how do you grow petunias from seed

Here are the steps for planting petunias from seed:

1. Spread the tiny petunia seeds on top of a moist seed-starting mix. ...
2. Then, cover the container with clear plastic, and put it in a warm spot but out of direct sunlight. ...
3. Once seedlings emerge, remove the plastic.
4. When the seedlings have three true leaves, they can be transplanted into their own pots until they are ready to be transplanted outdoors.

Full Answer

How long to germinate a Petunia seed?

Petunia Seed Planting Instructions

• Spread the seeds across the top of the container and gently press until they are incorporated into the soil.
• Press down with your fingers and then mist the soil lightly.
• Cover the container with plastic wrap and place it in a sunny spot, but not in direct sunlight.
• In seven to 10 days, the seeds should germinate.

Do petunias grow better in sand or soil?

While soil needn’t be terribly rich to grow good petunias, it must drain decently. Helps open up heavy clay soil, which improves drainage, but can also increase the ability of light, sandy soil to hold moisture and nutrients.

When to plant Petunia seeds outdoors?

When to Plant Petunias

• It’s easiest to buy young plants from a nursery that sells petunias in flats. ...
• If you are going to grow petunias from seed, start the seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost date. ...
• Plant young petunias outdoors after your last spring frost date, but keep a close eye on the weather forecast and protect young plants from late frosts.

How to make petunias grow?

Tips on Growing Beautiful Petunias

• Light and Temperature Requirements. Petunias need at least six hours of sunlight daily. ...
• Planting Location Tips. Petunias grow best in soil with at least 25% organic matter mixed in. ...
• Watering. ...
• Soil. ...
• Fertilizer. ...
• Growing Petunias in Pots. ...
• Growing Petunias from Seeds. ...

Are petunias easy to grow from seed?

Petunias are moderately easy to grow from seed, and extremely easy to grow from commercially grown seedlings. Use petunias everywhere there is sun. The low growing types are ideal for the front of a flower border, in planters near doorways and pools, or on patios.

How long does it take to grow petunias from seed?

Starting seeds indoors But it takes 10 to 12 weeks before petunias are big enough to plant out, so they need to be started early (about March first in northern climates).

How do you start petunia seeds indoors?

1:165:22How to Grow Petunias from Seed - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFit a label in case you forget what you wanted then cover the tray with its transparent plastic lidMoreFit a label in case you forget what you wanted then cover the tray with its transparent plastic lid store the tray and in warm place but out of direct sunlight.

When should I start petunia seeds?

Most gardeners buy petunias at their local garden center or greenhouse in spring. However, petunias can also be started indoors in late winter. Sow petunia seeds indoors about 10 weeks before the intended outdoor planting date. (Petunias should be planted outdoors after the danger of frost is past.)

What month is best to plant petunias?

As with almost all bedding plants these days, you can find a wide assortment of petunias at local garden centers. For best results, plant petunias in September through early November or late January through mid-March.

What is the fastest way to germinate petunias?

Pelleted or plain, sow petunia seeds by gently pressing them into moist seed-starting mix. Then sprinkle on more mix until the seeds are barely covered. Kept warm and moist, the seeds usually germinate within 7 days.

Do petunias come back every year?

Petunias are perennials, however, they are typically treated as annuals. In year-round warm climates, they will often survive and even bloom over the winter months. If you live in a cooler climate and want your petunias to grow back in the spring, then you must store them indoors during the winter.

Can petunia seeds survive winter?

They need lots of sun, well-draining soil, and moderate amounts of water. And, as we've mentioned, they can't survive in cold weather. A hard freeze will kill them. Read our in-depth petunia growing guide here.

Should petunia seedlings be pinched?

When you pinch out the tip of a petunia, it stimulates new growth by causing the release of growth hormones. This helps new transplants become established faster, so pinch all petunias when you set them out in the garden. Prompt deadheading encourages lots of flowers.

Can I plant petunia seeds in January?

Sow petunia seeds indoors for approximately 10 weeks prior to the intended outdoor planting date. This should be sometime after the danger of frost has passed. Depending on where you live, this could be anytime from late February to early March in warmer regions or late April, early May in cooler areas.

Why are petunias so hard to grow?

Petunias are rather drought and heat tolerant, and do best with a thorough watering once a week. The key is for good drainage because excessive water in the soil can cause the roots to be affected. They prefer slightly moist soil to dry soil, so check your soil to see where things stand before adding more moisture.

Can you save petunia seeds for next year?

Store the seeds in an envelope or small paper bag and write the date and type of seeds on the front. Petunia seeds can be stored in a cool dry place for up to five years. Now that you know how to collect petunia seeds, the next step is learning which conditions are best for their germination.

What makes petunias grow fast?

When multiflora petunias are planted in a good area of the garden getting full sun daily, they'll grow faster than grandiflora petunias. Because of this, it can mean the flowers yellow faster, or you'll find the color is fading frequently.

What is the easiest flower to grow from seed?

Top 10 easy to grow flowersSunflowers. Always a favourite with kids - they'll definitely be impressed with Sunflower 'Mongolian Giant' growing up to 14 feet tall! ... Sweet Peas. ... Nigella (Love in A Mist) ... Aquilegia. ... Eschscholzia (Californian Poppy) ... Nasturtium. ... Marigold. ... Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill)More items...

Will petunias multiply?

Ground cover or spreading petunias, such as the 'wave' variety, are only about six inches tall, but they can spread very quickly, covering a large garden area in a single growing season!

Do petunias come back every year?

Once the last average frost date has passed for the year, as long as there is no freezing weather in the forecast, harden the petunia off for a week before putting it back outside full-time. By this time, the plant should have new foliage and should start growing again.

How to start petunias from seed?

The most important point to remember when learning how to start petunias from seeds is that these are summer, heat-loving plants. It does them no good to plant early in the garden, as they’ll just sit and sulk or rot. In order to get these seedlings to planting size at the right time, you need to start them indoors at least ten weeks before planting time. In the north, this is around the first week of March and will be even earlier in more southern states.

How to transplant a plant into a pot?

Transplant the seedlings into individual pots once they develop two or three true leaves. Lift out individual plants with a wooden stick or butter knife, and transplant them into potting soil. Keep the soil moist but well-drained, and return them under the lights until it’s time to plant them outside.

How to propagate petunias?

Sprinkle them gently on top of the soil, using only a small pinch of seeds. Petunia seed propagation only happens when they get the right amount of light. Don’t bother to buy special plant-growing light. Regular fluorescent lights work just as well. Place the plants on a shelf and hang the light directly above them.

Can you transplant seeds in eggshells?

Of course, you can also start them in eggshells for easier transplanting later. Sprinkle the tiny seeds on top of the mix and gently moisten them with a spray bottle. Cover the tray with plastic wrap to retain moisture and place it in a bright place out of direct sunlight that averages around 75 degrees F. (24 C.).

Is petunia a reliable flower?

Image by Natalikaevsti. Pet unias are so reliable and have such a wide variety of uses that it’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular garden flowers today. It’s simple to buy a couple of petunia seedlings to fill one planter, but for mass plantings and garden edging, growing petunias from seed is the way to go.

Sow Petunia Seeds

You can sow your petunia seeds in trays, small containers, or soil blocks. When I am sowing a lot of seeds I like to use trays then plant up the seedlings when they get big enough. This works with all petunia varieties including wave petunias. Some are called Easy Wave and the name says it all!

Petunia Seed Germination

Starting petunia seeds indoors is similar to other plants. Cover the plant trays to keep moisture in.

Petunia Seedling Care

Keep the seedlings under the lights but remove them from the heat mat. Petunia seedlings will grow well in a lower temperature, 65 – 70F degrees. Nighttime temps can go down to 55F degrees.

Transplant Petunia Plants

Once your petunia seedlings have 4 to 6 true leaves it is time to transplant them into larger pots or container packs. If you are limited on space you can plant them into recycled 6 pack containers you may have saved. Or into 3 or 4 inches pots.

When to Sow Petunia Seeds for Early Bloom

If you are wanting to get a head start on blooming with your petunia seed starting a good time is 10 weeks before your last frost date.

Harden off your Seedlings

A week or two before it is time to plant your petunias out in the garden, it is time to harden them off or prepare them for outdoor conditions. This takes a bit of work and patience. I don’t typically need to do this as I have mine out in the greenhouse and it is close enough to outdoor conditions.

Common Question about Petunias

Will Petunias self-seed?: Yes, in many areas they will. See this video on how I fill my containers with free petunias: Fill Window Boxes with Free Plants

How to get rid of leggy stems on petunias?

Petunias often develop leggy stems, but it's easy enough to remedy: deadhead flowers regularly by pinching back. If this doesn't help your petunia fill out, you can prune its stems back to 2 to 3 inches long, and as it regrows it will be less leggy.

What is the flower of a petunia?

Petunias have wide, trumpet-shaped flowers and branching foliage that is hairy and somewhat sticky. Within the petunia genus, there is great variety: single and double blooms; ruffled and smooth petals; striped, veined, and solid colors; mounding and cascading growth habits; and even some with fragrance.

What temperature do petunias need?

The ideal temperatures for petunias are roughly 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night. They can tolerate temperatures all the way down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but frost and freezing temperatures will damage and ultimately kill the plants.

Why are my petunias not blooming?

Extreme summer heat also can cause a temporary cease in blooming. Older petunia varieties typically need deadheading (removing spent blooms) for them to continue blooming. Many newer varieties don’t require deadheading, though they’ll still benefit from it to maximize their blooms.

What is a petunia?

Petunias ( Petunia spp.) are one of the most popular garden flowers for both borders and containers. They are prolific bloomers; you can find them in just about every color but true blue; and they have wide, trumpet-shaped flowers and branching foliage that is hairy and somewhat sticky. Within the petunia genus, there is great variety and most are sold as hybrids: single and double blooms; ruffled and smooth petals; striped, veined, and solid colors; mounding and cascading growth habits; and even some with fragrance.

How long do petunias last?

In most climates, petunias last one season as annuals. But, in certain warm climates, petunias will last several seasons.

What type of soil do petunias like?

Petunias prefer a light, fertile soil that provides good drainage. They can tolerate a variety of soil types as long as they are well-draining. Plus, they like a slightly acidic soil pH .

How big do petunias get?

The flowers reach 2½ to 3 inches across. ‘Madness’ series petunias have big, 3-inch flowers in many veined and solid colors. They are compact and bloom until frost. They bounce back well after rain. ‘Double Madness’ petunias are compact and floriferous with big, 3-inch flowers all through the summer.

Why are Grandiflora petunias not growing in the south?

These large petunias often do not fare as well in the south because they’re prone to rot during humid, hot summers.

How big are Milliflora petunias?

Millifloras: Milliflora petunias are much smaller than any other petunias on the market. The flowers are only 1 to 1½ inches wide, but they are prolific and last all season!

What is a purple wave?

Trailing Petunias. ‘Purple Wave’ was the first cultivar in the class of spreading petunias. It produces large blooms of deep rose-purple. It is tolerant of summer heat, drought and rain damage. ‘Purple Wave’ remains under 4 inches tall. ‘Wave’ series petunias are available in a multitude of colors.

How far can petunias spread?

Spreading or Trailing Petunias: These are low-growing and can spread as much as 3 to 4 feet. They form a beautiful, colorful groundcover because the flowers form along the entire length of each stem. They can be used in window boxes or hanging baskets.

When do petunias get leggy?

Getting Leggy in Midsummer. By midsummer, most petunias tend to get leggy, producing blossoms at the tips of long, leafless stems. To keep petunias tidy and flowering, we prune the shoots back to about half their length. This will encourage more branching and more flowers.

What are annuals used for?

These colorful annuals can really add pop to a front lawn and are often used in borders, containers, hanging baskets or even as a seasonal groundcover. Some even have a slight fragrance.

How many seeds are in a petunia seed packet?

Buying the Seeds. Petunia seeds are sold in small packets, each of which contains somewhere about 25 – 65 seeds. As per your preference, you can purchase pure seeds in bulk (uncoated form) or pelleted ones. Since pelleted seeds are treated and packaged, they are more expensive than regular seeds.

How long does it take for Petunia to germinate?

Petunia seeds germinate within 10 days after sowing, while some may take about 3 weeks. Remove the plastic sheet as soon as the seeds start sprouting. Place the seedlings in a bright area, but away from direct sunlight. The ideal temperature range to maintain seedlings is 65° F. during day and 55° F. at nighttime. You can transplant the plantlets, when they bear the true leaves.

How to grow petunias in a pot?

Cover the seeds with soil (about 1/8 inch layer), and water lightly. You can cover a plastic sheet over the pot or tray to promote quick germination. And keep it in a corner that receives indirect sunlight.

How to transplant petunias?

Harden them before transplantation by placing outdoors in bright light during day time. After frosting is over, and when the soil temperature measures 60 degrees F , transplant petunia plants in well-drained garden soil. The plants will grow to about 12 – 15 inches tall. Encourage them to bear flowers.

What is wave petunia?

Petunia flowers are found in a wide array of dazzling colors, both in single and multicolored varieties. A popular variety called wave petunia seed exhibits spreading and trailing growth habit. Check out the color options available in your local nursery center.

Can petunia seeds be sown?

Petunia seeds are small and difficult to handle while sowing. Considering this, most nurseries provide small plantlets for propagation. Recently, commercial seed suppliers have created pelleted seeds, that are encased in a special coating. Such pelleted seeds are larger and easy to sow. In case you are planning to collect seeds on your own, the quality of harvested petunia seeds depends largely upon how you maintain the parent plants, harvest, and store them. Mentioned below are tips that you can follow for growing petunia seeds in your garden:

Can you grow petunia seeds on your own?

The viability of petunia seeds makes them ideal for propagation purposes. You can harvest these seeds on your own, and use them for next year plantation. This Gardenerdy article provides some tips that you can follow for growing petunia seeds in your garden.