When To Plant 4 O’clock Seeds

February 4, 2024

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Four O’Clocks may be grown from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost, or sown directly in the garden after frost.

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Sowing Seed Indoors:

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Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before frost in spring using a seed starting kit
Sow evenly and thinly and cover with ½ inch of seed starting formula.
Firm lightly and keep evenly moist.
Seedlings emerge in 7-10 days
As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Incandescent bulbs will not work for this process because they will get too hot. Most plants require a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours.
Thin to one seedling per cell when they have two sets of leaves.
Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturer’s directions.
Before planting in the garden, seedling plants need to be “hardened off”. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens the plant’s cell structure and reduces transplant shock and scalding.

Sowing Directly in the Garden:

Direct sow seeds in average soil in full sun after all danger of frost.
Prepare the soil by removing weeds and working organic matter into the top 6-8 inches of soil; then level and smooth.
Most plants respond well to soils amended with organic matter. Compost is a wonderful form of organic matter with a good balance of nutrients and an ideal pH level, it can be added to your planting area at any time. If compost is not available, top dress the soil after planting with 1-2 inches of organic mulch, which will begin to breakdown into compost. After the growing season, a soil test will indicate what soil amendments are needed for the following season.
Sow seeds about 6 inches apart and cover with ½ inch of fine soil.
Firm soil lightly with your hand, water and keep evenly moist.
Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days.
Thin to stand 12-18 inches apart when seedlings are 1-2 inches high.