A Gardeners Forum Forums Members History Forum Life 2006 when can I put seedlings out?

Just wondering when it is safe? I have moonflower,morning glory and marigolds?
any help?

the safe date is considered to be two weeks after your last frost date. You also want your flowers to have at least one set of true leaves on them and it is probably better if they have two sets on them. Do you know about hardening them off? That's important so you don't loose them to the changes in temperature and light. As well as wind if your in an area like I am.

Thanks th ... I have double leaves on all of them. I am not sure about the safest way to harden them though. Is it best to start out in an open window? or to just put them out and bring them in at night?

Take them outside for an afternoon, then bring them back in at night.

Do that until you're sure you can leave them out.

thanks I did it wrong before.. and boy they died fast!

Me too. One of the things about outside is they don't want to start out in direct sun and you want some shelter from strong winds. I probably said that already. But it bears repeating so I don't forget.

The flowers you mentioned are pretty easy going. Just make sure the temperature doesn't drop on the morning glories while they are outside. They will not put up with that at all. I lost a load of them this year because we have a late frost that I didn't catch and they all died on me grrrrh.

Thanks For the info tk
I was just shocked they even sprouted, with the thick seeds and all.I just left them in the water till they sprouted and stuck them in the dirt bam there they were! Really a lot faster than the ones I just put in dirt. Never tried to hydrate them first!