How to Grow Petunias from Seed

Petunias are a beautiful flowering annual plant that you can easily grow from seed. Annual plants provide you season long color in the garden with their continuous blooming and fast growth habits. When planning your annual garden be sure to think about color, growth habit and sun needs. Petunias are hungry plants meaning they love to be fertilized and they love water

Here are the steps on how to grow petunias from seed:

1. Start your seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date or earlier for early blooms.
2. Fill a seed starting tray with a sterile seed starting mix.
3. Sprinkle the petunia seeds on top of the soil.
4. Lightly cover the seeds with more soil.
5. Mist the soil with water.
6. Cover the seed starting tray with plastic wrap or a clear lid.
7. Place the seed starting tray in a warm, sunny spot or under grow lights.
8. Remove the plastic wrap or lid once the seeds have germinated and the seedlings have their first set of true leaves.
9. Thin the seedlings so that there is only one seedling per cell.
10. Fertilize the seedlings with a weak solution of liquid fertilizer once a week.
11. Harden off the seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for a few hours each day, before transplanting them outdoors after your last frost date.
12. Water the petunias regularly, especially during hot, dry weather.
13. Fertilize the petunias every 2-4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
14. Deadhead the petunias regularly to encourage new blooms.
15. Enjoy your beautiful petunias!

Here are some additional tips for growing petunias from seed:

• Use a good quality seed starting mix.
• Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
• Fertilize the seedlings regularly.
• Harden off the seedlings before transplanting them outdoors.
• Water the petunias regularly, especially during hot, dry weather.
• Fertilize the petunias every 2-4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
• Deadhead the petunias regularly to encourage new blooms.
• Protect the petunias from pests and diseases.

With a little care and attention, you can easily grow beautiful petunias from seed. Petunia do so well planted in containers or in ground.

Happy Gardening!

Ciearra