By Ronnie Dauber, Garden Guides Contributor
About Petunias
Petunias are popular low-lying annuals that brag of their diversity
of brilliant color and attractive green foliage. They bloom all
summer with little maintenance and make perfect centerpieces to
containers and hanging baskets and serve as good low bordering
color to gardens.
Site Preparation
Petunias require soil that is a peat based mix containing perlite
or vermiculite for drainage. They grow best in full sunlight but
will survive in shaded areas that provide at least 6 hours of full
sunlight daily.
Special Features
Although petunias are appreciated for their continued growth with
low maintenance, when given the extra care they can become the main
attraction in containers, window boxes and hanging baskets, and the
colorful border or bush flower to any garden. Their colors range
from whites to yellows to pinks to reds and purples, with an
impressive selection of mixed colors.
Choosing a Variety
There are several varieties of petunias to choose from, all of
which exhibit an abundance of color with blooms that vary from
single to double and from small to large.
* Wave petunias grow about 4 to 6 inches tall and spread about 3 to
4 feet with 2- to 3-inch blooms, and are perfect as groundcover, in
hanging baskets or in pots or window baskets.
* Rambling petunias grow about 10 inches high and spread about 2 to
3 feet, and come in an array of colors.
* Tidal wave petunias (Hegiflora) grow into a dense hedge of about
16-to 22 inches high when planted 12 inches apart, and will become
a garden spreader about 3 feet long and 8 to 10 inches high when
planted 24 inches apart.
* Single petunias are single petal blooms that come in a multitude
of colors.
* Double petunias (Grandiflora hybrids) provide double petal
flowers and come in beautiful single or mixed colors.
Planting
Seeds can be started indoors about 8 weeks before transplanting to
the outdoors. Sprinkle the tiny seeds onto the soil surface and
gently press them into the soil. Do not cover with soil. Give them
lots of light and warmth of about 70 to 75 degrees F. When planting
the Petunias outdoors, wait until after the last frost and choose a
full-sun location, either in a garden, pot or planter. New plants
require plenty of water and regular fertilizer for continuous
blooms. Space plants about 12 to 18 inches apart in garden beds, or
place 1 to 3 plants in the center of each 10-inch container.
Care
Petunias require little to no maintenance. Deadheading is only
necessary when encouraging the plants to become bushier.
