Figuring I had about six weeks until it was safe to plant outdoors (Dallas suburb), I started sunflower seedlings the other day. Oh, my! They are 3-5 inches tall, without true leaves yet. I started them in Jiffy pots, and some of them have roots growing out of the mesh and down the length of the tray. The longest one was nine inches sticking out of the mesh.
Are these things going to last until planting time? Do I need to pot them and then transplant? The whole idea of the Jiffy pot was to avoid that!
If you can't tell, I'm a first-time sunflower grower. :)
Sunflower Seedlings Growing FAST
Sunflowers are such fast growers that you really don't need to start them indoors, planting them after danger of frost is over is early enough.
But since you already have them, I think your best bet will be to pot them into larger pots and set them out later, or you could plant them outside and take your chances with frost, trying to protect them if a freeze happens.
I guess it would be your choice, as to the best way to handle them.
Josephine.
josephine and dallas dad--i live near both of you and so have this question--if i am planning on planting tomatos--when is our last frost predicted (i know--should have watched the ground hog :) i have someone kind enough to guide me along and i am trying to give her some info she asked for--also--how would i tell what our present temps are? they just are so crazy!
Hello Linda, I no longer grow tomatoes although I used to be very heavy into vegetable gardening a long time ago.
I am totally dedicated to Texas native plant gardening now, but I refuse to give up my elephant garlic, I do grow it still, but it is a no brainer since it is so hardy, you prepare the bed in October, plant it and it takes care of itself.
As you probably know, we can have frosts around here as late as April, and I have never been one who enjoys running out at night to cover the plants, so I always set my plants out rather late.
I am sure others can be of more help to you on this subject, but here is a link that might be helpful;
http://www.tastefulgarden.com/store/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=7
Our official frost date in the Dallas area 20 March (last spring frost), and 15 November (first fall frost).
In my experience, having been here for 17 years now, we occasionally get nasty freezes up through mid-March, but most of the time if February is warm, that's the real beginning of the growing season. A quick two-hour period of low temperature won't harm many plants (but will kill others).
You can't count on it, though -- for anything that can't stand a frost, wait until 20 March to be safe. Of course, you can always test your luck. We haven't had an ice storm yet this year....
Josephine --
I think I'll try potting some of them. I knew they grew fast, but I had no idea just how fast.
By the way, at what stage of the plant's life do you need to provide support? I noticed that my tallest seedlings seem top-heavy and want to bend already. But they don't even have true leaves yet!
Having lived here all of my 66 years I can attest to the old wives tale of an Easter Spell. Nothing else really matters. Shortly before, during or after Easter we will have "surprise" winter. This year is the earliest it hits the calendar, 03.23.08. Am still a little wary. Remember the nationwide freeze we had last April? Have no success with starting seed inside. Operator trouble. Plagued with damp-off. If mother nature just scatters her seed and they take off, well.
Sunflowers are particularly hardy. Just check out the roadside where the dirt has been disturbed due to construction of some sort...almost always covered with sunflowers. Good luck.
LouC
Sunflowers bend everyday of their lives going in the direction of the sun. You will notice when they are planted outside, they change direction all day. Depends on where you have your light source now.
thanks lou c--and i love the way the sunflowers do that--just turning their heads to catch the rays!
Hmmn. I moved them to be directly under the fluorescents. I'll see if they decide to stand tall instead of wobbling.
I think Lou is right. In 1987 we had 4 inches of snow on April 1. That's unusual, but the last week of March can be pretty cool sometimes.