Sunflower seedlings - where should they be?

Escapetothegarden · May 2023

Hello! 🌤️

I was very kindly given some sunflower seedlings which are a bit leggy and bendy - say big seedlings/young plant!

I potted them on but where should I be keeping them right now? In the greenhouse or outside?

Thanks!

Fairygirl · May 2023

Where have they been growing? If undercover, then it would be sensible to keep them that way, while putting them outside for a while each day - weather permitting, so that they can harden up. Keep turning them to prevent them being more leggy. You can also plant a bit deeper when they're potted on or planted out.
Hard to be exact without knowing more - especially the size.

Escapetothegarden · May 2023

Fairygirl said:

Where have they been growing? If undercover, then it would be sensible to keep them that way, while putting them outside for a while each day - weather permitting, so that they can harden up. Keep turning them to prevent them being more leggy. You can also plant a bit deeper when they're potted on or planted out.
Hard to be exact without knowing more - especially the size.

Thank you for your reply!

I believe they were growing on a windowsill! I will do as you suggest. I was wondering whether they should be out as apparently you can sow them outdoors now?

Here’s a photo:

Fairygirl · May 2023

Oh. They've been somewhere with not enough light.
I'd prick those out and pot them on individually, and get them somewhere with good light - but not searing sun. A south facing sill can be far too much for them, even if it isn't that sunny, so west facing or similar is better.

Once they've settled in and look happy [won't take long] you can start putting them outside somewhere sheltered, but let them get settled in first. They won't appreciate being outside yet, while they're still like that.

Escapetothegarden · May 2023

@Fairygirl brilliant, thank you! 😊

Fairygirl · May 2023

You'll need pots with decent depth- rose or clematis pots would be the best. They'll be struggling a bit to get enough depth, and you can pot them a bit deeper than they are at the moment too, which will also help to anchor them a bit more securely

Escapetothegarden · May 2023

@Fairygirl Ah I will do that - thank you again, really really appreciate your advice!

May your seeds always germinate and plants always flourish 😄

Fairygirl · May 2023

DaveGreig · May 2023

I’m afraid I’m of a bit more ruthless persuasion and would consign them to the compost heap and start again. I always plant my sunflower seeds outside in situ. It means they flower a bit later when many other things are going over and give a welcome bit of sunshine when other things are looking sad. I also think that they’re a bit more slug/snail resistant when they first poke above ground than the pampered soft juicy indoor reared variety.

Escapetothegarden · May 2023

Lol @pampered 😊 I guess I can plant a couple too just incase 👍

Fairygirl · May 2023

You can certainly sow more seed if the person who gave you them has some, or if you want to buy a pack. Those have been too cosseted - and maybe sown far too early as well. That often creates that etiolation problem due to low light levels.
I rarely sow anything direct, unless it's into a final pot. Anything sown into the ground direct, even at this time of year, gets eaten as soon as it appears, so it depends where you are and what your soil conditions are. My ground is too wet - even with the recent drier weather we've had.
You can sow into individual pots, and them plant out when they're a decent size though

Sunflower seedlings - where should they be?

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