Brief seed starting summary needed....

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hpluver Canadaigua, NY(Zone 6b) Jan 17, 2004

Can anyone give me some info, I have done tomatoes in the past but I want to start my Sunflowers inside this year. What's the best way to do this? Soak-Soil-Sun?

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Badseed Hillsboro, OH(Zone 6a) Jan 17, 2004

I do not start sunflowers inside because they grow so darned fast! A friend gave me some once that she had started inside and without them having had enough light, they were sort of snaky from trying to get light. I'm not trying to discourage you, just sort of an FYI. They do bloom here in late summer if sown in late spring.

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Horseshoe Efland, NC(Zone 7a) Jan 17, 2004

hp...I've started them quite a few times in pots and cell packs. (I sell quite a few at the market.)

They germinate fairly quickly so don't start them too soon before your 'setting out' time. I don't soak them first, just put them in moist WARM potting soil and keep them warm.

What kind do you have, by the way?

(And a big welcome to DG!!)

Post #755819
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Dea Frederick, MD(Zone 6a) Jan 17, 2004

If they're a specific type you have of just 50 or less, I'd start them inside - maybe in early March. If it's a bunch, I'd wait and do them in ground after the first frost. All of the above is great info :)

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eweed Everson, WA(Zone 8a) Jan 20, 2004

Last year I did a couple hundred inside and didnt have any problems with them getting leggy but I use a metal halide light on a light rail.

I also planted a thousand or so by both broad casting and using an earthway seeder with the corn plate I soaked these seed acouple of hours and both grew well enough that I thinned them by hand and with a rake.

As an experiment I soaked a handfull in water let them drain a bit and put them in a ziplock bag untill they began to sprout and that worked eaisest of all. No guess if it would come up and no work involved transplanting. I have a friend who fixes his cucumbers that way with good success.

By the way my tame Bob White quail love the sun flowers The thousand lot was from seed I took out of the black oil sunflower seed that I feed the little wild birds. They grow about four feet high and I plant the bigger types through out and they grow up through making for a very cheerful spot.

In the fall after the birds have had the fallen seed I take a tractor tiller to clean up the mess because it is just to much to do by hand.

I do get a few that come on their own from last year seed and they flower with ease. These come early and are sometimes killed by the early hard frost but they seem to be able to take a little spring frost.

I would say you can grow which way you prefer and you will get flowers. Given a preference if I was growing trans plants I would rather have smaller later than early leggy ones. Ernie

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