sunflower

[falkon]

what is the minimum temperature sunflower can tolerate, I have a few plants in the pots and they are getting very thirsty day by day and I want to plant them outside now.. the minimum temperature in my area is above 5 at nights.

[tamsin]

I've self sown seedlings outside and it's dropped to that without effecting them, not sure if bigger plants might be more susceptible though. You could put plastic bottles over them to give them a bit of extra protection initially.

[binley100]

I've had some out for a couple of weeks now but they each have a plastic bottle..

[elsie-scot]

I have had some planted out for about two weeks, is in sheltered spot, and they are doing fine, has been down to 5 and a bit below since. Have still got some in cold GH.

[selfraising]

Mine are still in gh, mainly because last year when I planted them out the slugs had a feast!!

[northepaul]

I just chuck 'em in a pot and they seem to grow...

[Two_Sheds]

The self-sown ones on my lotty are 3" tall now.

If yours have been indoors, or in a greenhouse, you need to harden them off (same with everything else) for 7-10 days before it goes outside permanently

[Flummery]

I have a self sown in my greenhouse soil. I'll have to bung it in a pot soon as I want to plant out toms and chillies in there.

[falkon]

ok. thanks... _I will harden them off from tomorrow...

[Kirsty_84]

Mine went outside without hardening off (ran out of room!), had a cloche over them for about 10 days and they're fine.

[Buleste]

I haven't planted any but fed some seeds to the birds over winter and now I've got hundreds trying to grow and that's even after some ground frost.

[Snadger]

I have four in individual pots, hardened off and ready to plant this week. I've also sown a whole packet in a very small area outdoors!