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Lock down novice: When can seedlings be put outside?

joannekentsmithjoannekentsmith Posts: 42
in The potting shed
Hi there, I have managed to grow some flower seeds inside the house in recycled food trays,  all of them are approx 1.5" tall now so I've potted them on into larger pots. Do I need to still keep them inside the house (window sills are very cluttered now) or could any of them go outside into a fairly sheltered courtyard to grow on before planting into the main garden beds when they're a little bigger? I've grown:
Aubrieta 
Cosmos purity
Perennial sweetness
Viola and
Zinnia
Tomatoes - though I understand these should stay indoors for another month?
Thank you in advance for any help 
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Posts

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Mine, quite a few similar to yours, get potted on, probably a pot the size of the ones in your pictures,tomatoes have already been potted on, they have gone into a greenhouse, having been placed outside in the days while its been warm.At the end of May I will be leaving them outside overnight to harden off, then they will go out, and I live in the SE UK near the Souith Downs, and only 10 minutes by car from the sea.You could get or make a cold frame, or one of those tiny platic covered greehouses.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Unfortunately - they've been potted on too soon.  :/
    Only one in that first pic has even started getting a proper set of leaves. 
    I think you'll probably lose quite a few before they get outside. 

    I don't know what plant 'perennial sweetness' is, but I wouldn't be putting any of those outside, regardless of how warm it might seem. They're tiny.
    If you can find other windowsills, that would be the best solution, or even if you can put a table or similar near a window to put them on, and then turn them and circulate them around it to keep them steady for a while yet  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    agreed Fairy, its a darn good job I read this post, I have 3 greenhouses, i tomatoes are in a lean to, south facing but around the side of our bungalow, not visible, and having walked the dogs, its 15c, but really windy, doesnt feel that warm, I had forgotten to open the door!!! Please dont tell anyone
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    Hi - as Fairygirl says - far too young to go outside yet.  Gardening means having lots of patience!  Wait until they have four leaves at least and then just put them out on warm days and bring them in at night for say around 10 days the last 3 days leaving them outside all night.  I'm looking at early June.

    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • joannekentsmithjoannekentsmith Posts: 42
    Ok thank you for your replies,  is the right time to pot on when they have a full pair of leaves?  Those that I might loose... will they just gently keel over? Or will they grow but just not flower ? Sorry if these are really basic questions but I've never grown anything from seed before and instructions on packets are brief  for novices?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    There’s some info here which may help 
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-prick-out-seedlings/

    There’s lots of How to videos on GW for beginners so have a look around that bit of the site. 

    Good luck 😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • joannekentsmithjoannekentsmith Posts: 42
    Thank you that link is really helpful. And the beginners section which I didn't realise existed. Much appreciated 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Packet instructions can also be quite misleading @joannekentsmith, because they don't allow for all the differences in temps in all the areas. Don't worry - we've all been there  :)
    You would wait until they have at least a couple of pairs of leaves. The first pair that appear are just the seed leaves. They should then go into quite small pots individually, or even two into a 3 or 4 inch pot, and pot on again when the roots are showing out the bottom.  At that point, some would also be ok outdoors with some shelter. It's rough, wet windy weather which sees them off. 
    The problem is that when you put a few small seedlings into a big pot of compost, the roots are too fine to cope with the large amount of wet compost that they're in when you water. 
    If you keep them on the drier side, you might be ok. It's a very fine balance though  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    We ve all been gardening a million years, that all it takes.  I notice a lot of the seeds I sow say keep at 18-25c, whish isnt realistic, I sowed some from T & M, said those temps and sow outside, yeah right.
  • joannekentsmithjoannekentsmith Posts: 42
    Thanks girls for your advice. It's the first time I've ever grown anything from seed (trying it as a result of being in the shielded group so can't leave my home at all). I've managed to improvise with all sorts of pots and dishes instead of trays. I have a tiny cottage with only 3 window sills with good light but we're limping through.  Some I seem to be winning with (viola, auberetia and tomatoe plants are behaving well). Others I'm not so sure - the cosmos and zinnia seem to think they're out of Jack and beanstalk.  Very leggy. But it's certainly helping to pass away many enjoyable hours. I'm learning as I go. Hopefully some will thrive over the next month and can move to the courtyard or garden in June.  Thanks again for your help ladies 
    Joanne
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