Direct sowing seeds vs. starting M.glories indoors.

Hello:Do you think starting m.glorys indoors bloom faster than direct sown m.glories?

Those in warmer climates are better off sowing in the ground in my opinion.. it seems that the seeds that reseeded and were grown in the ground in CA bloomed alot quicker and alot more in my HO..

I've grown several varieties in pots that I started in JAN and NO BLOOMS yet in this zone.. lol.. well, one and it did not open all the. way.

All the pots that are near windows getting natural sunlight are the ones with buds on mine.. the ones with artificial light seem to have some buds too, but not as many. I think it would also depend on the variety you are growing, some seem to bud faster.

I hope someone else with more expierence gives a response here.

I have seldom grown MG's but I've always heard they do not like to be transplanted.

They will transplant well if grown in peat pots that you can plant the whole thing, or a pot that can be removed without disturbing the roots.

My opinion is that one can get blooms earlier (I'm not sure about faster!) by starting the seedlings indoors just early enough to have plants with about four true leaves ready to transplant outside in the ground after the local last frost date. You may get faster post transplant growth and blooms even earlier by transplanting into larger outside pots. Particularly if the ground is very slow to warm up.

The fastest I have experienced from seed to flower has been from seeds sown in our late summer. This plant bloomed 34 days later...details here: http://davesgarden.com/journal/j/viewentry/103228/

I start my MGs in 16 oz styrofoam cups and have observed no problems transplanting the plants from these directly into the ground. Many of the plants are root bound and I do not disturb the roots. I just plant them in well loosened soil with good results.

Arlan

darius . . .

I have never had any problems transplanting Morning Glories. The only problem I have is if I accidentally break the vine, but no problem as far as actually moving the plants. Many times I start my seeds in flats and space my germinated seeds a couple or so inches apart until they have a couple or more sets of true leaves. When I am ready to plant them in the ground, I gently scoop them out with a fork. I also give them a feeding of weak fish emulsion when I plant them, and about a week later a feeding of regular mixed fish emulsion.

When I germinate my VERY RARES, I do plant them in individual Styrofoam cups as Arlan and others do. If I only grew a few MG's, I'm sure I wouldn't plant them as I do now in a flat, but when you plant LOTS of MG's, who has the time to mess with hundreds of Styrofoam cups -when I can transplant them with no problems.

I also many times plant about 4 germinated MG seeds in a 5” container until they are ready to go in the ground that works great too.

Just sharing what I do so those who think that Morning Glories can not be transplanted will know that THEY CAN.

Emma

MG Vines grown in a container that are now ready to be transplanted in the ground.

Okay, I stand corrected, LOL.

Thanks!for all the Great!advice from everyone.

Seems that I also read that mg's didn't like to be transplanted. I'm glad to know that it can be done sucessfully. That gives me courage to try it. Thanks.

I'm sure counting on my MG's not minding being transplanted. I've started lots of them indoors since about mid March. Interestingly, only my Flying Saucers have buds, although I have given a number of them away, so perhaps some of them have buds too.

MG's can be direct sowed here, but I understand from members of our local Hort. Society that they don't do well. Could be our cool summer nights, our relatively short growing season, or any number of reasons I suppose.

I won't be transplanting my MG's out for probably another two weeks. I want to make sure we're safely past any risk of hard frost. There is even chance of snow in our weather forecast tonight for heaven's sake! In about a week, I hope to move the MG's outside to start acclimatizing them.

Joanne

I have pulled some of these vines up like they were weeds and transplanted them and they made it just fine. I think one helpful idea is immediate water and sheild for a few days from direct sun.

Keeping the vines well watered for several days prior and several days after transplanting is best...transplant preferably in the early evening(after the sun wanes a bit) and shield from direct sun with burlap or some other temporary shield...

I've transplanted MG's at every stage from seedlings to large mature vines that I've completely unwound from off of chainlink fences and re-wound onto a different chainlink fence...and I've never had any difficulty transplanting...

I think it is a myth that MG's are 'hard to transplant'...
perhaps if someone doesn't follow what might be taken for granted as 'common gardening sense'...but even if the roots are severely disturbed >as long as the vines are kept very well watered there should be no problems...

Have Fun(!)...

TTY,...

Ron