Now what do I do??

???

Well, I've planted them out!

4 in a really big pot, 2 in a slightly smaller one.

Just now need to make sure they don't get eaten by slugs or snails, and nurture them with the right amount of water and food.

Feel a bit as it's the first time in years that I've grown anything from seed!

I'd plant them in small pots to begin with and keep them indoors until June, hardening them off gradually, unless you have a greenhouse.

Yes, the ones in birdseed grow happily without fuss around the garden!

I’ve just been given three packets of different short (ish) sunflower seeds. Is it too late to plant them? In pots or outside direct?

I’m not good with sunflowers. I’ve bought packets with smiley faces on for children to plant and non have grown. The only ones which succeed in the garden are the ones the birds plant.

?

Thanks again!

Perhaps my babies should come out of the moses baskets and into a cot!

Phoenix your seedlings could be floppy for a couple of reasons: over watered: not watered enough or they've not had sufficient good light and so have become "drawn" to search for more light. Once you've checked for these, I'd do as Callistemon suggests and just pot them on in a bit bigger pot for a couple of weeks. They're not going to come to any harm if you keep them in the existing pots and you'll know when they've outgrown it because you'll see little white thready roots poking out of the bottom of the plant pot. You've got plenty of time to get them outdoors yet. Think of it like taking the baby out of the cradle and sticking it in a cot for a while, before it moves to the big bed!

I'm not an expert though!!

But they do sound as if they need a pot each now, just a bit bigger.

Thank you!

I'm not putting mine out yet, particularly as it is so cold now.

Can you pot them on into slightly bigger individual pots? what about a viagra tablet in each pot?
Don't water too much and make sure they have light.

Mine haven't flopped (yet), they have plenty of light in the greenhouse but what they'll be like in a few days' time I don't know.

When it warms up, harden them off by putting them outside in the day then bring in at night, don't put in too large a pot too soon.

Me again!

Some of them are a bit bent and floppy . Currently they are indoors, 3 to a 9cm pot.

Now, if I pot them on into really big pots, they are likely to be too big and heavy to bring in each night.

So, providing I put some sort of covering over them (not actually touching the plants, but suspended over the canes, iykwim) do you think they will be ok?

Will the floppy bent ones perk up?

I also had a packet of seeds which came free with a packet of tea about 3 years ago which I have put in the ground around a border. The may or may not germinate.

I was given five seeds, three have germinated. They are currently in pots on my window sill, are about 4 inches tall but very leggy and bendy - already have a stake ( old kebab skewer!) for each one. Two now have a couple of little leaves as well as the original pair. I can't see them surviving much longer, one puff of wind and I suspect the stems will snap!

Goodness, mine are about two inches!
They've got a lot of growing to do.

Mind you, I thought they'd never germinate, I bought these seeds in 2018 being sold off for 20p a packet.

Mine are still in the greenhouse in tiny pots but they have suddenly sprouted and are about a foot high now. How did that happen? I only have 2.

Mine are in the greenhouse but not potted on yet. I think I'll leave them for a few days and not disturb them until after the cold weather.
In fact, I'm pleased that they germinated at all because the seeds were old and out of date.

No, not over cautious at all, it's a wise move at this time of year. Any young plant seedling is tender and, if nipped by even a light frost, it will turn their tender leaves black and shrivel them. That can set them back a couple of weeks, so best to avoid it if you have a greenhouse or potting shed to move them to. Or, if the pots get a bit too heavy to start lugging in and out at night, you can just cover them over with horticultural fleece or an old bit of net curtain works just as well, (but maybe I shouldn't mention that! ) and that gives frost protection too. By the end of this month the risk of frost should fingers crossed be over. ?

Thanks Chewbacca much appreciated!

Have compost, need to root about in the shed for some slug pellets and some of that water retaining gel stuff.

Might pot them on tomorrow, but bring the pots in overnight as the forecast doesn't look too good.

Am I being over cautious?

Pots a couple of feet in diameter should be fine with 2 or 3 seedlings Phoenix. Smaller pots, maybe just the one seedling. They put out an enormous amount of root ball and will completely fill any size pot you grow them in. When you come to empty the pots, at the back end of summer, you'll be amazed at how dense their root system becomes; all from one tiny little seed! And the good news is that you can save the seeds from these flowers and you won't need to buy any next year! Winner!

You've chosen a smashing flowering plant to get going with phoenix; dead easy to grow, almost perpetual flowers until autumn and free seeds for next year. Just don't forget the slug deterrent!

Chewbacca many years ago we used to drive from the Channel ports to the south of France every summer and we'd pass huge fields of sunflowers on the way. It was fascinating seeing them turn their faces as the sun moved across the sky.
The French for sunflower is "tournesol." ?

Variable, Callistemon some around 12" , some nearer 2ft.

That type could grow to more than 5 or 6 ft.

I am going to put some of mine in pots but some of them are smaller varieties.

How large are your pots?

Thanks for all the advice!

Chewbacca must it be only 1 seedling per pot? I have a few pretty big ones, and wondered about putting a couple in.

They will be outside in a South facing sun trap garden!

No, they can't go in the garden Whitewave , no beds currently.

Can’t you harden them off and bung them into the garden? Sounds too much phaffing for a few sunflower seeds. I get loads of the wretched seedlings from the bird food .