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How do I deal with seedlings started too early?

arlene_82 (zone 6 OH)

10 years ago

Hi everyone, I collected some seeds last fall and started them far too early this winter. Here is what my seedlings look like today (there are 3 in each pot, getting overcrowded) at 2 months old, and we are still a month out from last frost date here. I ran out of room under my grow lights and I'm thinking of just planting them outside and crossing my fingers. They'll be going next to a paved area in full sun that retains some heat. Or, would it be better to leave them here on the windowsill for at least another week or two? Would appreciate any guidance as I'm a total newbie. Thanks.

Here is the plant the seeds were collected from. No idea what its name is, but I love the peachy orange color and I'm hoping some of its children look similar:

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Comments (3)

nancykvb
10 years ago
Hi Arlene, I'm no expert, but I believe I would leave the seedlings in the house until it's safe to set them outside. Daylily seedlings are tough, when you go to plant them outside, just dump them out of their cups and gently pull the roots apart. Even if all the dirt falls off they will be fine. I have been starting daylilies from seed for 5 years and some times they have to stay in their cups for a really long time, they survive just fine. Hope this helps.
NancyKVB
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shive
10 years ago
Your seedlings are looking fine! On days when it's warm enough, I would take them outside where they could get full sun and start hardening off. Put them in a garage or a shed on nights when frost is espected. Just leave them in their little pots until you're ready to plant in the ground.
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you wouldn't believe how tall they are already ... i just measured them ... the tallest ones are 7 & 1/2" tall! ... not only that, but i dug them up last fall in their original containers; & just let them start up again in the same pots ... *sigh* i have no experience with bulbs; (can you tell!) & there are TEN sprouts in one little 4" sq. pot ... that can't be good, right? ... the 2nd pot has only 5 sprouts ... common sense is now telling me i should have taken them out of their original dirt & then ... idunno ... split them up; or something? ... why oh why didn't i come here & ask questions BEFORE i made this dumb mistake? i just tried to take a picture, but my batteries are dead ... so i will try again later ... thanks from phyl ... who is wondering if she could still separate them at this point without killing them???
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M Bonus
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Hello,

I'm in the same zone as you, and I typically start mine in November/December. Since it's only one more month, I'd recommend trimming the foilage back so that they can be kept under the lights. I've kept mine in much smaller pots with 5-15 seedlings in a pot, and have waited to plant in the fall before. (Mind you, I lost a few from doing that before)

If you would rather them be outside, I'd recommend covering them at night with a frost blanket. For the first week, you might just want to take them out in the morning (when it is warm) to someplace shady and in at night to harden them off.
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