how long do you keep seedlings in the propogator?

[notmilk]

I have a small propogator with some sunflower seedlings that have just come up in the last few days. How big do they need to be before i re-pot them? And will i need to harden them off?
thanks
notmilk

[Geordie]

Hi Notmilk,

Your sunflowers can come out of the propergater now that they have emerged. Stand them on a sunny windowsill, I am guessing they are in a 3"pot and this should be fine untill they are about 6-8" tall. Depending on weather outside you can either repot to a bigger pot or aclimatise them for planting outdoors. You will need to harden them off.

Bear in mind when you plant outside that the sunflower heads will always turn to face the sun.....it may have a bearing on where you plant them!

[notmilk]

the propogators live outside on a table in the garden.
They are in a quite sunny spot and i have the vents open.
If i re-pot them, can i use the compost in the propogator to sew more seeds?

[cotton54321]

If I were you I would use new compost for new seeds incase of any nasties. Totally up to you though. Personally if it were me I tend to use the compost from the propagator in the repotting and then use new compost for new seeds.
Not sure if that all makes sense?
Mel x

[shine388]

i started mine off in the conservatory and don't have a propagator but i would say you could take them out now. mine took a little longer than expected to come through but now there's no stopping them. i planted out 4 in the garden a few days ago and theyre doing really well and the others are ready to go out now after having been repotted (they really love the heat and light they have at the moment so i'm hardening them off)