Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by gardenerzone4 5b now (My Page) on

Sat, Apr 7, 12 at 7:30

I have a bunch of annual rudbeckia seedlings (Indian Summer, Tiger Eye, Prairie Sun, Cherockee Sunset, Maya) that have already been planted out. We're anticipating near freezing temps this coming Monday and Tuesday (to 34 degrees). Will the rudbeckia seedlings be able to withstand these temperatures? My experience is that petunias are able to withstand frosts, though they are annuals, so I'm hoping that the same is true of rudbeckias. (In fact, last fall my petunias continued blooming even when the nighttime temperatures briefly dipped into the 20s for weeks.)

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RE: Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by bettyfb (My Page) on
Sat, Apr 7, 12 at 8:16

Yes, they should be ok but throw a sheet over them, if you are that concerned. I have a lot of Indian Summer that came up from seed and have made it through several frosts in the past couple of months, and they are doing fine. I live in Louisville, Ky.

Betty

RE: Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by gardenerzone4 5b (My Page) on
Sat, Apr 7, 12 at 9:41

Hi Betty, were your Indian Summer seedlings protected in any way? If not, then I feel comfortable not protecting mine.

RE: Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by clematisintegrifolia Los Osos, CA Sunset (My Page) on
Sun, Apr 8, 12 at 4:31

Did you harden them off before planting them out or did you take them from a warm house/green house and plant them right out? As long as you hardened them off first they should be fine.

RE: Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by bettyfb (My Page) on
Sun, Apr 8, 12 at 10:01

I never cover mine up. Here is a picture I just took and mine all came up from seed. They are bigger earlier this spring because of our mild winter.

RE: Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on
Mon, Apr 9, 12 at 9:02

in my zone 5.. the USUAL time for planting out house grown stock.. is mothers day at the soonest.. and 6/1 bulletproof for frost freeze ...

if you got all excited.. in that one warm week.. you jumped the shark.. and must now worry ...

hardening off is the key ... unless you left out some pertinent facts ...

ken

RE: Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by bettyfb (My Page) on
Mon, Apr 9, 12 at 13:08

I agree with all that has been shared. My experience is this year a lot of Indian Summer seedlings just came up from last year's spent blooms that I did not remove. We had a mild winter.

Last year was different. I had very few seedlings come up on their own. I scattered a lot of seed that I had saved and planted it in March. We had warm days and frosty days and I did not ever cover them up. They did well last year and so far they are doing well this year. I have to divide them, as they are too crowded.

RE: Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by clematisintegrifolia Los Osos, CA Sunset (My Page) on
Wed, Apr 11, 12 at 2:20

Ken the whole "after the last freeze" thing only applies to tender plants. Perennials or hardy annuals can take a freeze as long as they are properly hardened off.

And self sown seedlings will definitely be fine.

RE: Can annual rudbecia seedlings withstand light frosts?

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Posted by tsugajunkie z5 SE WI (My Page) on
Fri, Apr 13, 12 at 22:18

My "Indian Summer" often overwinters like a perennial. Those that did and the ones that came up from seed this year (self sown) have seen temps in the mid to upper 20's without any damage.

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