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Hat off to the Petunia growers
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Posted by ladycraft 6 MO (jsks53@suddenlink.net) on Fri, Jul 3, 09 at 7:00
| After reading the "It is really true" post I am so jealous. All the petunias are great. Keep hearing people say petunias are so easy! I seem to have a problem with them. I had decided I wasn't going to bother with them but my heart kept telling me that everybody has such nice pots and beds that I needed them too. They add so much color. Last chance, well maybe! So I order seeds and the couple that came up didn't survive. Not blaming WS as I had very few that I didn't have success with. Must of been the seeds. Most of the seeds I did order didn't come up but that is another story. I have tried full sun, some sun. I did buy some at the store. They are all dying. I've fertilized and kept them watered. They are in pots, maybe I should of put in the ground. Is it just that they are bought? Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Kathy |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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| One trick is to transplant early. Get them into the ground early, when very small. Mine probably were only an inch or so tall, with a set or two of true leaves. I get them established while the weather is still cold, and they always seem to do better. They don't mind cold weather, and it gives them time to establish before the bad heat challenges them. Laura Bush grows like crazy. I tried a few "Shock Wave" this year, and all but one plant is doing well. The one that isn't doing as well is still just tiny. It looks like a healthy seedling, it's just the only seedling that isn't growing. Don't know why it won't grow since one 6 inches away did well and is in bloom. Sometimes I do think the problem is the seed. Also, some of mine aren't getting enough sun. Karen |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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| I did good at getting the early stuff WS and had some health issues so the annuals suffered. So I had no color and that is why I bought them. I will start them earlier next year. I was afraid to put things out when they were so little. Do you do the HOS thing? I noticed some of the other things weren't doing as well, I guess I for to thin. Now that I have thinned they are doing better. |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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| I made a few mistakes too. First, I sowed too heavy. Next time, I'll sow fewer seeds in smaller containers so I can plant them out without dividing. 6-12 seeds in a quart sized container is plenty. Second, I plunked and ran. I didn't come back to water them as often as I should have. I lost many due to negligence. |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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If it makes you feel better Ladycraft, I have trouble with petunias too. I haven't tried winter sowing with petunias, but the ones I've bought in pots just stay the same size and have very few blooms. Since they grow so slowly for me, I haven't been excited about trying them from seed. I'm in Missouri too but I don't think I could blame that since I went by the botanical gardens at Close Park in Springfield and their petunias were gorgeous.
Let me know if you hear of one that does well from seed in Missouri. I will give it a try too. What Karen said about planting them out early makes sense. Try try again. By the way, if you happen to live in the southern halfish of Missouri, Gardenweb has a Gardening in the Ozarks Forum that you might enjoy. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Ozarks Region Gardening
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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- Posted by karendee 5Wst. of Chicago,IL (My Page) on
Fri, Jul 3, 09 at 10:33
| I was not too good with them either. I have some in pots doing ok. the ones in the gound did not survive as well |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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| If you want I can send you some Laura Bush seeds for SASBE. I found it is one of the easier to grow petunias and it is a fast spreading.And I can also toss in some other petunia seeds as well. This year has been easy for the petunias.Last year was bad because of the rain. And I was surprised I started my petunias way earlier this year than last and I had a decent amount of germination. But next year I think I will be waiting a bit. Let me know if you want the seeds. Paula |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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- Posted by dorisl 5 NW Chicago burbs (My Page) on
Sat, Jul 4, 09 at 11:03
| Ive got Laura Bush growing in the front, it IS growing, but I wouldnt call it growing like crazy like Karens, it did get one bloom which I promptly picked off to make to grow more. It'll get there, Im sure, but the going is slow. Got some others growing from seeds I snagged while on vacation last year, same thing, they're going, but not like crazy or anything. |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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| I'm not having great results either. they germinated fine, but seem to be the same size for months now. Really tiny and Laura bush is one of the varieties I sowed. Go figure. Theresa |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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| Glad to see this thread. :D That thread was mine. Hehehe. It was Mone who sent me those Laura Bush seeds. I also harvested seeds from my petunia in hanging basket. I also bought pink petunia. I had problems with the pink petunias but not with the Laura Bush nor from my harvest. I'm not sure if these pink ones are not hardy enough. Or maybe, I sowed it late around early April. I sowed Laura Bush early March. |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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Yeah. You've got to try Laura Bush. The best, the most vigorous and very fragrant to boot. :-)
I also received some petunia seeds from trades over the years. They germinated great. Three cheers to traders :-) I sowed several packs of double petunia from Valueseeds this year. Not a single one germinated. :-( |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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I was gone for awhile but didn't forget about this thread.
OK you have me convinced, I have to keep trying. I'm playing with the idea of buying a huge pot of pink petunias. I've been eying a place that I drive by frequently that still has really nice looking ones. Hum, I think I could kill them too! Wonder if they know before I get them home. Maybe they will be reduced and feel like I am trying to save them? Christie sw mo, I do life in the sw part. Branson area. I've been on the Ozark site but not real regular. I'm going to try to be more active over there. Paula, I'm on my way to email you. I would love to have some seeds. I've had such good luck with the seeds that have been shared. |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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- Posted by karendee 5Wst. of Chicago,IL (My Page) on
Wed, Jul 8, 09 at 13:32
| Hey, maybe that was my problem the wrong variety of petunia. I will try Laura Bush. Paula, if you have any left I would love to send a sasbe. Is it too late to Sow petunia seeds? I have some soil I can Spring sow them in containers. Karen |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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Laura Bush- this is one area of volunteers, after I yanked a lot of them, transplanted some to other places when they were small. They ate a patch of Cali poppies and 5 gaillardia...
 Karen |
RE: Hat off to the Petunia growers
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- Posted by karendee 5Wst. of Chicago,IL (My Page) on
Thu, Jul 9, 09 at 11:19
Wow Karen those sure are pretty, and huge!!
I have never had a volunteer one :)
I can see one cal poppy poking out there... wow, I have never had a petunia that vigorous before
Karen |
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