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I bought some dwarf sunflowers (teddy bear) on a whim and, as usual, got so carried away with the sowing of seeds and the subsequent excitement of little green seedlings popping up that I didn't think about what to do with them once they actually germinated. My ultimate plan is to put a few in a large container out the front, but I don't know whether they are too small for that yet. They are now between 2 and 4 inches tall and consist of a single stem and leaves at the top. They are still in their propagator tray (without lid) in the kitchen (not in the window though) but are really too big for that now as it's pretty small and I have 11 of them! The instructions don't really tell me what to do with them once they start growing. How quickly do they grow? Can I pot them into large pots now or do I need to pot them into smaller pots first? When they are fully grown (I think they can grow up to about 18 inches) do they need to be one per container or can I put 2 or 3 in one large container? Help!
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At least yours have germinated mine haven't
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S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber
You can't beat a bit of garden porn -
No-one was more surprised than me! It was a 50p kit from quality save, or somewhere like that, so I just sprinkled some seeds on the compost, covered and left them and before I knew it they had germinated! I'm always surprised when anything germinates under my care.Comment
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I've had miserable results from Teddy Bear so I am trying another dwarf variety called "Torch" from Lidl this year.Comment
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The instructions that came with mine said to grow 9 to 12 inches apart in beds or plant in 8inch pots.Location....East Midlands.Comment
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Way hay one I can answer
grew Teddy Bears last year,most got to about 18" tall with the odd one or two getting to 26" flowers were about 4-5" in diameter & were grown in groups of 5 in 20" pots.
Got to hunt for a windburnt plant picture later,will see it there are any teddy pics as well
He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
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Thanks. That's helpful. So I guess I could plant a few in a largish pot and see what happens! Maybe I'll put the rest in a 2nd pot as backup and give them away if they all grow. Just ran out of compost so it will have to wait for another day now!Originally posted by bearded bloke View PostWay hay one I can answer grew Teddy Bears last year,most got to about 18" tall with the odd one or two getting to 26" flowers were about 4-5" in diameter & were grown in groups of 5 in 20" pots.
Got to hunt for a windburnt plant picture later,will see it there are any teddy pics as wellComment
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I have tried to put them in a bigger pot but I think they are pretty much dead now They certainly aren't thriving. I will have to try again and think I will plant them in a big pot right away and put them outside from the start.
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What did you do, exactly? Were they indoors and then you put them straight outside in the bigger pots?
Or were the bigger pots indoors too?All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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I succumbed to a packet of these this week. Is it worth sowing them now do you think?Originally posted by rana View PostWhether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you are probably right.
Edited: for typo, thakns VC
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Sorry to hear that TH, better luck next time. I think TS is suggesting that you didn't harden them off (get them gradually used to being outside) so the drop in temperature would kill them off. Better luck next time.Granny on the Game in SheffieldComment
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Just pot them up to a bigger pot when you can see the roots showing at the bottom. My 5 year old son planted one seed in February and I had the (un)enviable task of taking care of it lest there be heartbreak. Took this piture the other night. Not sure if it qualifies as dwarf, but it seems to have settled down at 4-5 foot high. Man this plant has had such tender loving care
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Like it redser! Your son obviously takes after you
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They haven't been outside at all. They came as part of a kit with propogator, compost and seeds. Germinated fine indoors but then I didn't really know what to do with them. when repotted they were still indoors although the plan was to get them outside eventually. The instructions that came with them weren't very clear so I dont' really know what to do with them when they germinate but are obviously still small. The pot I want to put them in is about 30cm - can I put a few in that as soon as they have germinated?Originally posted by Florence Fennel View Post
This is my first failure but I have plenty more seeds so can have another go.
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Well I would go for one pot per plant. But maybe as they are so dwarfing you could more than one in, I'm not sure to be honest. But that pot would be way too big for a seedling/small plant. The roots would rot in all that damp compost. Pot them on gradually. Maybe go for a 5 inch pot and then make the next step up to the 12 inch, but wait till the roots are really filling the 5 inch pot. It won't be long, they are quick growers! Touch wood some fine weather will be upon us by that stage and they can go out. And remember you don't have to grow them all on. Be ruthless and chuck some or give them away. I've nearly knackered myself getting emotionally attached to plants
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