Yes, I could place them outside or in the car port in one of the tubs.
I already have several tubs outside. One is a sowing of snapdragons.
One is an assortment of poppies. And one is Mexican marigolds.
I am planning to do one of the short marigolds too.

I'm waiting on my tithonia (orange torch) to sprout--it's outdoors in a green soda bottle cut in half with the top on for warmth. Drainage holes, of course! But I'm wondering if I need to start over, too. It's been weeks...

It certainly wouldn't hurt, but keep the other container for a while, too... 'cause ya never know.

My tithonias haven't sprouted yet--I started another little cup of them a week ago from a different seed pack (both were from trades), and the old green soda bottle still hasn't sprouted either (over a month, and it's definitely been warm enough). In a minute (if no one reassures me these can take a while) I'll be begging seedlings. I really wanted these!

Found this thread interesting because I have had problems getting Tithonias to germinate for me. Sounds like I'm not alone. May try them again this winter. I did love the one I was able to grow.

I grew them for, I think, three years in a row. I wintersowed them I think. Great germination, as you can see in my hedge of tithonia.

Karen

stilldew said:Found this thread interesting because I have had problems getting Tithonias to germinate for me. Sounds like I'm not alone. May try them again this winter. I did love the one I was able to grow.

I have been watching Tithonia dry up on the plant. It seems you have to let them really dry out, and make sure the flower remains so it is pollinated. And, make sure you get them before the Goldfinches do!

The seeds are very "tickseed" like, with little hooks on the side-- I suppose like Tickseed, they like to get stuck on animals so their propagation will go far and wide.

This year, I made sure the stems were brown, and the flower pod super dried up before I picked them. Also, viable seed will have a little "pregnant, bumpy area" as I call it.
Good luck.... would love to trade seeds for the yellow variety. I haven't got that one yet. But, today, at the start of Hurricane week here in NJ, I have a big job tomorrow in staking my Tithonias back up!

Pat, Fair Haven, NJ Zone 6

My tithonia hedge in 2008. I wintersowed them.



Karen

Looks nice.. good luck with the storms Pat