wave petunia

I am relatively new to this forum, and hope I'm in the right section. Does any know if the seeds from the purple wave petunia are viable or sterile. I understand most hybrids are sterile. I have just collected my first batch of these seeds. I am not sure if I should or should not have collected them. Any and all advice needed!
Donna

Hi Donna! Welcome to Daves! 'Purple Wave' is a hybrid and does not come true from seeds - HOWEVER.... I've been collecting seeds from my wave petunias for a few years and I can't tell the difference. The plants have the same sprawling habit and there is hardly any color variance. I say go for it. For what the catalogs charge for a few seeds it's well worth it.

PoppySue,
Thank you so much for your advise! I'm going to keep collecting them and save them for next year.
Donna

Poppysue, I've been busy plucking those dead/dying blooms from my purple wave, as I assumed saving seed was a lost cause - figured I'd try some cuttings in the fall, and probably still will.

But if I could grow them from seed......hmmm. How do you know WHEN to collect it, and HOW do you collect it?

Go_vols ~ They don't produce a lot of seeds like some of my open pollinated petunias but they produce enough to make it worth while. The pods are little tear shaped capsules that form behind the spent blooms. As they mature they turn a golden brown color and will eventually split open if left an the plant. I try to collect them before they split - but after they turn brown. I put them in a paper cup and as they dry they split open and spill the seeds out. Petunia seeds are really teeny weenie and after they dry I just crunch the pods up and sift out the chaff with a strainer.

I don't bother deadheading the waves. They don't seem to need it. They just keep on going, and going, and going =) . I've also managed to collect seeds from a few of the 'Supertunia' plants. They produce even less seed but if you watch close you can find a few pods to gather. These are also hybrids and won't come true to the parent but I've had some fabulous plants from their seeds.

Poppysue
My waves reseed themselves sometimes. I need to go thin them out. I've got a red one this year. I'm going to see if I get anymore like it. Last year I had a pink one with white specks, but I didn't get anymore from the seed I saved.
Calalily

Poppysue
I saved seed last year from Lilac Wave and this year I have beautiful deep blue purple large flowered blooms on my plants as well as a few shades of pale white. It's fascinating what these seeds will produce. I'm pretty content with these as the flower heads are much larger and bolder than the purple wave petunias and has the same bloom size as the lilac wave! Wonder what seed saved from these will produce next year? Am also going to try to save seed from my supertunias. I like thier habit much better than the wave for containers and hanging baskets.