Flower growing guide
Morning glories
Ipomoea tricolor
Sun
Full sun
Season
Warm
Maturity
60 to 90 days
Water
Moderate
Soil pH
6.0 to 7.5
Spacing
8 to 12 in
Planting morning glories
Sow after the last frost once the soil is warm. Nick or soak the hard seed overnight to speed germination, and put the trellis up before you sow.
Planting details
- Give vines a trellis or fence at planting time
- Spacing: 8 to 12 inches along the support
- Seed depth: about 1/2 inch
Growing requirements
Morning glories want full sun and average soil. Rich soil grows leaves instead of flowers, so skip the fertilizer and let them climb.
Harvesting and care
Guide young vines onto the support; they twine on their own after that. Pull spent pods if self-sown volunteers are a problem in your beds.
Common mistakes
- Fertilizing, which trades flowers for foliage
- Sowing without support in place, so vines tangle on the ground
- Underestimating self-sowing, which volunteers through the garden for years
Companion plants
Grow them up fences, posts, or corn stalks where they can climb. Keep them clear of beds where dropped seed turns weedy next year.