keep an eye on the weather.

If the plants are in a planter, you can bring them into a garage if the temperature is expected to dip below -5℃, but he said to not bring the plants inside, as you want them to stay fresh and cool.

While the nursery has had a good start to the season, Segler is excited for when their hanging baskets start getting sold, as he said it’s The Greenery’s “forte.”

“We do 26,000 baskets and… once they start sizing up and showing colour and people start buying them, which is usually towards the end of April, things really pick up, that’s exciting to me,” said Segler.

“Because of all the planning and work that was involved in doing these baskets, it is rewarding to see them go out the door and people are happy to get them. I just love that time.”

If someone is looking to plant something other than flowers at this time of the year, Segler also recommended several hardy vegetables and herbs, including lettuce, broccoli and cabbage, and to get them planted early to beat the bugs.