Viewing post #1463003 by Meredith79

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.