12 Jul Thu 2018
Ask Arlene about growing Moonflowers©
Ask Arlene about growing Moonflowers©
By Arlene Wright-Correll
A recent email question asks, “Can you tell me about Moonflowers and if they are hard to grow?”
Moonflowers are easy to grow!
Home Farm Herbery grows them here and we save the seed to sell. The young plants can be trained to climb unto railings, trellises, etc.. They cannot do this alone and you must help them. The planting should be soon after night temperatures are over fifty degrees. Ipomea Alba is a tropical plant and cool nights will stunt or kill young moonflower plants.
You can grow the vines from seed and here is the link.
Moonflower seeds are large, almost a quarter of an inch and may be brownish to white. To speed germination, each seed should be scratched with sand paper, nail file, or nicked with a knife. This step allows moisture to penetrate the seed. Seeds can be soaked in water for 24 hours or planted directly into pots and watered thoroughly. The seed leaves will begin to break the soil surface in about two weeks. Plants will need to grow in a warm sunny spot until ready for planting outside.
Plant Moonflower vines outside when spring has definitely sprung and the soil and night temperatures are safely in the fifties. This is time for the moonflowers to be planted. This is in early May here in Kentucky, when it is safe outside for tomato and pepper plants, moonflower will be safe out also. To encourage growth where it is wanted, hanging string will give the young vines support as they grow upwards. To support the rapid growth in early summer and encourage many flowers, just add about three tablespoons for organic fertilizer around each plant. Plants are spaced about one foot apart to insure thick foliage and flowers.
Vines will have to be pinched and tucked back to keep them on the lines, and to keep them from encroaching on patio furniture like kudzu. Flowers begin in late summer and continue until frost. They only come out at night, so that is when their fragrant beauty is worth staying up to experience.
It is easy to care for Moonflower vines. The plants love sun, so be sure to plant them in partial to full sun. They are fast-growing vines which love to grow up towards the moon. It is imperative to plant them where they have room to grow and spread.
Luckily, they don’t require the best soil, and can often thrive in places where it is difficult to grow other plants. Moonflowers are highly susceptible to freezing and hard frosts. For this reason, they can be grown from spring to fall. Typically they require little care & attention, and are perfect for beginner to expert growers. Just be sure to tuck and pinch back the vines if they start to overgrow the areas you want them in or they will be all over the place.
May the Creative Force be with you!
Arlene Wright-Correll