Morning glories

[tea-shot]

I've sown a packet of morning glories and while the initial growth was brilliant, since transplanting them they appear to have died. There are still 2 or 3 plants growing strongly but the rest just seem to have withered up. They are in a heated greenhouse but no warmer than 60-62 degrees, planted in fresh new compost and in clean pots. I would just plant a new batch if they had all died but as there are some still growing strongly I would appreciate any advice on what the problem could be.

[June]

I've always found Morning Glory very temperamental to grow. I've tried sowing them as early as this with no success at all so now I only sow them around the middle of May as they are about the right size to put out when it's warm enough. They hate windy conditions and changes in temperature so you must be really sure to harden them off.
I have had the best results by growing anything from five to seven seeds in a large pot then planting the whole pot straight into the ground avoiding too much root disturbance.
Good luck. If you grow the 'Heavenly Blue' variety they certainly are worth the effort!
Hope this helps, June

[tea-shot]

Thanks June, I will have to go out and buy a fresh packet but Wilkies have got packets for under a pound so I'll try them.

[Mole]

I agree with June - too early, and they don't like to be pricked out - rootrainers would be good. Sowing in april is early enough.

Mole

[Jenny Green]

I agree with the above, although maybe we should ask another poster (was it Primrose?) who has them self-seeding and coming through the winter.

[June]

Amateur Gardening are offering free Morning Glory seeds this week with sowing advice (including recommending they are pricked out!) inside. They say they should be sown from now until April. I'm intrigued as I have never managed to have any success so early. They grow too big and gangly inside and really sulk (and usually die!) when put outdoors. If anyone does grow them so soon I'd love to know their secrets!
June

[Jenny Green]

I think it's just a case of crap advice on the back of a seed packet, June. Unless you have a heated grennhouse I really can't see how you could do it. The plants hate the cold. My have even suffered if I've planted them out and then the weather's turned cold.

[Primrose]

Hello - Yes it was me, (Primrose) who earlier posted about Morning Glory seeds self seeding. These were still continuing to do so at the end of November and because they were germinating very prolifically in my runner bean area and others had warned me that they can become a nuisance and take over like bindweed I reluctantly pulled most of them out. They were growing in a fairly protected place against a south facing fence so it may have been this sheltered area which encouraged them to germinate. However, the deep purple flowers looked so attractive mixed with the beans and I keep checking to see whether any more have started to germinate. I sowed my original plants around mid April in pots under semi cover so maybe you are just a little too early with yours.