3 Review(s)

Rare, striped, trumpet-shaped flowers with a sweet, orange-blossom scent.Full DescriptionThis collection produces a sweep of 1 1/2" flowers in white marbled pink, rose, red and yellow, and 4 o'clock is about the time the striped, trumpet-shaped flowers open, suffusing the air with a sweet, orange-blossom scent. Plants attract hummingbirds by day and moths by night. Great for border or container. Plant in average, well-drained soil after last frost, and this annual will reward you with a summer full of colors..How to Sow and PlantFour O’Clocks may be grown from seed sown early indoors and transplanted outside after frost, or sown directly in the garden after frost.Sowing Seed Indoors:Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before frost in spring using a seed starting kitSow evenly and thinly and cover with ½ inch of seed starting formula.Firm lightly and keep evenly moist.Seedlings emerge in 7-10 daysAs 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.Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures. For annuals an organic mulch of shredded leaves lends a natural look to the bed and will improve the soil as it breaks down in time. Always keep mulches off a plant’s stems to prevent possible rot.Plants need about 1 inch of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It's best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.Until plants become established, some protection from extreme winds and direct, hot sunlight may be necessary. Good air movement is also important.After new growth appears, a light fertilizer may be applied. Keep granular fertilizers away from the plant crown and foliage to avoid burn injury. Four O’Clocks tend to prefer poor soils so do not overfertilize.Remove spent flower heads to keep plants flowering until fall. Leave some on at the end of the season to allow the plant to self-sow.Monitor for pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.Four O’Clock flowers only open in the afternoon, around 4:00. They make poor cut flowers because they may not remain open.Good for children to grow, since they are colorful, easy to plant, and fast growing.Plants often self-sow, so allow some spent flowers to go to seed.The roots form tubers that may be dug up and stored over the winter.Shorter varieties are fine for containers.Plants are heat and drought tolerant.