Petunia is an absolute favorite among the annuals. In terms of popularity, distribution, and abundant flowering, this plant outshines any other competitors. Seedlings of petunias from spring to autumn flood store shelves. Growing petunias from seeds on your own is not an easy task. But with some diligence and attention, you can create your own collection of petunias yourself.
Growing seedlings of petunias from seeds. © Brittney Smart
Garden petunias (Petunia x hybrida or Petunia hybrida) - one of the most famous representatives of the Solanaceae family (Solanaceae). With a height of 10 to 100 cm, this herbaceous annual with well-branching, densely leafy, creeping or straight shoots allows you to choose larger or more compact varieties. Oval soft leaves with a solid edge, the shape and presence of a pointed tip, which may differ depending on the variety, sit on the shoots alternately. The beautiful edge emphasizes the light tone of the leaves.
Huge funnel-shaped gramophone flowers of petunias with their correctness or irregularity and various colors are the main decoration of the plant. They create whole blooming clouds and cascades, but the beauty of each flower is mesmerizing. Blooming in early summer and not slowing down until frost arrives, petunia offers a considerable choice of colors, flower sizes, variations of multi-color colors and ruffled edges, varying degrees of terry and even the shape of the corolla.
The variety of petunias is so great that it is not easy even for experienced flower growers to understand the groups, varieties, classes and varieties. But in terms of cultivation techniques, all petunias are similar. In the matter of reproduction, all petunias practically do not differ from each other. And petunias grandiflora, and multiflora, and nana, and individual groups of petunias, and even fashionable novelties multiply mainly by seeds - seedlings.
Petunia seeds: self-collection and purchase
After flowering (defloration), petunias are tied with two-nested capsules-cones of fruits a little more than a centimeter long, which turn golden brown as they ripen. It is by color that the timing of seed collection is determined, which on average is 4-8 weeks after petunias flowering.
You should not rush to remove the seeds from the fruit pods: their full ripening will occur only after 3 or even 4 months. Petunia fruits are laid out in a dark, ventilated place with standard room temperatures. After 4 months, the seeds can be removed, sorted, marked and stored in paper bags protected from cold, heat, light and high humidity.
To get petunia seeds on your own, you need to leave some of the wilting flowers on the plant. It is preferable to leave the lower buds, which are among the first to bloom. When collecting petunia seeds, it is better to be prepared for the fact that the offspring will not retain the characteristics of the mother variety and will surprise with its variety of qualities. In order to collect seeds yourself, you also need to pay attention to three important nuances:
- To collect your seeds, you will have to select only varieties: sterile hybrids, terry forms of seeds do not form, because as a result of selection, the ovaries of such petunias have transformed into petals.
- Petunias are cross-pollinated plants, self-pollination occurs only in isolated cases.
- Pollination of non-double plants with pollen of varietal double petunias allows obtaining part of the seeds with double flowers, but still the number of plants that have retained their characteristics will not exceed 30%. It is for this reason that it is recommended to buy seeds for terry varieties.
Inside the capsule are strikingly small seeds that make the job of sowing the plants very difficult. The diameter of the dark brown petunia seeds merging with the soil is slightly more than half a millimeter. Due to their tiny size, one gram of seeds contains up to 5-10 thousand potential plants (in large-flowered varieties, the seeds are slightly larger than in multi-flowered varieties). About a hundred seeds can be collected from one fruit, therefore petunias are rightly called one of the most prolific annuals.
The number of petunia varieties is measured in thousands. Choosing professional or "regular" petunia seeds is not an easy task:
- First of all, you need to focus on decorative characteristics - features of flowering, color, plant height, foliage density, shape and length of shoots, the recommended use of a separate variety. Ampel varieties are used only for hanging baskets and cascades in boxes, in all other cases, due to dense tillering and good branching, bush varieties are preferred.
- When choosing petunia seeds, it should be borne in mind that these plants have an average growing season of about 70 days. Small-flowered petunias bloom at typical times, large-flowered petunias bloom at least three weeks later.
- On sale there are both individual varieties and series, and mixtures of varieties. The latter for petunias always carry the risk of not getting exactly the result that is expected. Therefore, it is better to purchase individual varieties and sow them, creating your own collection, rather than buying a variety mixture with different shades.
- Equally important is the choice of the manufacturer itself, and specialized stores or garden centers, and not spontaneous points of sale. Tested on other letniki, proven to be reliable firms for petunias are preferable to experimenting with new suppliers. Pay attention to the completeness of information about the manufacturer itself, the quality of the description of the plant and the recommended agricultural technology, the availability of all information about the shelf life and the batch of seeds.
- Petunias are common, but by no means budgetary annuals; too low a price for seeds is associated with a high risk of buying low-quality planting material.
- In petunias, ordinary seeds are considered more reliable, although pelleted ones are more convenient to use (but they are more sensitive to the accuracy of sowing - timing - and lighting parameters).
Petunia seeds remain viable for a long time, they can be purchased for future use. Within three to four years, seed germination is practically not lost, so buying the freshest seeds is not at all necessary.
Shoots of seeds of petunia. © Rishi Sowing petunias for seedlings
Petunia is not the easiest culture. Small seeds, fragile and sensitive seedlings require care when growing seedlings. Still, the beauty of the summer is worth the effort.
Soil and containers for sowing petunias
To grow petunias from seeds at home, there is no need to select special containers. Ordinary seed boxes and low containers or bowls are suitable for this summer. Since petunia is not afraid of transplanting, they do not use individual cassettes or peat tablets for it, but large common containers. The optimal soil height for petunias is about 6-7 cm, too low containers will not work for this summer, but it is better to avoid deep ones. The containers in which the plants were previously grown must be additionally prepared and disinfected.
For diving seedlings of petunias, small individual plastic and peat pots or cassettes are used. A diameter of 6 to 8 cm is sufficient for the normal development of young annuals.
For seedlings of petunias and sowing seeds, any high-quality soil mixture for growing seedlings is suitable. Both independently mixed and purchased substrates, if they are loose, nutritious, capable of retaining moisture, but not prone to compaction, do not have a strong acidic or lime reaction, are perfect. The standard is pH 5.5.
For petunias, a universal substrate is often used, consisting of equal parts of humus, sod, leafy soil and peat with a halved proportion of sand. Any soil before sowing petunia seeds is best disinfected with a solution of fungicides or calcined a few days before sowing and sifted at least for the top layer. For sowing and diving petunias, use the same substrate.
Sowing petunia seeds
Early sowing dates are preferred for petunias. If there is no opportunity to organize supplementary lighting, then sowing is carried out in March. For regions with severe winters, the middle lane, sowing is preferable in the second half of March, but most often, to obtain an earlier flowering, petunias are sown in the first half of March or even in February (the third decade allows sowing in good years without supplementary lighting). Sowing of petunias is not carried out later in March, since the plants will not have time to reveal all their beauty and their flowering will be very late. There are many nuances in choosing the timing of sowing petunia seeds:
- Petunias sown in the second and third decade of March bloom by June, when sown in January and February, the dates are respectively shifted to April-May, but such cultivation requires special conditions.
- There is a variation in the recommended sowing dates and for individual varieties of petunias. Late flowering large-flowered petunias are best sown later, in March, multiflora can be sown earlier, in February, and ampelous petunias for the largest mass of long shoots are better sown with supplementary lighting in January.
- At any time of sowing, you should be ready, if necessary, to compensate for the lack of lighting: photophilous petunias in an unsuccessful spring without additional lighting can be completely lost (due to cloudy weather).
When purchasing seeds and planning sowing, it is always better to carry out calculations with a margin, increasing the number of seeds by 30-50%, especially if the sowing is carried out at an earlier date. Due to poor lighting, there is always a risk that only half of the seeds will sprout, although under good circumstances the germination rate of petunias is from 80 to 100%.
The main difficulty of self-growing petunia seedlings is rightly called small seeds. They are so inconvenient to work that for the first experience of growing this summer, we can recommend the choice of tape, dragee or inlaid seeds, which are much easier to sow. But working with ordinary "simple" seeds can be simplified:
- mixing petunia seeds with sand (you need to use fine, dry, light sand, and not screenings);
- sowing on a layer of sand or snow, on which even the smallest seeds are clearly visible;
- use a toothpick for "piecewise" unfolding (this is the most time consuming option).
To sow petunias for seedlings, you must:
- Fill the selected containers up to half or a third of their height with coarse screenings or whole substrates and tamp them lightly. If the containers are very deep or the soil is fine-structured, then it is better to lay drainage at the bottom of the container.
- Top up the sifted substrate without tamping. Since the shelter from the crops is removed late, it is necessary to leave enough space in the containers for plant growth: from the top of the substrate to the edge of the containers for sowing petunias, a distance of 2 to 3 cm should remain.The layer of sifted soil should be at least 1 cm (so the seeds will lie more evenly, and the plants will develop equally).
- Carefully level the soil surface and thoroughly moisten it with a fine spray. For petunias, it is sometimes recommended to water abundantly a day before sowing to evenly distribute moisture and "saturate" the soil, but you can also use the classic version. Cover the soil with sand or snow to facilitate planting if you have not taken additional measures.
- Scatter petunia seeds as rarely as possible, trying to sow evenly over the entire area of the container.
- Spray the seeds from the top with a spray bottle, taking care that strong jets do not wash out individual seeds. For the first spraying, you can use a growth stimulant solution. When sowing on snow, spraying is not carried out.
- Cover the container with glass or foil, without covering the seeds on top with even a thin layer of sand.
The first pick of petunia seedlings. © Brittney Smart 
Transplanting a petunia seedling. © Brittney Smart 
Conditions for seed germination
Petunia loves stable heat. For seed germination, it is desirable to maintain the temperature at 20-23 degrees Celsius. Cooler conditions will allow only old varieties or "wild" petunias to emerge, the seeds of which are harvested on their own. All modern varieties are temperature sensitive during the germination stage.
If the lighting is not bright enough, the weather is cloudy, then it is better to place phytolamps for supplementary lighting above the containers. The film or glass is lifted daily for ventilation.
Maintaining moisture is not an easy task. Before emergence, it is advisable to carry out light spraying daily in order to maintain a stable light soil moisture. A light fungicide can be added to the water for spraying seeds (for example, using a weak solution of potassium permanganate).
Petunia shoots appear (on average) 5-7 days after sowing. Petunias germinate for 2 weeks, you should not expect sprouting longer than this period: if there is no result, you need to adjust the agricultural technique and re-sowing. This summer plant is characterized by friendly shoots, usually shoots appear evenly and within a short period.
Growing plants
Petunia seedlings are very tiny, fragile, capricious and sensitive to the slightest deviations in growing conditions or moisture levels. Petunias develop slowly. Temperatures and bright lighting for small petunias are kept the same. The optimal duration of daylight hours for young seedlings is 11-12 hours.
The film or glass from the containers with petunias can be removed only after the first sheet appears. Daily ventilation is carried out 2-3 times a day, preventing the accumulation of condensation and maintaining a healthy environment for plant development.
The greatest danger during the growing stage is high humidity. Petunias are one of the most prone to black-footed diseases, therefore, waterlogging and generally inaccurate watering are extremely dangerous. But drying out of the soil can destroy all seedlings. Gentle spraying of crops is carried out daily to create stable, slightly damp conditions.
Small shoots tend to bend. The containers need to be rotated in relation to the light source several times a day so that they develop evenly (there is no need to rotate with top lighting).
Excess moisture, lack of comfortable temperatures or lighting can lead to the spread of diseases. If the seedlings show signs of the development of a black leg, the plants begin to hurt, then an emergency dive is carried out. To reduce moisture, the seedlings must be carefully sprinkled with a layer of dry sand and immediately proceed to transferring them to individual containers.
Diving seedlings and caring for young plants
In petunias, diving is carried out as soon as a pair of true leaves is formed on the plants. It is better not to delay the process of planting seedlings, but an earlier transplant is an exceptional option only for diseased plants. Plant transplantation is well tolerated. They are seated one at a time. After diving, the plants are watered carefully and set for a day or two in places with diffused lighting or shaded with paper to better restore them in a new place.
Bright lighting for petunias is important at any stage of their development. Supplementary lighting on cloudy days is carried out after a dive only for a weakened one that has begun to stretch out or clearly signal a lack of lighting for seedlings. The temperature can be left in the room range, but it is better to gradually start lowering it to 18-20, and then 16-18 degrees with somewhat cooler conditions at night. Both the frequency and the airing time are slowly increased even before quenching.
Top dressing for seedlings is very dangerous, they can be started only after diving - after about 1-1.5 weeks. At the stage of growing seedlings of petunias, they are carried out to obtain strong branched plants and abundant flowering. Fertilize the water for irrigation every week using half the manufacturer's standard dose. At the seedling stage, foliar and root dressings can be alternated. With slow growth, nitrogen fertilization is carried out, but petunias still prefer complex and organic fertilizers.
The main attention should be paid to high-quality and moderate watering. Waterlogging even on grown petunias is very dangerous, it can provoke the development of rot and death of plants. Watering is carried out with a small amount of water, but often checking the degree of soil drying. These neat procedures are a must for petunias to keep drips out of the greens and shoots. When it grows enough leaf mass and releases the first buds, the humidity for it can be slightly lowered.
In caring for petunia seedlings, it is better not to forget about two more procedures:
- Pinching the shoots allows you to get dense, branched and more compact crowns in bush varieties of petunias.
- Loosening the soil after watering will maintain optimal air and water permeability of the soil (this procedure must be carried out carefully, without touching the extensive root system of the petunia).
Transplanted seedlings of petunia. © Brittney Smart 
Growing seedlings of petunias. © Brittney Smart Hardening of petunia seedlings
For petunias, hardening should be started as early as possible. Usually, plants begin to take out at least a few hours to fresh air, as soon as the weather permits and the temperature rises during the day. Hardening from April until planting in the soil or in containers in the garden will allow you to get more resistant and hardy, lush flowering plants.
Planting petunia seedlings in soil and containers
For petunias, despite its status as a capricious queen, planting in open ground is suitable from the second half of May. It is better to wait until the return frosts stop. Sowing earlier requires a willingness to protect the plants from possible weather surprises. If petunias are planned to be grown in a container culture, then planting can be carried out already from the beginning of May: pots and baskets can always be brought into the room if necessary.
When choosing a place for petunias in the garden, it is worth stopping at warm, well-lit places. In terms of resistance to cold and drafts, it is better to rely on the characteristics of a particular variety, but all petunias bloom better in protected, secluded places. Large-flowered petunias are more thermophilic and sensitive to dampness and bad weather (the smaller the size of the flower, the less capricious the petunia is). Ampel plants must be protected from the wind.
A high-quality universal substrate for growing in ampels, baskets and pots can be selected from the number of purchased soil mixtures, and mixed by yourself. The ratio of leafy, soddy soil, humus, sand and peat for petunias is not so important: the main thing is that the soil is loose, but nutritious, moisture-absorbing, but not prone to compaction.
These annuals grow well with the addition of disintegrating components (for example, perlite) and a water-retaining additive in the form of a hydrogel. A high drainage layer (at least 5 cm) is laid on the bottom of any containers. For petunias, gravel, expanded clay, and other materials are suitable as drainage. A neutral soil reaction is preferred.
When planting in open ground, fertile or medium-nutritious garden soil must be checked for water permeability. Petunias prefer sandy loam and loam, but any nutrient soil is suitable for them. You can improve the quality of the soil by adding mature organic fertilizers - compost or humus. Like most annuals, petunias do not tolerate fresh manure.
A serving of complete mineral fertilizers will also provide the plant with everything it needs. The reaction of the soil should not be acidic: any soil with a pH below 5.5 needs to be limed and adjusted. When planting in open ground, it is advisable to prepare the soil in advance (not from autumn, but at least a month before planting seedlings).
The distance between plants is usually limited only for petunias grown in open soil. For 1 square meter of planting area, no more than 10 petunias are used for cultivation. For multi-flowered or bush petunias, the recommended distance is from 15-20 cm for small-flowered varieties, up to 25-30 cm for large-flowered varieties. For large and ampelous petunias, a distance of 30 to 50 cm is considered the standard.For pot and ampelous plants, the distance is usually halved, although first of all, petunias are planted in containers and baskets so as to achieve the maximum decorative effect.
It is better to maintain a minimum distance of 8-10 cm in any case, although general norms limit the planting density to only a maximum of 60-70 plants when planted in a container culture.
There is nothing complicated in the transplantation of petunias, the plants adapt quite easily and quickly and are not afraid of this procedure. But the fragility, juiciness of the shoots imposes its requirements on the accuracy of the work: so that the plants do not suffer from injuries, they must be handled as carefully as possible, carefully holding the green mass and avoiding unnecessary contacts. It is better to transfer the seedlings to new containers or into the ground on cloudy days or in the evening, so that the plants do not suffer from the sun and adapt faster.
The transplant is always completed with abundant watering, which is carried out without affecting the leaves. It is better to mulch the soil around the plants (peat or humus is perfect). Even potted petunias love protective mulching, which also plays the role of insulation.
Calling petunias unpretentious and easy-to-grow annuals or considering them one of the most capricious plants is a very individual question. For some gardeners, they are perfectly tolerant of almost any treatment with their pets, while for others they please only with careful care. But immediately after transplanting petunia seedlings, in any case, it is worth providing careful and systematic care.
Maintaining a stable soil moisture is the main point in the care of transplanted petunias. It is better to protect young plants in pots and baskets from wetting and precipitation, even if the varieties are declared to have increased resistance.
Many modern varieties have both moisture and drought resistance, they tolerate an abundance of precipitation and drying out of the soil well, but still, in the future, the more stable the conditions for plants, the better. Watering petunias growing in the soil is rare, but abundant, during periods of prolonged drought, trying not to soak the leaves and directing the water to the root. Potted plants are watered, allowing the upper and partially middle layers of the substrate to dry out, avoiding prolonged drought and dampness. On hot days, petunias need frequent watering several times a day, and it is advisable to add spraying to the care program.
Feeding for young petunias begins after the resumption of active vegetation (about a week after planting in the soil or containers. For them, a standard portion of complex fertilizers or special fertilizers for flowering summer plants is applied with a frequency of 10-15 days for plants growing in the soil and 7-10 days for potted crops Feeding for petunias growing in the soil is sometimes continued only until August, but it is better, as for potted petunias, to carry out these procedures before the end of flowering.
When choosing fertilizers, you should pay attention to complex preparations with a high potassium content. Mineral dressing can be alternated with organic fertilizers in liquid form. For potted plants, you can use long-acting fertilizers and alternate foliar and root dressings. In case of an unsuccessful season, bad weather, if growth is too slow or flowering suffers, it is better to carry out additional feeding for petunias with growth stimulants.
For any potted and ampelous petunias from the beginning of flowering, it is better to introduce the removal of wilting flowers into the care program. It is especially important to timely "clean" large-flowered or terry petunias, which look very sloppy with dry flowers. When grown in soil, wilted flowers are removed only where petunias are clearly visible - in flower girls, borders, near a recreation area, where unpleasant details are striking.
Growing petunias by sowing in open ground
Sometimes in regions with a mild climate, a much simpler method of growing from seed is used for petunias - sowing directly into the soil at the growing site. Sowing in April allows plants to bloom in mid-summer. This method is used mainly for small-flowered varieties of petunias, which are grown as a ground cover or curb plant. In regions with harsh winters, sowing in greenhouses and greenhouses for seedlings is possible, but flowering will still be late.
Cutting of petunia seedlings. © Brittney Smart 
Planting petunia cuttings. © Brittney Smart 
Rooting cuttings of petunia. © Brittney Smart Alternative breeding methods for petunias
Terry varieties and some hybrid petunias are not propagated by seeds, but vegetatively. The non-conserved characteristics of the mother plants require a change in the growing strategy of especially valuable petunias. For cuttings, the plants are kept for the winter, and in the spring, uterine cuttings are cut from the uterine bushes.
Petunia bushes winter only in bright light and cool, but not cold - the optimal temperature is from 10 to 12 degrees. They are watered very carefully. You can not save the whole plant, but cut the cuttings from the bushes and keep in the winter in similar conditions in a light substrate. After rooting in the spring, they are seated in individual containers.
Some petunias in favorable conditions and with luck with the weather in regions with a milder climate can self-seeding. Despite the variability in the quality of flowering, such "wild" petunias are striking in their endurance and unpretentiousness, and often also in the size of the bushes. Young seedlings can be used as seedlings or left as semi-wild, abundantly flowering accents.
What we will talk about? And here's what ... The main character is a petunia plant, planting and care. Let's see the photos, admire ... After all, this is the leader among the most popular garden flowers. It is rich in its multicolor, harmoniously combined in plantings with other summer flowers. Petunia is a real decoration of our flower beds, balconies, summer cottages. The lush flowering of this bright plant lasts all season, but in addition to its beauty, it is famous for the fact that it is not difficult to plant and grow it.
Photo of petunia, it looks great, even if there are other flowers in the flowerbed:
This lovely garden flower comes in many varieties. Its color shades are varied and its shapes are bizarre. Most often, petunia is divided into two varieties - bush and ampelous. Shrub we most often arrange flower beds or plant it in pots. This variety is unpretentious, sown in early spring - March-April.
Petunia photo in pots on the street, photo Ampelnaya is a flower "waterfall". It is more suitable for hanging or forming garden compositions. Windows, balconies, pergolas are also suitable for decorating with such plants. These varieties need to be sown before the bush species, around the beginning of February.
The correct seedling of petunia - how to grow
Petunia photo shoots Most varieties of petunias are quite unpretentious. Even if with the onset of warmth (March-April) you sow seeds in the open field, ensure regular watering, it will grow and bloom. But if you want to get lush, well-groomed bushes, then you have to try a little, "conjure" over a small seed.
Methods for planting petunia seeds:
- The easiest option is to plant in a shallow container or box. Seeds are not dosed (by eye). The most important rule is not to deepen.
- The use of peat tablets gives excellent results in growing seedlings - it is very convenient and practical. Pre-soak each tablet, place one pelleted seed or 2-3 ordinary seeds there. does not require a subsequent dive. With this method of planting, the bushes (along with the tablets) are subsequently transplanted.
- Seedling cassettes are also convenient, growing with their help does not involve picking seedlings. Thus, each seed is placed in an individual cell (20 or 50 ml), and after 20-30 days it is transplanted into a pot, where the petunia can grow before the first flowers appear.
- Sowing seeds in the snow is also practiced. A layer of ordinary clean street snow is laid on top of the soil, and seeds are poured on top. When the snow melts, it is absorbed, automatically pulling the seeds to the ground (to the required depth).
Whichever method is sown, seedlings need the correct temperature regime (+ 23 ... - + 25 ° С), cover with a film, timely watering.
Usually, petunia seeds are sown taking into account the cultivar group (20th of March) in order to get flowering bushes by the beginning of summer. If you want to see flowering earlier, then it is better to start sowing in late January - early February.
A nutritious, loose soil with good water-holding properties is suitable for it. Strongly acidic or alkaline soil mixtures should be avoided.
Against the background of the narrative about the details of growing petunias, it is still worth mentioning the possibility of acquiring ready-made seedlings. Cases are different: someone simply does not have enough time to deal with this process, but they really want to have a fragrant flower.
For such cases, petunia seedlings are sold, which can be bought at the market, store, floristic center, even an online store.
Petunia, care and cultivation
At the first time after sowing (the first 7-10 days), the seeds will not be prevented by regular spraying with a slightly borous solution of potassium permanganate. After this period, with the appearance of the first sprouts that have hatched, top dressing can be introduced. At the very beginning, it is advisable to use foliar means - irrigation with mineral compositions. If the situation requires it, then 1 or 2 times you can apply a plant growth stimulator, such as "Epin-Extra".
Seedlings should be provided with a sufficient amount of moisture, but do not be too zealous, as excessive moisture provokes diseases. If the sprouts are oversaturated with moisture, it is necessary to stop irrigation with water. At the same time, it is necessary to moisten the soil only by watering along the walls of the containers so that the water is in minimal contact with the plants.
Seedlings after picking When the sprouts acquire a couple of full-fledged sheets, start diving. For this, the seedlings are seated one by one in special containers or disposable 200 gram cups (very convenient). The cups are filled with the same nutrient soil that was used for seeding. After planting, the bushes are watered, covered for 1-2 days with some non-woven material (for example, Spunbond).
At the first time after plowing, moderate soil moisture and periodic loosening are important for petunias. If seedlings require feeding, then it can be done 7-10 days after picking (1 time per week).
Before planting petunia bushes for a permanent place of residence, take care of its hardening. To do this, the pots with seedlings must be periodically taken out into the cold (but not into the cold), providing an influx of fresh air.
Planting petunias in open ground
It's time to dive This flower loves loamy fertile soils. If you add compost or humus before planting in the place of the flower bed, then the petunia will bloom more actively and luxuriantly. Make sure that the place for the plants is well lit by the sun. Most often, the bushes are planted around the 20th of April (in the Kuban), after the frosts are left behind.
For planting, the seedlings need to be watered well so that they can be conveniently removed from the pot. Plant together with a lump of soil on a flower bed. The step between the bushes should be about 30-40 cm. Then the plants are watered and mulched again (the next day).
Planting seedlings Follow-up care for petunia includes:
- regular watering,
- loosening the soil,
- getting rid of weeds.
However, the most important factor is feeding with complex and organic fertilizers, which must be introduced 8 days after planting. Potassium supplements should be made every 10 days. We advise you to continue them until August inclusive. You can also use organic fertilizers, such as humus fertilizers.
Registration of a summer cottage or yard of a house with the help of a petunia, photo
The richness of colors and varieties allows you to create incredible combinations of shades, various designs. Multicolored flower beds, flower cascades, fragments of trees equipped for flower beds, even car tires are a field of activity, a source of inspiration for a summer resident.
Petunia goes well with flowers that complement each other in flower bed arrangements (see the first photo). For these purposes, you need to choose the same non-capricious, sun-loving plants (for example, snapdragon, salvia, calendula, levkoi). When decorating a summer cottage with petunias, one should not forget about sunny places, since in the shady zones it simply cannot gain strength, fully bloom. Well-lit, slightly shaded areas are ideal for this plant.
Some design options:
Already in itself, ampelous petunia is a decoration, how many pieces to plant in pots - determines the size of the container, for example, 4-5 bushes with a diameter of 20-30 cm.With the onset of spring, shopping centers begin to sell pots 22 cm in diameter, in which 3 bushes are comfortably located ...
Flower bed Despite all the subtleties, nuances, it is not difficult to grow, plant petunia - it is quite within the power of any novice florist. Attention to seedlings, appropriate care will bear fruit. If you at least once grow a lush, fragrant beauty from a small seed, you will never refuse her presence at your dacha.
Where to plant petunia in the garden, photo Do not forget to feed with fertilizers on time, water this amazing flower - it will delight you with its flowering until the coldest days.
For the first time, petunia - a native of Brazil - was brought to Europe in 1820. The flower immediately won the love of florists, thanks to its ability to bloom for a long time and generously please the eye with bright colors. Modern petunia has more than 25 species and is widely used to decorate flower beds, flower beds, balconies and terraces.
If you are planning to start breeding this plant, but cannot boast of in-depth knowledge about it, then this article is for you. Let's start from the origins - from the timing of planting petunia seeds for seedlings…
When to sow petunias for seedlings?
All types of petunias reproduce by seeds, but the timing of their sowing is different. So the planting of varieties that are distinguished by high growth and large flowers is carried out at the beginning of February, and small-flowered species - a month later (in the first ten days of March)... You should also take into account some of the nuances:
- Ampel species of petunia sprout longer than bush;
- Plants with blue flowers, as well as petunias of light colors, germinate fastest;
- You will have to wait the longest for the shoots of red and purple petunias.
Timing, when is the best time to sow petunia seeds for seedlings, depend on the variety. Pay attention to the seed packaging. On it, as a rule, the manufacturer indicates the optimal time for sowing seeds.
Sowing is done in February-March, then petunias will bloom in May-September:
Important! When choosing a sowing date, it is best to adhere to the recommendations of the seed manufacturer (on the package), since they largely depend on the variety.
In 2018 ... Sowing dates
Lunar calendars, compiled for gardeners and gardeners, give their recommendations about the timing of sowing petunias for seedlings in 2018. Favorable and unfavorable days for sowing depend on the phase of the moon, zodiac sign and element. Information in calendars from different sources is different. Apparently, each of them interprets astrological data in their own way. Every year, for several years now, we subscribe to the magazine "My Beautiful Dacha". We consider it to be an informative and authoritative source that you can trust, and therefore we put it in the first place.
Source - the magazine "My Beautiful Dacha":
In 2018, petunia seeds for seedlings can be sown
- in February 6, 8, 12, 22, 26,
- on March 9, 16, 18, 21, 24,
- in April: 1-4, 8, 17, 21, 22, 25, 27.
Unfavorable days
- February 1, 9, 14, 15, 16, 19, 24, 27,
- March 2, 12, 13, 15, 17, 23, 28, 29, 31,
- April 10, 15, 29, 30.
This source separately sets aside days for working with the soil, preparing seeds for planting and sowing. The dates indicated are favorable precisely for sowing seeds of flower crops. On unfavorable days, it is advisable not to plant the seeds of any plants.
Source - the newspaper "AiF. In the country":
- in February 4-8, 11-13, 18-20, 20-23,
- in March 3-8, 10-13, 15-16, 24-26,
- in April: 2-4, 11-14, 16-18, 20-22, 24-27.
Source - magazine "1000 Tips for Summer Residents":
Seeds of annual flower crops are recommended to be planted
- in February 1-4, 17-27,
- in March 4-8, 13-15, 18-26, 28-30 numbers,
- in April 17-29.
Unfavorable days for planting
- on February 15, 16,
- on March 2, 3, 16, 17,
- on April 15, 16, 30.
Here we are talking about the sowing of any annual flower crops in general.
The soil
The seeds are sown on the surface of the soil, they are not sprinkled with earth, but covered with foil or glass. The best container for this is food containers. You will need moist, loose, nutritious soil. Its ideal composition:
- Peat;
- Sod land;
- Humus;
- Sand (small amount)
Until the first shoots appear (on average, 2 weeks), the seeds should be in a dark place at a temperature of about 25 degrees. The latter circumstance is especially important: petunia will not rise at too low a temperature.
The timing of planting seedlings in open ground
With the emergence of sprouts, the temperature should be reduced to 20 degrees and the seedlings should be brought out into the light. It is advisable to make a dive and plant the plants at a distance of 2 cm from each other, deepening them into the soil to the cotyledonous leaves - this will contribute to the development and strengthening of their root system. And varieties with large flowers can be dived into separate pots.
Planting petunia seedlings in open ground is performed in April-May, as soon as stable warm weather is established and the soil warms up. If your seedlings are already ready for planting, and the outside temperature does not allow you to do this, then you can delay the growth of plants by taking them to a cool place.
According to the lunar calendar 2018….
It is recommended to plant seedlings of petunias in open ground:
- In April: 1-4, 8, 17, 21, 22, 25, 27.
- In May: 1-2, 18, 22-23.
(According to the lunar calendar of the magazine "My beautiful dacha")
Care secrets
So that in the future petunia will delight you with large, beautiful flowers, feed the seedlings with complex fertilizers, which include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, trace elements. If development is delayed, use growth stimulants. An amazing effect is provided by spraying the leaves with a solution of any vitamin of the "B" group (an ampoule for a glass of water);
After the appearance of the 6th leaf, pinch the plant (except for ampelous species), that is, remove (pinch off) the apical bud: the bush will be compact, with a large number of flowers.
All of these measures will give you the opportunity to grow strong, healthy seedlings.
Reading time: 6 minutes
Petunias are one of the most beloved flowers of florists. They have a huge range of colors and textures, they differ in the number of colors and their size.
At the same time, in order for the petunia grown from seeds to really suit your taste, you need to understand how the varieties differ, what characteristics they have, and when it is better to plant, so that there is enough time for them to grow stronger.
Popular varieties of flowers
One of the most common varieties of petunias is considered "Milliflora"... This is a bushy variety of this plant, on which small flowers 2-4 centimeters in size grow. But the flowers of the "multiflora" variety will be larger and will reach 7 centimeters in circumference. If you like large petunia flowers, then you should pay attention to the variety "Grandiflora"- its flowers grow up to 16 centimeters.
The first shoots of petunias.
If you want petunia flowers to appear on your flower bed before neighbors, then choose the seeds of the variety Polaris, well, if your site is located in a windy area, and it often rains in the region, then it is better to give preference to erasing "Storm".
To create a beautiful decor on a loggia, a balcony or terrace, it is better to choose cascading varieties of petunias. The most resistant to natural phenomena, varieties "Cherry", "Ramblin", "Typhoon" and "Rose" are considered decoratively attractive and profusely blooming.
Ampelous petunias are often used in the decor of buildings, their shoots fall from pots, therefore it is recommended to hang such plants in pots and create "living" curtains from them. The most common and decoratively attractive variety is considered to be "Surfinia".
Features of ampel species
Ampel petunias are also called cascading. Their peculiarity is that the branches of the bush fall from the pots, forming a flower cascade. Such petunias need to be grown in the air by hanging pots and flowerpots on rails, walls, or in special pots.
All ampelous petunias can be divided into three types:
- With shoots, the length of which can be up to 120 centimeters. They grow downward, which is why they are most often used to create "living curtains".
- With stems that first grow upward and then begin to fall.
- With small lashes that spread over the flowerpot. These flowers are usually used to decorate balconies or are planted in large flowerpots to create a floral carpet.
Terry plants at home
Terry petunia is an annual plant, and in order for it to bloom actively throughout the season, you need to know how to properly care for it. First of all, it should be understood that the flowers of terry petunias are quite heavy. Therefore, with strong gusts of wind, they break off easily.
Densely planted flowers.
From this follows the main rule for growing terry petunias - they must be placed in a calm place and, preferably, under a cover, so that the flowers do not break off during rain or hail.
Landing time: determining the best time
So that the seeds have time to germinate, and the seedlings get stronger for planting them in the ground, and at the same time, from the very early spring, they begin to delight with their flowering, it is necessary to choose the right time for. Experts say that sowing petunias should be done in February-March. But the exact dates will depend on the region in which this flower will be grown.
Sowing seeds depending on the region
The climate in which this flower will grow makes its adjustments to the sowing dates. So in the southern regions, for example, in the Stavropol Territory and the Crimea, you can sow petunia for seedlings from the first day of February. At this time, in these regions it is already quite light, and when the time comes to plant seedlings in the ground, the temperature will be quite acceptable. By the way, in these regions, the first flowers may appear on petunias already 8 weeks after sowing seeds in the ground.
Seeds planted in egg cartons.
If we talk about the cultivation of petunias in Siberia and the Urals, then in this case it is not recommended to sow the seeds of this plant before the sardine in March, but better at the end of this month. Otherwise, the seedlings will have to be planted in still unheated soil, which can threaten the death of the plant. At the same time, you should not particularly worry about petunia, because it can withstand frosts down to -4 ° C.
Briefly about the timing of planting lobelia seedlings: depending on the region, this can be February-April. Some growers start sowing lobelia in January. True, in this case, the pot with seedlings must be provided with an additional source of artificial light.
For the seeds to sprout successfully, and the shoots to be strong and healthy, it is necessary for these plants. Manufacturers recommend planting petunias in the soil for indoor plants. But to make the seeds more comfortable in it, a baking powder should be added to the flowerpot, which is usually vermiculite or perlite.
Petunia seeds must first be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. To do this, the seeds must be wrapped in cheesecloth and soaked in solution for 1-2 weeks. As soon as the grains begin to hatch, they can be planted in a container with prepared soil.
How to take care at home?
Petunia seedlings love warmth, therefore it is recommended to keep them at temperatures above 23 ° C, but over time, it can be lowered a little. At the same time, keep in mind that as soon as you dive the seedlings, you need to lower the temperature to 20 ° C, while it is better that it is no warmer than 15 ° C at night.
So that the seedlings do not die, do not water it too abundantly, otherwise the root system of the plant will rot and the flower will die. Watering is best done with a syringe, directing a stream of water strictly under the root of the plant - petunia does not like when water gets on the foliage.
The process of picking seedlings.
To grow a healthy flower, seedlings need to be fertilized, but this is recommended no earlier than 15 days after germination. The first feeding should be carried out with nitrogen and mineral fertilizers. And when you transplant the seedlings into the ground, feeding should be carried out with the help of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
And another important factor for the successful growth of petunias is a sufficient amount of light. And since in our regions in March and April there is still not enough daylight hours, it is recommended to install a fluorescent lamp at the place where the seedlings are grown and turn it on every day from 7 am to 9 pm.
How to properly plant in open ground?
Usually, petunia seedlings can be planted in open ground in late May - early June. But again, you need to focus primarily on the weather this year. NS When choosing the time for transplanting, take into account that there are no frosts at night. If you plant a petunia at standard time, then it will bloom by mid-June and will delight with flowers right up to mid-October.
It is necessary to plant petunia seedlings in loosened soil, which is enriched with organic fertilizers. You need to place petunia bushes at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from each other, if you have a multi-flowered variety, and 20-25 centimeters if the seedlings are large-flowered.
To reduce the stress level for seedlings, plant them on a cloudy day, or early in the morning before sunrise or after sunset. After planting seedlings, you need to water them with water and mulch with peat or humus.
Useful video
In case you chose high-quality petunia seeds, took care of the seedlings, and planted it correctly in the ground, this flower will delight you with abundant flowering throughout the summer right up to late autumn, and the older the petunia is, the more resistant it will be to temperature extremes, gusts of wind and other various aggressive influences of Mother Nature.
The beauty of petunia does not need constant care. This plant is unpretentious, and therefore, when the basic rules of care are followed, it is easy to grow a real blooming miracle from ordinary seeds. A planter with flowers will decorate a terrace, balcony or garden.
In nature, there are about 20 species of petunias, on the basis of which breeders have created many varieties. For growing at home, use a hybrid or garden variety. The varieties of the latter differ in the shape of the bush and the color of the flowers.
There is no plant lover who has never heard of petunia.
According to the shape of a bush, petunias are:
- bush - Fantasy, Dream (undersized series), Ultra, Titan, Polaris, Storm (weather resistant), Hit parade;
- cascading - Silver, Cherry, Rose, Ramblin, Typhoon;
- ampelous - Surfinia, Lilac surf, Waterfall, Pearl surf, Wave of good luck.
By the shape of the flower, the plant is represented by double, semi-double and simple varieties. By the type of flowering, large-flowered, floribunda (intermediate varieties between large-flowered and multi-flowered), multi-flowered, small-flowered and mini-flowered petunias are distinguished.
Popular varieties:
- large-flowered simple - Daddy, Picotee, Prism, Sophistica, Storm;
- large-flowered terry - Double Cascade, Pirouette, Sonata;
- floribunda - Sonya, Celebrity, Madnes;
- multi-flowered - Carpet, Celebrity, Mirage;
- small-flowered - Bonanza, Duo;
- miniflower - Fantasy.
Petunia cultivars are often represented by a series of similar plants with different flower colors.
Growing petunias from seeds at home
Growing petunias begins with the selection of quality seeds. If on a bag of seeds next to the name of the variety is the designation F1, then this is a hybrid variety obtained by artificial pollination.
Petunia is everyone's favorite, brightly flowering ornamental plant. Hybrids are slightly more expensive than conventional varietal plants, but have a number of advantages over them:
- resistant to diseases and pests;
- more decorative;
- better tolerate the vagaries of nature.
Adult plants obtained from hybrid seeds can only be propagated vegetatively.
When to sow petunias for seedlings
From sowing to disembarkation, it takes 3 - 3.5 months.
Sowing seeds for seedlings in mid-January will allow you to get flowering plants by the end of April. If it is not possible to highlight the seedlings, the seeds are sown in mid or late February.
It is advisable to sow terry varieties of petunias 1 - 2 weeks earlier than others, since such plants are characterized by slow growth, they need more time to form.
Ideal composition for soil
Sowing seeds is carried out in light soil, permeable to moisture and air. A store-bought universal primer mixed in equal proportions with coarse sand is suitable.
Petunia prefers to grow in acidified soils. Growing in acidic soil, it better absorbs nutrients introduced with top dressing. In ordinary alkaline soil, the root system absorbs fertilizers poorly, the plant develops and blooms worse. This is important to consider when planting petunia seedlings in a permanent place.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Petunia is a small seeded plant and can be sown in two ways. The first consists of superficial spreading of seeds over the soil. In the second method of planting, the seeds are lightly sprinkled with fine river sand.
Embedding the seeds deeply will prevent successful germination.
- Seeds are sown in rows. The distance between seeds is up to 1 cm, between rows - 4 or 5 cm. The sowing system in rows is favorable for good ventilation of the seedlings.
- After sowing, watering is done using a spray.
- The box with seeds is covered with foil or glass so that they do not dry out.
It is convenient to sow rare varieties of petunias in peat tablets. 2 seeds are placed in each large tablet.
- Before sowing, peat tablets are soaked in melt or spring water with the addition of growth stimulator HB-101 (dosage is 2 drops per 1 liter of liquid).
- The seeds are spread with a toothpick on the surface of the tablets and sprayed with a spray bottle.
- The tray, which contains peat tablets with sown seeds, is covered with a transparent lid or foil.
Seedling care
During seed germination, it is important to constantly moisten the soil so that the seedlings do not die. After planting in the soil, the seedlings hatch for 5-10 days.
Petunia will live up to our expectations both on the balcony and in the country. The box with seedlings is immediately placed on a well-lit rack or a warm window sill, the air temperature should be +20 or + 25 ° C. The film or glass is removed.
It is necessary to highlight the emerging sprouts with a special lamp for seedlings so that the plants do not stretch out and grow healthy. It is advisable to lower the air temperature to +18 or + 20 ° C.
Artificial highlighting of seedlings is carried out around the clock during the first two weeks. Lamps use fluorescent lamps, at the rate of 2 lamps of 30 watts per 1 m2 of area.
Watering should be moderate, the plants are not flooded or overdried. It is useful to loosen the soil between the rows.
Seedling picking
- The first pick into boxes is carried out when the plants begin to shade each other. If the inoculation was done in cassettes, one procedure can be dispensed with. The distance between the seedlings in the box after the first pick should be about 5 cm in a row and the same distance between rows. After all the manipulations, petunia is watered with complex mineral fertilizer. Phosphorus should prevail in the top dressing for good root development of seedlings. Other trace elements must also be present.
- When the seedlings become cramped, a second pick is carried out into the seedling glasses. In this case, the seedling can be buried up to the cotyledon leaves. After the pick, top dressing is carried out using a growth stimulator or mineral fertilizer.
Humidity should be moderate, regular watering, but not excessive. After watering, the water should not pour out abundantly through the drainage holes - the leaves may turn yellow from the overflow.
From time to time, in glasses with seedlings, the surface layer of the soil is loosened so that the root system is better formed. Additional lighting of grown seedlings is not carried out. The air temperature should be around + 20 ° C, and at least + 16 ° C.
How to pinch a petunia
To form a beautiful bush, petunia must be pinched. Thanks to this technique, a lush plant with a lot of flowers is obtained.
When and how to pinch petunia? They begin to do this when 6 - 8 leaves appear on the seedlings and lateral shoots are formed. Pinch the central shoot (the main point of growth) by a few millimeters. After that, the side shoots will begin to grow more intensively, forming a beautiful, lush bush.
Top dressing of seedlings
The first feeding of seedlings is done with Teraflex or Kemira fertilizer. The ratio of the main components is N11: P40: K11. Dilute 25 g of the drug into 10 liters of water. In time, they begin to feed the seedlings when the first true leaves appear.
Timely feeding of seeds will allow you to get healthy and beautiful plants. As the plants grow and develop, they are fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers. You can use nitroammophoska (20 g per 10 liters of water).
Top dressing is done no more often than once every 2 weeks, in the morning. Root dressing can be combined with leaf dressing. The foliage is sprayed with preparations with trace elements, for example, "Brexil".
If the soil and water are alkaline, once every 14 days it is necessary to irrigate with the addition of phosphoric acid at the rate of 3-5 cm3 per 10 liters of water.
Transplanting a flower to a permanent place
Healthy seedlings bloom even in the planting pots. Planting petunias in open ground is carried out when the threat of severe frosts blowjob. The seedlings will be able to withstand a nighttime cold snap to 0 ° C.
Such flowers will charge you with a good, sunny mood. The soil on the flowerbed is prepared in advance - they pull out the weeds, dig up. The plant loves acidified soil, the best will be a mixture of fertile sod land, peat and sand.
Nuances of further care for petunia
The beauty of petunia pleases with bright colors all summer long until the very cold with proper care. It is important to take into account the characteristics of the plant, observe the watering schedule, do top dressing and pruning.
Watering schedule
Petunia does not like a lot of moisture evaporation from the soil, it does not need to be watered often. Drip irrigation is the best option, but you can use a regular watering can as well.
Petunia will give bright fragrant cascades of flowers of all colors of the rainbow from the beginning of summer until the onset of frost. In hot weather, it is enough to water the flower bed with petunias once a week.
If the plants are planted in flower pots, they will need more frequent watering. Water is poured under the plants, avoiding sprinkling over leaves and flowers.
Useful fertilizers for indoor flowers
In order for the ampelous and bushy petunia to grow better and bloom magnificently, it is important to fertilize it. Potash and phosphorus fertilizers should prevail in feeding adult plants. You can use "Potassium Phosphate" or "Pekacid" (20 g per 10 L). Potassium-phosphorus fertilizing stimulates the growth of lateral shoots and flowering.
Plant pruning
Petunia care sometimes involves pruning adult plants.
Petunia is a spectacular flowering plant. - If the bush begins to decay, loses its beautiful shape and compactness, pruning is necessary. Shoots are not cut off completely, but only the tops. The length of the cut will depend on the desired shape for the plant.
- There are cascading varieties with lush shrubs and lots of flowers that don't need shaping. In such plants, only dried and thinned shoots are cut off.
- Anti-aging pruning is helpful for petunias. Soon, new shoots with flower buds appear on green, pruned branches. It is advisable to prune the petunia when its flowers become smaller or signs of disease appear.
Disease and pest control
Most often, petunia suffers from chlorosis. Leaves turn yellow if the soil is not acidic enough or in the absence of essential trace elements (mainly iron). To treat chlorosis, plants are sprayed with iron chelate.
Suitable for processing all flowers and plants. At an older age, petunias are susceptible to powdery mildew disease. This fungal disease occurs due to waterlogging. It can be recognized by the white bloom on the back of the leaves. For treatment, the plants are sprayed with drugs: "Chistotsvet", "Ordak", "Tiovit Jet", "Protan". It is advisable to carry out treatment for prophylaxis in wet, rainy weather.
Petunia flowers will decorate the front garden, loggia or flower bed with abundant flowering. Many varieties bloom all summer long and smell pleasantly. You can choose any color of flowers to create a beautiful garden or room decor.