When do people in New England (I'm Boston, zone 6a) plant their morning glory and moonflower seeds?

The packet says 65 degrees, and Farmer's Almanac says 64, but as far as I can tell it never stays over 64/65 degrees at night consistently in Boston ever; and at the suggested sowing depth of 1/4" I don't think the soil will be retaining much daytime heat.

I'm further south but my lavender moonvine from last year reseeded itself and the seedlings are coming up now. I would think you could plant your seeds now.

I planted mine yesterday. They should be fine even if it is a little too cool they will just wait to sprout until it suits them.

I bought morning glory plants this year, & I planted them out last week.....

Mine have been started from over a month ago.. just hope they aren't rotting out there.. with all this rain

RobinD said:I bought morning glory plants this year, & I planted them out last week.....

I usually start mine indoors a couple weeks ahead but I didn't start any thing this year. I grabbed a pack of seeds from the Dollar store for $0.25 so I figured if they don't come up no biggie.

You got a better bargain...mine were $2.25! I planted them against a fence loaded with Virginia Creeper....and poison ivy.....hoping the morning glories take over....

RobinD said:You got a better bargain...mine were $2.25! I planted them against a fence loaded with Virginia Creeper....and poison ivy.....hoping the morning glories take over....

The Grandpa Ott's variety would compete with them well. That one grows like a weed for me. I got the Heavenly Blue, I grew them before but they didn't reseed at all. Meanwhile the Grandpa Otts are everywhere and I keep pulling them!

Yep as I suspected.. the rain rotted some

I live in PA (Zone 6a) and several sources told me to plant my moonflower (Ipomoea alba) at the same time I plant tomatoes--i.e., when the temperature is above 50º at night.

I did that, and the results are terrible. My plants look rough, I presume from the too-cold nighttime weather.

In areas that don't get above 60º at night until July or August (if at all) there is probably not a good way to grow them because they need a long growing season, warm temperatures, and they have both a short day photoperiod and a need for warmth (that's the same reason planting them super early indoors won't necessarily speed up blooms).

I grew Heavenly Blue on the fence....haven't checked them in a week.....sorry yours rotted, Allison......good advice about the night temps, Jai.....Last year, the Heavenly Blues took over my entire wellhouse.....had trouble cutting it down....there's still a clump on the roof!

Jai_Ganesha said:I live in PA (Zone 6a) and several sources told me to plant my moonflower (Ipomoea alba) at the same time I plant tomatoes--i.e., when the temperature is above 50º at night.

I did that, and the results are terrible. My plants look rough, I presume from the too-cold nighttime weather.

In areas that don't get above 60º at night until July or August (if at all) there is probably not a good way to grow them because they need a long growing season, warm temperatures, and they have both a short day photoperiod and a need for warmth (that's the same reason planting them super early indoors won't necessarily speed up blooms).

Moonflowers are tough for me. I tried growing them quite a few times before I succeeded. What all the info you find on the web doesn't tell you, is they did better in afternoon shade for me. I also have to start them ahead indoors and wait until the vines are just starting to send up tendrils to plant out right about Memorial Day weekend. Which is usually safe for Toms here but this year has been cooler than usual at night.

Onewish1 said:Yep as I suspected.. the rain rotted some

It's weird to me that they rotted. I usually pour boiling water over them and soak them for 24 hours and sometimes have forgotten them longer and only a couple that were probably goners anyway would rot.

Oh it's been raining here for just about a month straight .. I can recall a few days with sunshine .. looking like it's staying like this for a couple weeks longer.. exceptionally wet and cold at night.. I am not surprised at all.. 45 when I got up this morning .. all my plants are looking sad

I'm a southerner living in PA and it's heartwarming to hear that frost warnings in June aren't normal, but it still doesn't take from the fact that they absolutely suck!

Some folks not too far north of me are still getting frosted every night.

Ugh.. no its not normal at all .. last June we had 1 or 2 40's nights .. not this long stretch we have been having .. I am in northern NJ btw.. and this is a crummy start to summer

Onewish1 said:Oh it's been raining here for just about a month straight .. I can recall a few days with sunshine .. looking like it's staying like this for a couple weeks longer.. exceptionally wet and cold at night.. I am not surprised at all.. 45 when I got up this morning .. all my plants are looking sad

Wow that's a lot of rain! We had a drought last year and we have now had enough rain to bring all the ponds and rivers back up to where they are supposed to be. Did you have drought last year?

Yes we were below levels until the thaw .. if someone calls it this year I may smack em

I am usually done with my containers by the 1st.. not even close this year.. and some I filled looking crummy from the weather already.. by the time I get done this year.. going to be dying in the heat I am sure

We are getting the same weather here....too depressing! Only the iris & the peas are happy.....