Planted out BIG hunks this spring, can I divide now?

12 years ago

Well, I got so busy in the spring that I ended up planted really big HOS (think entire milk jug contents in one hunk) and now I'm kind of regretting it. In particular my coneflowers, sweet William, and balloon flowers look like they need to be pulled apart to stretch their legs -- although they look plenty healthy, just crowded. I think they'd probably be bigger too if they weren't so crunched together. Should I wait until fall to pull them apart and replant, or could I do it now if I'm careful to wait for an overcast, coolish day and water well?

Next year I'm separating out those seedlings, time consuming or not!

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Comments (13)

dorisl
12 years ago
I wouldnt do it now, its been hot and dry and while you may get a cooler day, its just as likely to go back tohot and dry. You can thin out and snip off some of them and leave the strongest in place.....safely
terrene
12 years ago
I am still planting out many seedlings. Just planted a couple grasses yesterday that had been WS'd in 2008! They've been in the pot ghetto for 3 years. Yikes - they were potbound. But I figured better late than never. And they are warm-season grasses, so now is when they are going to grow!

I think you could go ahead and try separating the seedlings, especially if you plant them in partial shade and stay on top of watering daily unless it rains. If they're not thriving in a HOS, they will at least have a chance to grow.

I usually plant WS seedlings singly in little groupings or sweeps, sometimes mixing in between other plants. Some seedlings grow ok in hunk, but in my experience most of them like their space.
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When unleashed in the ground, Sans babies don't come up smushed against the mama plant, but inches away. In tiny pots, the rhizomes get mushed, turned the wrong way, or just might not have room to even try to make a pup. In a pot, you'll find babies going in all directions. They don't do that in the ground where they have space to go where they want. I've not had any troubles with any Sans making babies if they have space to do so. It's also sooo easy to knock Sans over in small pots. The undeserved reputation of being OK with little to no light is a shame. They can sit and wait, but can't grow much or quickly that way. Sans like hot, dry, some sun. Moist, cold, dark = recipe for leaning, rotting, death. Next year I will put some in the shade in the ground also to make that comparison. I predict they will b fine, but those in the sun will outgrow them by a long shot. They are easy except for those who really can't NOT water a plant until it's genuinely dry, or have no windows (or some type of artificial light.) I would repot them now, as long as you don't have to go out in the cold to do it. Don't water right away if the new 'soil' is already moist at all when you do it. Allow soil to warm to room temp if it was outside.
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trudi_d
12 years ago
Wait for cooler weather of early to mid autumn to transplant. Next season, divide your milk jug into smaller portions, like 4ths, 9ths or 12ths, or even smaller--most of my hunks are an inch across or smaller, unless the seedlings are far apart. Also, be realistic about your personal needs and capacities. Try to resist sowing more than you can honestly transplant in your spare time...less is more.

T
drippy
12 years ago
"Also, be realistic about your personal needs and capacities. Try to resist sowing more than you can honestly transplant in your spare time...less is more."

Um, I've been wintersowing - 8? - years, but I keep missing this part.
northforker
12 years ago
Yeah, me too Drippy! Soon as I read it I laughed and thought - WSers should have this Trudy quote blown up on a poster or stitched on our gadrening aprons or something!!!
lceh
Original Author
12 years ago
Well, I cheated last evening and separated one hunk of coneflowers -- I couldn't stand it anymore, and there was a nice steady drizzle and cooler temps so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'll wait on the others until early fall. The balloon flowers are ridiculously crowded, but blooming beautifully.

Yeah, I'm always overly optimistic about next year's garden in the winter. This was my first year WS and I was honestly not expecting such prolific results! Lesson learned for next year.
livsauntieshel
12 years ago
I separated my balloon flowers multiple times before they made it into the ground, and they are still growing all over each other. I had 2 open blooms today!
{{gwi:418076}}From Winter sowing 2011

Thanks gardenweed, these are your seeds!
Ament
12 years ago
Very pretty balloon flowers, I just Love to see what everyone plants! :) Thank you for sharing!

~Tina Marie
gardenweed_z6a
12 years ago
livsauntieshel - thanks for the pic of my grandsprouts!!! I WS Fuji pink balloon flower seeds this year and have 4 pots of healthy seedlings looking for homes. I need more/bigger beds to plant everything I grew via WS last year & this. I've given away several dozen pots of seedlings already but the pot ghetto remains chock full.

I think trudi's quote (above) should be posted in the FAQs in large, red, bold font surrounded by flashing asterisks & exclamation points.
bakemom_gw
12 years ago
I agree that lighter sowing is often more desirable, but I can't resist super heavy sowing. I still have a nice patch of amsonia planted out in the shape of a milk jug bottom. There, the seedlings worked it out themselves.

I can't seem to cull, but ma nature steps in and has my back.
pippi21
12 years ago
Gardenweed..a light went off just a second ago when I read your posted message to livsauntieshel..did you buy the new camera?
christie_sw_mo
12 years ago
Someone posted a link to this youtube video showing a quick way to divide and pot up crowded seedlings and I thought someone might be interested. Of course there's different right ways to do it. Personally, I like to get stuff in the ground but I seem to be having more trouble every year with my seedlings disappearing from slugs and rabbits so this is tempting.
And I have to say I'm very envious of all the potting soil you can see stacked under this guys table. How unfair.

Here is a link that might be useful: Transplanting Video
melvalena
12 years ago
And this is why I posted earlier about my frustration planting tiny seeds, like petunia. :)

I have memories of milk jugs that had been left too long and not being able to separate the plants! Planting hunks did not work for me in my area. We get really hot really early, then its no rain for most of the summer.
All the hunks just died. :(

I've learned this year.. to get in there early and separate those seedlings when very young. :)

Also anything that grows a tap root, try to plant individually to begin with.

Planted out BIG hunks this spring, can I divide now?

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dorisl

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Planted out BIG hunks this spring, can I divide now?

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