Petunia for 2008

The last few years, I have had great success with starting petunias indoors in March. This year I almost lost all of them when my heater shut off in the greenhouse, but they all bounced back. We had an aweful spring with snow & cold temps into mid-May and then several weeks of cloudy rainy days. It's been cool temperatures throughout the summer, but enough sun to get the blooms.

I am the worst dead-header, so the wave series work well for me since they seem to continually have loads of buds & bloom. As seedlings, I fertilize with a diluted mix of fish fertilizer. When planting in containers or the flower beds, I use Smart-Cote slow release fertilizer. In August, started now, I fertilize with Miracle Grow Ultra Bloom every 2 weeks. This will keep them going strong until a killing frost, which was in Oct last year.

This year, all of the seeds were Pelleted and from Stokes, except for the Fantasy Mix which was 100 seeds in the pack. All germinated very well.

Here's my summary. All were "Trailing Petunias"

Wave: Lots of blooms. Trails very nicely
Easy Wave: Seemed to be more blooms, but smaller plant
Shock Wave: Smaller flowers than the Waves, but just as profuse with blooms
Baby Duck: More upright than the Shock waves & slightly bigger flower, but not as big as the Waves
Fantasy: Profuse bloom, same size flower as the shock waves but much smaller plant & more upright
Ramblin' White: More upright than Waves. Profuse Blooms and the only True White petunia
Ramblin' Red: Same & a very Fire Engine Red
Tital Wave: Huge plants with lots of blooms. Most in fushia colors, even though the color is Cherry & Purple.
Grape Avalanche: Coolest color. Little bigger flower size than Waves, doesn't spill over the pot as much as the waves, but way more blooms.
Razzleberry Mix: more upright than waves, lots of blooms, very nice rich colors.

All seem ok with little or no deadheading.

That's it, the 2008 summary. I am happy with all & would start all by seed again.

pic is of Supertunia Cherry Vista (not available in seed). planted 5 seedlings in 14" pot

Wave Tower (Dark Purple is Blue Easy Wave)

This message was edited Aug 5, 2008 11:40 AM

Blue Wave

Shock Wave

Tower with Fantasy on the top, Razzleberry and Waves

Babyduck

Ramblin' Red & White

Grape Avalanche

Cherry Tital Wave with White Ramblin'

Wave Mix

Pink Wave next to Fantasy pink

Nice tunias. All from seed! Great job.

"All from seed great job". love the red and white. What is the tiny white flower on top? Love the arrangem. by the blue door

Wow! Beautiful! Thanks for sharing all of that info. I want to try that next year. I don't have a greenhouse. Can I grow them indoors by a sunny window? Or do I need to buy lights?

And I love all of the climbing plants that are in the background of your 'tower' photo. Would you mind sharing what they are?

pgt, I think you would need lights, but not a greenhouse. If you start them in Mid March, you could put them outside a lot sooner than we can in Calgary. you would have to cover them for frost protection, but they are tough plants.

Here's a pic of the bed behind the tower. There is a John Cabot rose, just a few blooms left. Clematis, Engleman ivy and self sown morning glory, which is not common to self sow in Calgary,

Just beautiful!
Where do you buy your petunia seeds, and does it matter when you buy them?

I ordered them from Stokes. They seemed to have the best selection, plant descriptions and seeding instructions. Most mail seed order places have competitive prices, so the seeds should be about the same price everywhere. Pelletted seeds are by far much easier to plant.

If I buy them now will they still be good in march?

Pgt they should still be good for March planting. I've kept seeds for much longer than that and they were still viable. Lin

Thanks for all the info! I really appreciate it.

Would those bio domes that you can buy from Parks work? (I have 3 small boys (2, 4 & 6 yo), and live in a small house, so don't have a lot of time or space).

Gee, my petunias didn't do nearly as well. I think I need more fertilizer and more sun.

My petunias dont do so good either! Although I did try the pink wave last season and am hoping the old pot of them will comeback to life from seed..here is one of my sorry babies from last summer.. Got very little bloom of that plug.

(My alyssum was horrid too...! .....some years..OY!)

Great thread BTW guys!

how would I collect the seeds from a petunia?? or am I missing the boat?

Collecting seeds from the petunia (that produces seeds) is pretty easy - after the bloom fades you'll see a green pod - this pod dries and you simply pick it. Don't leave it on the plant too long after it turns brown though because it'll pop open spilling all the seeds into the pot. You can get easily over 100 seeds in a pod - they look like tiny tiny brown balls no bigger than a grain of salt.

Woops I forgot to mention to see the pod - you'll need to remove the faded bloom!

This message was edited Apr 17, 2009 9:52 AM

Awesome, ultimateshopper. I've been thrilled with the purple petunia that's been spilling out over my hanging baskets this year and just now went out and found one brown pod, spilled its contents and have it saved. Several more green pods on the way. Thanks so much for the info. LiseP

Ok, I cheated today. I went to the local store and got me 3 lovely hanging baskets that were so thick I am going to transplant them and make more new baskets. If they set seed, I will collect it for next year, but that will see in time.

Oh, forgot to mention, those baskets were $5 each.. they were reduced from $10!

I buy petunias in small pots and transplant them to my large containers every year and have always had good luck with them I use all colors together in an old fashioned garden theme and have gotten some good comments on them.

I think I got a great deal on these! I have some spare baskets from last season so will transplant them and I will have colors seperated! Then if they go to see, well so much for that. I almost hate to tear the baskets apart, but iff I am to save their seed, it is the only way. However I am not even sure these are going to be able to set seed. Time will tell!

I also got a great deal on 2 flats of snaps today.. $2 per flat and the derned paks normaly sell for a buck each so I saved about $18 bucks on the flats. They need a manicure and hopefully they will do fine!

Hey guys should we update this thread to PETUNIAS 2009 or just keep running here?

Here are my divides.. pardon my "dirty" pots!! I was hoping the rain would get them clean!

I will start it if I hear a second on the motion...

I second the motion :)

OKIE DOKIE.. linking.... We are going here!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/977762/