Getting your garden ready for bloom season takes a little patience, but let’s be honest—the outdoor growing season for Black-eyed Susan vines is way too short! We want to see those gorgeous flowers the moment they hit the patio. To make that happen, you’ve got to give them a head start indoors so they can start forming buds early. Here is how you can get a jump on the season.
Three Ways to Pre-Grow Your Vines
Since Black-eyed Susan vines are sensitive to cold, they can’t move to the balcony or garden bed until mid-May (after the last frost). If you wait until then to plant them, they’ll grow fast, but you’ll be waiting weeks for those first flowers. Pre-growing indoors solves that problem! You have three great options:
- Early seed starting on a sunny windowsill.
- Taking cuttings between January and March.
- Waking up overwintered plants early.
Starting Seeds Early
You can start your seeds indoors as early as February. To get them to sprout, they’ll need plenty of light and a consistent temperature of around 65°F (18°C).
- Use a high-quality seed-starting mix.
- Cover the seeds with about half an inch (1 cm) of soil.
- Keep the soil consistently moist.
- Prick them out into individual pots once they have their first true leaves, then transplant them as they grow.
Pro Tip:
If you want a lush, full look, plant three seedlings together in one pot. Don’t forget to “pinch back” the tips regularly from the start—this encourages the plant to branch out and get nice and bushy!
Propagating from Cuttings in Spring
Spring is the perfect time to propagate if you have a plant that survived the winter. If you start rooting cuttings in January, you’ll have a head start on those early blooms.
- Take cuttings from mature, non-woody stems.
- Strip off the lower leaves.
- Stick them into loose seed-starting soil.
- Cover with a plastic bag or dome to keep humidity in and keep the soil moist.
- Place them in a warm, bright spot.
- Once they’ve rooted, move them into larger pots.
Ending the Winter Nap Early
If you’ve been overwintering your Black-eyed Susan vine, it’s likely been chilling in a bright spot at around 50°F (10°C). During this time, growth stops, and you’ve probably just been giving it a little water and checking for pests or diseases. While it can’t go to its permanent outdoor location until mid-May, you can “wake it up” early indoors. Gradually move it to a warmer, brighter spot, increase your watering, and start giving it a little bit of fertilizer to kickstart its growth.
