#Petunia seeds germination month how to#
#Petunia seeds germination month full#

By midsummer, most petunias tend to get leggy, producing blossoms at the tips of long, leafless stems.

Double-flowered cultivars enjoy a biweekly dose of fertilizer.

Fertilize petunias monthly with a balanced fertilizer to support their rapid growth and heavy blooming.

Note: The spreading types of petunias and those in containers will require more frequent watering than those planted in the ground.

Avoid watering shallowly, as this encourages shallow roots. A thorough watering once a week should be sufficient (unless there are prolonged periods of drought in your area).

Petunias are fairly heat tolerant, so you shouldn’t have to worry about watering them frequently.

If you’re planting petunias in containers, use a container potting mix that will drain well.

When the young plants have three leaves, plant them outside.

Petunia seeds are very small (dust-like!) and need lots of light in order to germinate.

Plant young petunias outdoors after your last spring frost date, but keep a close eye on the weather forecast and protect young plants from late frosts.

If you want to grow petunias from seed, start the seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost date.

Leggy petunias with tons of flowers already won’t settle in as fast. Look for plants that are short and compact.

It’s easiest to buy young plants from a nursery that sells petunias in flats.

Amend poor soil with finished compost prior to planting. It should also be moderately fertile to promote the best growth. The soil should drain well and not stay overly wet, especially in containers.

#Petunia seeds germination month full#

Petunias need full sun, or they will become spindly. They can be used in window boxes or hanging baskets. They form a beautiful, colorful groundcover because the flowers form along the entire length of each stem. Spreading or Trailing Petunias: These are low-growing and can spread as much as 3 to 4 feet.

The flowers are only 1 to 1½ inches wide, but they are prolific and last all season!

Millifloras: Milliflora petunias are much smaller than any other petunias on the market.

They are free-flowering like the multiflora varieties and produce medium-sized blooms.

Floribundas: Floribundas are intermediate between the grandiflora and the multiflora groups.

These large petunias often do not fare as well in the south because they’re prone to rot during humid, hot summers.

Grandiflora petunias have very large flowers and are best grown in containers or hanging baskets (because they are more susceptible to rain damage).

They have smaller but more abundant flowers and are ideal for summer bedding or in a mixed border (because they are more tolerant to wet weather).

Multiflora petunias are the most durable and prolific.

Petunias are divided into different groups, mainly based on flower size: Their height can vary from 6 inches to 18 inches, and they can spread along the ground anywhere from 18 inches to 4 feet. These colorful annuals can really add pop to a front lawn and are often used in borders, containers, hanging baskets or even as a seasonal groundcover. Some even have a slight fragrance. Petunias are treated as annuals in most areas, but can be grown as tender perennials in Zones 9 to 11. The flowers come in many colors and patterns, and bloom from spring until frost!

#Petunia seeds germination month how to#

See how to plant and take care of your petunias to keep them blooming.

As with most annuals, they get leggy by midsummer, so you’ll want to prune the shoots back to about half their length. Pretty petunias are one of the most popular flowers because of their exceptional blooms and long flowering period.