When to move out annuals

17 years ago

I've started a variety of annuals inside from seed this year. Impatiens, marigolds, strawflowers, zinnias, etc. I made a nice set of grow shelves and lights and I'm happy that many of them are growing strong! The only problem I'm running into is that they are getting too large for the flats that I started them in. There are WAY too many to pot up in larger containers before I am ready to move them outside. (Maybe I over-reached a bit.)

So my question to the mass of knowledge here is, when is it safe to pot up my annuals (particularly the impatiens and the marigolds) and move them outside? I was thinking of potting them in their permanent containers and moving them outside during the day and back inside at night when I get home from work. This would give them the room they need to grow and give them enough light. I'm worried if I wait completely until the frost free date they will start dying in the flats because it is getting really crowded. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
first.. get out the calender.. and mark it to start this 2 to 4 weeks later next year ... so you arrive closer to the frost date ...

if you have 10 .... of any given plant... pot 2 ... and then 2 each of each variety ... and move them out.. in a week ... do more ...

this way.. if you mess it all up .... you still have reserve ...

a childs wagon ... makes moving them in and out of the garage each night real easy ....

impatiens are very temperamental to temp ... marigold is more like a kale.. and will take more variation ...

but do understand.. they will need to be hardened off to sun.. as well as temp ...

fear your success... lol ...

ken
verdure1
17 years ago
If you're putting anything other than stock, pansy, snaps, and kale outside without frost protection - good luck -
In West Michigan we'll put out Pansies, snaps, victoria salvia, petunias, calendula, stock, dianthus with frost cloth and sprinklers overhead , the 2nd week of April.
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rocketjeremy
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the input so far. I guess I should clarify my question a little bit. I can protect everything from frost and monitor the temperatures. What I'm reallying wondering is if I'm going to kill them off taking them from my warm basement and putting them outside when the high right now is sometimes only 40s/50s during the day and then bring them back inside at night. Frost doesn't worry me...I'm just unsure if it's too low of a daytime temp.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
hence the suggestion of experimenting ...

we arent at your house... its really hard to get overly specific ....

plants dont mind cold ....

tender plants can not take frost or freeze ... the water in the leaves breaks the cell walls causing damage... anything short of cell damage will PROBABLY be ok ...

ken
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
the correct answer is. ..

when you are so sick of dealing with them indoors.. that you dont care whether they live or die...

lol

ken