Safe to Grow Busy Lizzies 2017 ?

The Busy Lizzie plants were decimated around 2010 . It effected plants virtually everywhere in the UK . To some extent they are replaced by the lovey but more expensive New Guinea Impatien. Is it safe to grow BL's from seed in 2017 ?
Two reports . one from The Daily Express - saying OK . I know ! (rolls eyes)
Busy Lizzies are back in business and even better than before says Louise Midgley
And one from the USA saying Not OK ?
Zone Five and a Half: Impatiens 2016 ~~ The Blight is Back

 

It is safe to grow New Guinea Impatiens from seed or buy plugs as they have never suffered from mildew, I had a small empty patch in my exotic bed last year and stupidly bought a 9 pack of common deep red Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana) and within a few weeks they all contracted mildew and died. I had seen some elsewhere in perfect health so it is a risk to grow them.
The New Guineas have been around for over 20 years, I used to grow 1000's for Weymouth Parks Dept although until the turn of the century the common Busy Lizzie never had problems.
I would still steer clear of the common Busy Lizzie. There is no efective cure for the mildew.

 

I will ask one of my favorite nurseries. Too early here to plant anyway, for me to even start thinking about them.

 

Think you are right Strongy , never a good idea to heed the Daily Express reports ! Can you actually grow New Guineas from seed?

To early as well here Redstar . I would have grown some from seed starting early March for planting out in May. But it looks like Busy Lizzies are still high risk with the dreaded downy mildew.

 

Oh I didn't know about this, I've put 2 packets in the seed swap.

 

you can @HarryS but they require more heat to grow on than the normal Busy Lizzies, plugs may be the better way to go but more expensive as the hard work has already been done.

 

@Linz , that is OK if the BL's do get the mildew it can't transfer to other plants . Due to the mildew risk it's probably not worth the time and effort growing from seed.

@strongylodon , I have ordered New Guinea plugs for the past few years , seems the best way to go .

 

still a high risk you say @HarryS Ok been not using them all these years.