Growing Thunbergia, Cleome

My Thunbergia are doing well in 10cm pots in the greenhouse and I am bringing them inside on cold nights. I am wondering whether I started them too early and they will be really big before I can plant them outside. I have an obelisk I want to grow them over. Anyone grown these outside in the summer before?
Also has anyone grown Cleome from seed before? T&M's database says chill for 2 weeks before sowing in the light.

 

I grow cleome from seed quite often.
I've never chilled before sowing and always had good germination.
The seedlings start off quite slowly, but as the weather warms they grow fast and by mid-summer are 4ft ish.
I find them easy to grow.
They have an intriguing scent and vicious thorns.

 

Yes, I would wait until the end of April to plant them out when the nights are reliably warm, otherwise they will get stressed. Support them in their pots with three canes in a wigwam formation. You may also need to pot them on into larger pots. I did this last year and planted the plant and wigwam in the middle of an obelisk. The wigwam was soon obscured. Trying to unwind the stems would have caused damage which I wanted to avoid. The plant thrived and needed occasional pruning as it was running wild .

 

Thanks guys. Plantminded - do you think 5 plants for an obelisk about 18" in diameter and 6' tall is too many? I could put 2 in hanging baskets.

 

Yes @Baalmaiden, I had only one and it still tried to escape into the border . Wait and see how large they are at the end of April and then decide if you need more than one. Good luck, they are lovely plants.

 

Thanks, I've never grown them before but I thought I would have a change from sweet peas.
Still sown a few of those though, they'll pop in somewhere!

 

It is lie a weed here. In its third year now ... but we like it ...

 

Lovely! I am encouraged!

 

I had a rusty red one in a container it covered a fence panel and decided to pop over the fence for a look next door.
I've ordered four from Hayloft. They'll be here later this month. Various colours, but unfortunately no red.

 

Well my Thunbergias have been a bit disappointing. They have hardly got halfway up the obelisk. I am thinking they like it hotter than here in Cornwall despite the few hot days we had. Either that or they want much more fertilizer than I am giving them. I have half a packet of seed left so next year I'll try sowing later and giving them a richer diet. I'll go back to sweet peas on the obelisk though.

 

That's disappointing @Baalmaiden, they do like heat and sun. Mine was getting too enthusiastic in a container in the sun so I moved the container into a partially shaded position where it is less vigorous but is still embracing its neighbours nearby . A 50/50 mix of MPC and John Innes No 3 may give you better results, plus a weekly feed of tomato food when it starts to flower.

 

Hi

don’t give up on them yet mine are just starting to climb the weather is up and down with temperature , I have had more success growing in John Ines no 2 than multipurpose and a weekly Tom feed they will flower late into summer early autumn

 

I grew Thunbergia a few years ago and it does need a sunny spot, but its not over yet.
Well we hope not, but if the weather the last week is anything to go by it might be.

Dead heading might help, if they have set some seed.