When to plant sunflowers out?

A_Clock

Ive got a few sunflowers that i grew in some trays, they have about 6 leaves on them and are starting to take off! Can i plant them outside yet or do you have to wait till all frost has past? Im down the south west... not really had a bad frost since the cold snap the other week

Lord_Gardener

Generally they can take a slight frost. Covering with newspaper will protect them if a frost is forecast!

Gardening-girl_5

It says on here plant them out when a few inches tall, but i'd still prepare for any heavy frosts, though where you are might not be as bad as the where i am in the Midlands!!
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Sunflower_plant__Review_5520539

The general rule is to plant out any seedlings/plants after the Chelsea flower show which this year is on 20th to 24th May, which is about right as they do recommend planting out at the end of May when any risk of frost is over!
Us gardeners are so eager to plant out and get our spaces/windowsills back, but it does to pay to hang on that bit longer as you get better plants than when you plant out in cold soil and hopefully the cold soil will start to warm up a bit soon! I'm the same as everyone else and can't wait to plant mine out too but with the heavy frosts we have had a couple of weeks ago, i am so glad i haven't! :cheesy:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2008/index.asp

KittyCat1

I planted out three sunflowers that my daughter grew a couple of weeks ago,and so wish i'd waited.
I kept some back in the mini greenhouse just incase,and they're doing great but the ones in the ground are just sat there looking very sorry for themselves what with all the cold weather we've been lately.So i'm keeping the others where they are for now until it warms up a little atleast