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Growing from Seed

Started too soon. Start over?

Chris Reher, z5b

5 years ago

Hi

Well, with the promise of an early spring and generally unable to wait, I started my seedlings too early. (Don't say it) Zone 5 Ontario.

I have just one flat under a small growing light (the Jiffy kit)

Now the roots are out of room and my amaranthus is flopping over. The zinnas are okay as I've pinched them back but I'm actually seeing flower buds! These are supposed to be the giant sort that I never seem to find in the nurseries. I added soil around the jiffy pods but this still isn't great.

So now what? I have a small cold frame outside (plastic over metal bars, visible behind that chair) but it's currently 45F and no hope of getting warmer for another week or two.

Should I scrap this and start over? I'm especially keen on growing amaranthus this summer for some reason. My window space is limited, with really just one south-facing window available.

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Comment (1)

dowlinggram
5 years ago
Repot them in larger pots. Set them out in the cold frame in the day and bring them in in the night. If the sun is shining open the cold frame a bit to let out excess heat. You might even have to do this on a cloudy day. Cold frames and greenhouses tend to heat up fast with the sun and even on a cloudy day with the sun peeping out a little will make it too hot.

It can be slightly below freezing out side but with the sun it will be 80 degrees in my greenhouse and I'm heating a lot more space than a cold frame. Make sure no part of any plant touches the plastic.

Next year time your plants better. You don't want them doing all their blooming in their pots and shutting down mid summer because they've had their bloom time. Better to have a plant ready to bloom when you set them out than have them bloom too early.

If you have the seed you could start more so that when these stop blooming you'll have replacements
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