Amateur
member
Reged: 01/26/08
Posts: 193
Loc: Minnesota
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I have tried growing Petunias from seed the last couple of years with mixed and varied results. I am in northern Minnesota, (Canada is across the river) so i usually start them in late Feb. Is there a tutorial that I can get to help me figure out the perfect way to grow them? Any assistance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Scholastica
``Karen Kandoo``
Reged: 09/21/03
Posts: 1574
Loc: Brooklyn, NY
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Hi! You reminded me of another thing I need from Home Depot!! I start my seeds indoors around February. I have shop lights that I use to ensure they get the light they need. That's really important. Initially, put the lights about 2" from the soil. Gradually raise the lights so that they are about 4" above the plants. Initially, they need about 14 hours of light. Again, gradually, ween them down to about 9-10. One of the things I do to "exercise" them (to make the stems stronger) is to lightly brush/swipe my hand over them. Helps get them ready for the real world.
When you first plant the seeds, don't put them under much soil. Be careful not to water too much as the seeds can rot. The last couple years, I've started to use peat pots. I'm finding they are easy to plant. When I soak them initially, I have to let them dry a little so the seeds don't rot. I usually put some plastic wrap around the container (or some sort of clear lid) to give the seeds a little bit more warmth to germinate. Keep a close eye on them as you want to get that plastic wrap off as soon as you see them sprout. If not, they may get moldy and die. :-( That's such a painful experience!
When the seedlings have started to grow leaves, thin them out. Transplant or or or DITCH them. When the plants have a couple leaves on them, you can pinch the second set off to help encourage side growth.
I just remembered...I was going to get an additional light this year so I can plant more. Thank God - and my sister - for my HD gift card!!!
Now if I can just get the rest of my bulbs in...
A fun book: Jerry Baker's Flower Power
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Amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
Edited by Scholastica (01/27/10 08:14 PM)
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bozodog
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/19/07
Posts: 10108
Loc: SW Michigan
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Being a bi-annual, Petunias are harder to start from seed, but gollee, they're pretty.
Quote:
Starting Seeds Indoors
Although petunias are easy to grow outdoors from transplants, they may prove difficult for beginning gardeners to start indoors. The advantages of starting petunias indoors are that you have a wider choice of varieties from which to choose, and you can raise large quantities of plants for less money. But it takes ten to twelve weeks before petunias are big enough to plant out, so they need to be started early (about March first in northern climates). This means there's ample opportunity for problems to develop between seeding and the final product!
Because of their size, petunia seeds present a challenge, even to experienced gardeners. Not only are they very tiny and fine, but they also need light in order to germinate. Pelleted seeds are easier to handle, but not always available.
Spread seeds sparingly on top of a container of clean, damp potting soil or milled sphagnum moss. Water with a fine mist to wash them into the potting material or press them in gently with your fingers before watering. Then cover the container with clear plastic and store it in a bright, warm (70 to 85 degrees F) place--out of direct sunlight--until seeds begin to sprout. This usually takes seven to ten days after planting. Remove the plastic film once seedlings emerge. Then relocate the container to a bright, but cooler place; 65 degree days, with night temperatures anywhere from 55 to 65 degrees.
For best results, place the petunias four to six inches below a fluorescent light fixture until they're ready to plant outdoors. You needn't invest in expensive lights made specially for growing plants. Ordinary fluorescent tubes usually do just fine. Put the lights on a timer to keep them lit sixteen to eighteen hours daily. Raise the lights as seedlings grow, always maintaining that four to six inch space between plants and lights.
When seedlings have three true leaves, it's time to transplant them into individual peat pots or packs that hold several plants each. Feed them every two weeks (weekly for the "spreaders") with diluted liquid fertilizer. Harden off young plants by putting them outside on sunny, warm days. Then bring them back in at night for several days before planting them outdoors permanently.
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Governments don’t bear the cost of anything; their citizens do.
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jittercat
enthusiast
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 259
Loc: Michigan
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I've had very good luck with growing the 'wave' petunia from seed. I ordered the 'wave' variety packets from Park Seed and used the instructions that came with them. The seeds are pelleted and all I did was place them on top of the seed starter soil which I kept moist. My DDH made a set of heavy duty shelves with 4' fluorescent lights attached to the bottom of each shelf except the bottom one. One problem I had with this setup was no flexibility for distance of light from plant. The other problem was heat build up. However, the shelves live in a pretty cool room and by the time heat is a problem, I can move the babies to an unheated sunporch.
The wave petunia seed is more expensive than the regular seed, but one plant taken care of properly can cover a circular area with a diameter of 2 1/2 to 3 feet. They flower all summer without deadheading and they are very fragrant.
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