Six to ten weeks before the date of the last expected frost in your area fill 2-inch deep flat boxes or peat pots with moist seed starter mix or soilless potting mix. Petunias are also very tiny, so mix the seed with some dry sand so they sprinkle evenly on the growing medium. Petunia seeds are notoriously slow to germinate, so start them ahead indoors in order to have seedlings ready when warm planting weather arrives. You can also start petunias yourself if a certain type or color is not available as a transplant.īe advised that growing seedlings of any plant is something of an art and it takes some extra knowledge and equipment to produce sturdy, healthy plants. There are many, many kinds of petunias available as transplants in the spring either mail order or at local garden centers. Space seedlings about 10 inches apart in a window box or planter. Whatever the type of petunia chosen, plant 3 seedlings per 10-inch basket. Cascading petunias are ideal for hanging baskets. While all types of petunias are great for window boxes and planters, the double flowered ones are best used in containers rather than in beds. Because they tend to attract lovely moths after dark, many homeowners plant petunias near landscape lighting located near a window or patio where they can enjoy the flowers and their visitors at night. Tuck petunias in between evergreen shrubs to brighten the area. The low growing types are ideal for the front of a flower border, in planters near doorways and pools, or on patios. So, you have quite a lot of options when it comes to growing these flowers from seeds.A definite Yes! Petunias are moderately easy to grow from seed, and extremely easy to grow from commercially grown seedlings. Passionate breeders all over the world come up with new types of petunias every single year. The insects usually disappear on their own later the same month.

Budworm caterpillars - These little green caterpillars come out in July to feast on the flowers.

It's that easy! But again, make sure you don't drown the roots.

Aphids - Hose your petunias down using a lot of water.

Choose varieties that are resistant to rot and mold in the first place to make your job easier.

Soft rot or gray mold - There is no way to combat this.

Still, here are a few things that can happen to these flowers and what you can do about them. They are pretty resistant to invaders as far as flowers go.

The good news for every gardener who is in love with petunias is that they don’t require a lot of attention when it comes to diseases and pests.

This is definitely the case for garden petunias that tend to spread and need all the nourishment they can get.

In mid summer, you can use liquid fertilizer but no more than once every two weeks. They thrive on balanced fertilizers such as 12-12-12.

You can use fertilizer to give your petunias a boost. You have probably already come in contact with them because these are the most common types of petunias available. They are known for producing either single or double flowers that can grow up to 2-3 inches in diameter. Here is the classification along with some examples. It is out of those four subgroups that you can choose the kind you like the most or that will fit your garden best. If you’re new to the world of petunias, the first thing you need to know is that they are divided into four categories. Pale to deep green, with a sticky and hairy texture Single and double blooms that can reach 1 to 3 inches in diameterĪ wide variety of colors including pink, white, purple, and black some are spotted Where do they come from, what types of petunias can you grow in your garden, and what do they symbolize in the language of flowers?įind all you need to know about petunias in this definitive guide.

Planting petunia seeds indoors