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Can I plant these seedlings out in garden yet?

17 years ago

I know it's only April 29, but I am wondering if the seedlings I have now (lupine, cosmos, zinnias, calendulas, chinese asters, batchelor buttons, marigolds, carnations etc)....can be planted out in the garden yet? Or do I have to wait til it's consistently warmer and they are bigger? Right now they are all very small still. Temps here are ranging 40s-60s, alot of rain lately. Today is a sunshiny day. I'm just so happy to be outside pruning all my rosebushes (can you believe to 3 inches tall?)

Thanks! :0) Phyl

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Comments (6)

sheltieche
17 years ago
Carnations yes, bachelor buttons yes, rest of them is iffy- your last frost day is probably around mine- May 15, so we have to wait till at least Mother's day to plant out tenders.
Some people here do their tenders on Memorial day weekend.
I did planted out bunch of columbines, primulas and foxglove but they are hardy ones.
ccoupkir
17 years ago
I planted out lupines yesterday along with rudbeckias and some prairie grasses. The china asters will probably be fine as well. I'd hold off on the others. I always check weather.com's 10 day forecast and make my decisions from their predicitons. Our 10-day is really very nice this year with lows in the 40Fs at night. Nothing those hardy wsed babies can't handle. I even planted out my toms this weekend!
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I read another post, perhaps on another site, that said newly ground coffee - applied heavily - will keep the slugs/snails at bay. The caffeine (needs to be fresh, not yet used) kills them as they slither through it. I'm on my way to Costco to get their cheapest bag of beans and try it out. I read in the same post that Sluggo kills beneficial bugs too. I used Sluggo last year and it worked well. I'll use it again if the coffee fails.
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bulbs
17 years ago
I agree about the weather - but also have to take advantage of OK weather when I'm not at work. Lots of the weekends have been just plain rain (or worse) and not able to get outside, but this weekend was nice. Was able to get lots of my w/s seedlings out (before this, only bachelor buttons and poppies were dared); but this weekend I got many that were large enuf out - including some of my zinnias. It helps that the area they go is a place just for them - other than tulips that now in full bloom. So the tulips, as they finish, help protect the zinnias as they grow. :-)
phylrae
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, guys...so, my NEXT question is, WHY are these seedlings OK outside inside their cartons and NOT ok outside in the ground? I guess I'm a little "thick!" :0) Phyl
mamimo
17 years ago
Phyl, good question! I'd guess if the plants are still in their jugs, we can shelter them more easily when the temps drop? But I usually plant them out by size anyway. For eg, my cosmos were 4 inches tall and their roots were growing out of the bottom of the milk jugs, so out they went into the bed. So are my poppies and larkspurs. My cleomes look ready to be planted too. On the other hand, the purple coneflowers are tiny and I know the #%@! rabbits love to munch on them, so I'm waiting for the seedlings to get bigger and less tasty.
phylrae
Original Author
17 years ago
Mamino,
Thanks for your explanation! That makes sense. I was thinking along those lines (the possible protection of the jugs/cartons). I hadn't thought of the rabbit thing. I appreciate your input. I hope you have a great growing season there in Indiana! >^..^

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