How To Grow Petunias

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Copyright: 2008 Marilyn Pokorney

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Petunias are an old-time favorite flower.  They bloom most
of the summer and have a nice fragrance as well.  Petunias
can grow in pots, on balconies, in window boxes, hanging
baskets and wine barrels.  These beauties add bright colored
flowers and bring attention anywhere they are grown.

Petunias grow twelve to fifteen inches tall except for the
tiny mini variety and the spreading new wave petunias.

Petunias can grow in most well drained garden soils.  Dig up
the soil until light and add compost or manure or work in a
balanced fertilizer.

Petunias produce more flowers if grown in full sun but do
well in any area where they get at least 6 hours of
sunlight.

Petunias should be watered to a depth of six to eight inches
once a week.  Plants in pots or other containers will need
to be watered more often.

Seeds can be planted indoors or directly out in the garden
but for earlier blooms start seeds indoors anywhere from 6
to 12 weeks before the last frost.

Sow the seeds and cover very lightly with one-eighth inch of
soil.  Water thoroughly and keep warm.

Harden off the young petunia plants before planting outside.

Transplant petunia seedlings into your garden when they have
three true leaves and after the last frost.  Space them ten
to twelve inches apart. Try to transplant on a cloudy day.
Plant the petunias at the same depth as they are in the
containers and water thoroughly.

When plants are about six inches tall pinch back the plants
to encourage sideshoots and branching to produce bushier
plants and more flowers.  Do not pinch the tiny varieties or
the spreading types of pentunias.

Remove spent blooms to prevent the plant from going to seed.
This will keep the plant producing flowers until a hard
freeze in the autumn.

Petunias are susceptible to wilts and fungal diseases but
these are rare if plants are well drained and not
overwatered.  In humid weather pick off any blooms that get
black mold or other symptoms of fungus.  When the sunshine
returns the plants will recover just fine.

Aphids and slugs are about the only pests which attack
petunias.

For more information on growing petunias visit:
http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/petuniatips.htm
http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/slugs.htm

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Author:  Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
Email:  Current address on website
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