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Growing from Seed

started seeds and can't put them in the ground yet...help!

14 years ago

My daughter and I started sunflower seeds, pole beans, morning glories, and herbs inside a few weeks ago. They are all about 3-6" now and still in their tiny 1" pots. We just unexpectedly sold our home and won't be able to move until June 4th. Do you think the plants will be able to make it that long inside or do I need to plant them somewhere asap? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

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Comments (4)

oilpainter
14 years ago
You have some mighty big plants to try and keep for another month and then transplant. By that I mean big at maturity. Then you will probably have to prepare a place to put them so it may be longer. They will be large when you go to transplant them. The herbs should be all right but you should get them into bigger pots. Perhaps a large one 18 inch one will hold them all. Then you can transplant the perennials into the ground in the fall.

Another idea is to consult the people you are buying the house from. Perhaps they will let you plant them before you move.

Whatever you do they really need to be in bigger pots right now
sarahbarah27
14 years ago
You could re-pot them as oilpainter said, into 4 inch pots. Then, when they out grow those pots you could put them in larger decorative containers, that way you can move them with you. I'm not sure about the pole beans though.
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I do it because I get unusual plants/exotic colors only catalog seeds can give me. I do it because I like doing it. Yes, you can get earlier bloom with some plants. With others (like cosmos and zinnia) I find they do best planted directly outside. You learn from experience. Lately (after doing it for 30 years) it's become a bit of a chore so I stopped doing seeds that need to be started before March 1st and buy those plants in the nursery. I use an 8 tray light setup with two shop lights next to each other on each level, each light with one ordinary 40 watt tube and one full spectrum tube. Keep a list of when each plant needs to be started (by weeks before last frost), keep the lights no more than an inch from the plants, and always have a fan or slightly open window in the plant room to prevent fungus. Try to water from the bottom and without soaking the top of the soil. Have as much fun with this and go nuts obsessing over whatever you feel comfortable with. Rewmember, it's for pleasure!
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when can I put them in the ground?
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Sets are very small bulbs that can be planted as soon as the ground dries out enough to be workable. Like right now in zone 5. You can find them in any garden center or farm supply place, either white, red or yellow. I plant them about an inch apart and pull alternate ones for green onions as soon as they are big enough to use. The rest will turn into regular onions and can be pulled during the summer or stored for winter use.
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Can I put them in the ground?
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Comments (2)
I agrre with pellie grower. I've heard that perennials can actually be transplanted all year round, if they get proper care after. Be sure to keep them well watered before hard freeze of winter, as dry roots can not handle freeze well. With 4 weeks to go, they will get a good start.
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too late to start seeds? when to put plants in ground?
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Comments (3)
No definitely not! I am just starting my annual and vegetable seeds this weekend and through April 15th. I live near the NH border. I put my plants out Memorial Day weekend. If you were planning to start perennials the earlier the better if you want them to bloom the first year. Usually they take two seasons to get established. Biggest mistake is people start them too early and the plants are leggy and weak by the time they put them out. Investigate the winter sowing if you don't have space inside.
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nygardener
14 years ago
I'd move them to 4" pots now, then to 6" pots if they outgrow those. Individual pots are better than putting them together in a big planter and then having to untangle their roots. But I like oilpainter's idea of asking the people who are selling you their house.

Keep them outdoors in at least 6 hours of sun daily. The plants will get leggy and be useless if they don't get plenty of sun and cool overnight temps ... but small pots can dry out easily. If you can't be home to water them on warm days, you can bury the pots in a garden bed up to the rim, and lift them every day or two to make sure the roots don't grow through the drainage holes.
percystash
13 years ago
I suppose the big question is whether or not the June 4th move will be to a place where they can go into the ground. What you really want to aim for is to reduce the number of times that you transplant but at the same time get them out of the pots they are in now. The current pots are far to small and will negatively impact future transplants if you leave them much longer. If you are unsure then go for the 6' pots. You can always leave them in there even after you move to a more permanent location until the plants are ready for another transplant. Try to keep them well watered in the meantime to discourage additional root development.

Here is a link that might be useful: Irrigation Equipment

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