I think I started them a bit too early... now they are starting to get unruly. We are having temps in the 50s at night now (but last average frost isn't until mid may, it would ruin most of my garden.. we are a month ahead on everything this year). When can I get these guys in the ground?
I'm not really sure for your zone, but it could be another month at least. They are going to start to grow really fast now too. You may want to get three 1 gallon pots and pot a couple in each pot with some stakes just to keep them from breaking the branches too. Then when you are ready, just transplant them.. if you plan on keeping them in containers, maybe use the containers you have planned for them and keep them inside near a sunny window. Hopefully someone in your zone will come along and give their insight on this.
How much light are they going to need.. in gallon pots there is no way I can keep them all under the lights I use. They are intended to cover a chainlink fence and protect my pawpaw seedlings which can't handle direct sun their first year.
If you "have" to put them out before your last frost, have a few empty 3-liter bottles ready in case of a frost or freeze. You can cut the bottom off, take off the lid, and twist the bottle an inch into the soil. The bottle will act like a greenhouse and provide some insulation . . . that worked for me on the freezing nights here, but like Gourd said, someone from your zone may have different insight.
If you were going to plant them next to a chain link fence, then if there is a frost advisory you can easily cover them with plastic or a tarp. Lay it over the fence on both sides and it won't squish them.
Do you have a big living room window? I have all of mine in front of windows and have had them there almost a month now, they get nothing but sunlight that comes in thru the windows. I open the windows during the day or put the fan on for circulation, but close it at the end of the day. Just so they are not in the dark all the time. Also, if you have your growing lights on, I even used sheets/dark blankets to leave the lights on at night with the blankets over the stakes, which are at least 5 ft tall, but with your moonvines, you will have to twine the branches often so that they stay inside and the blankets don't break them.
I think tommorow I will divide them into 2 groups.. one I will plant outside and used some plastic to cover them at night, and the other I will pot into 1 gallon peat pots.. that way if the ones outside fail, I have a backup plan.
good question and good answers as I have the same situation.
They go crazy so fast! I'm ready to do my whole night garden right now!
These moons are all tangled together already and I'm glad I have this problem.
It's a good problem to have, esp. if you have some seeds left in those Moon Packs!
Now is too soon to put out moonflowers in your zone. The soil is too cold and they'll either be checked or just sit there until the soil warms up. And God forbid you should have a light freeze before your last frost date. They'd be toast. Do you have a sunny window/sliders you could put them in front of for a couple of weeks?
Mine were planted end of March - I've had them on the covered shelving unit outside for 2 weeks now - taking them out on days when the temps are higher. This is my first year growing them from seed - so I'm thinking of waitng another week or two before putting them in the ground.
A - what night time temp low do you go by for them?
up in the mid-50's at least, it may stunt them a little at first, but they will survive.
This message was edited Apr 27, 2008 10:02 AM
Help! I have tried to plant Morning Glories from seed directly outdoors in front of a ho;;owed out old tree. Hoping they would use it as a trellis. I planted late April and get small plants, seedlings, but they seem to die off and not grow. This year I put in Miricale Grow potting mix, potting soil and peat moss mixed and planted lots of seed. Same result a few seedlings but they don't seem to be growing very well.
if they're japanese (I Nils) they really need warmth. It's always good to start them inside in peat pots and then harden them out for a few days, then plant them out when night temps have warmed to about 60 - 65. If they're regular MGs they'll grow when it gets warm. good luck.
