You will learn how and when to plant petunia for seedlings by reading the information below. Petunia is a beautiful flower in its diversity, one of the most popular in our open spaces. Caring for this plant is not particularly difficult, but the answer to the question of how to sow seeds is not as simple as it seems. Amazing flower beds, flowerbeds, flower borders hanging from hanging flowerpots, plant cascades delight our eyes, delight us with a subtle unique aroma from the beginning of summer until the very autumn. Flowers are unpretentious, drought tolerant, not afraid of heat, have enviable adaptability to various environmental conditions.
Petunia planting dates
When to sow petunia? This one depends on how quickly you want to get flowering bushes. If you have a specially equipped place (for example, on the balcony) and lights, then you can start sowing in late January or early February. According to the advice of experienced gardeners, it is preferable to plant it on the lunar calendar for flowers for 2020 on certain dates.
If you want to see lush flowering in May and enjoy the results of your work, then this is just the case when you need to plant petunia seedlings in late January-early February.
When planning planting dates, consider the characteristics of the variety or hybrid, their earlier or later flowering. For different varieties, the time interval between the appearance of the first flowers is approximately 1 month. Early species begin to bloom two months after the first sprouts are biting, and later three.
The most acceptable temperature for seedlings is + 23-25 ° C, if this indicator is lower, then the development of the plant will be slowed down.
How to collect petunia seeds
Seeds are in old, already faded petunia flowers. The lower testes are best suited for selecting seed, as these are the very first flowers. They manage to mature well by the time of collection, before the start of autumn rains. If your petunia was planted in the spring, then in July-August you will be able to stock up samples of those varieties that you like most.
The seeds of this beautiful plant are very small, smaller than poppy seeds, they need to be collected only fully ripened. It should take 2-3 months from the beginning of flowering. It is best to store them in a paper envelope to prevent fogging. In the absence of nearby moisture sources, petunia seeds can be stored for a very long time.
It is also worth mentioning dragee seeds, which are much more convenient to plant. Small, almost weightless petunia seeds are rolled into a special nutrient shell, consisting of substances that activate growth.
You can buy pelleted seeds in any flower shop, as well as on the shelves of specialized departments of markets. Such seeds should be sown one ball in a pot or peat tablet. And ordinary ones are simply sown, it is very difficult to normalize their number. The difference will be only in the number of seedlings: sprouted simple seeds give a thicker shoot.
How to grow seedlings of petunia in peat tablets
Sowing seeds in special peat tablets is ideal for petunias. This is a fairly easy and economical way to grow.
A peat tablet is peat pressed into a small flattened round shape, wrapped in a fine mesh of natural fiber. Each such "washer" has a recess for the seed. Its height is about 1 cm.
Immediately before planting the seeds, the tablets are soaked, water helps them to swell in height (up to 5 times). Thus, the resulting form is an optimal medium for seed growth, which retains moisture well and protects the sprouts from fatal fungi. In addition, peat "washers" contain nutrients that positively affect the growth and splendor of the plant.
How to sow in order to wait for seedlings? Planting petunias for seedlings in peat tablets is performed as follows:
- We choose tablets with a diameter of 3-4 cm - this is the optimal size for the development of petunia.
- Soak them in boiled water at room temperature for 7-10 minutes.
- With tweezers or a soaked tip of a wooden toothpick, we immerse several seeds or one ball (if the seeds are coated) in the recess of the tablet and water it very slightly.
- To activate growth, seeds need sunlight, so you can’t bury them - just lay them on top of the soil.
- To create the required microclimate, the container should be covered with plastic film or glass. This coating should not touch the surface of peat tablets.
- For a favorable development, the form with the tablets should be put in a warm place. At a temperature of + 25 ° C you will be able to see shoots after 7 days. But if the temperature drops below + 20 ° C, the sprouts may not rise at all.
Tablets need to be moistened periodically, but do not overdo it with watering. Too shoots too bright sunshine are also pernicious for shoots. Diffused light and moderate hydration are optimal conditions for seedlings. Water can be added to the tank pan.
Initially, the sprouts are very vulnerable, they require a lot of attention. To maintain uniform growth and prevent excessive stretching, it is desirable to lower the temperature of the content to + 17-20 ° C. Regular ventilation of seedlings is also recommended.
Petunia seedlings grown in peat tablets do not need a pick. Only if the root system breaks through the "washer" shell, and it is too early to plant it in the open ground, will it be necessary to transplant the sprouts into pots or other larger containers.
Transplanting petunia seedlings into separate containers
Petunia transplant rules:
- For transplanting, you can use the ready-made mixture for seedlings (sold in flower shops).
- A tablet with a sprout is immersed in a pot, gently filled with nutrient soil.
- Try not to damage the roots of the plant, also do not dig the tablet into the soil.
- Ground level should be equal to the top of the "washer".
10-12 days after transplantation, you can begin to harden plants - daily provide them with access to fresh air. After the weather is warm outside, petunia can be planted in the garden.
A characteristic feature of petunias is slow growth at the beginning. During this period, you should not overload the plants with fertilizers or excessive watering, as the forces of seedlings are activated on building the root system. All stages of the growing process should be carried out correctly: when to plant petunia on seedlings, transplant, plant, how to care for it. We hope that now you know all the tricks of sowing petunia seeds for seedlings.
In compliance with all the rules, an excellent result will not be long in coming, and a luxurious petunia will become a real decoration of your site.