Petunia is one of the most popular flower crops that is used to create flower beds and vertical landscaping. The popularity of this flower culture is explained by its unpretentiousness, duration of flowering and a wide variety of varieties and hybrids. The only difficulty in cultivation is the need to buy or grow petunia seedlings on your own.

In this article, we will consider not only the best dates for planting seeds for seedlings in 2018, but also the main stages of growing and caring for seedlings at home.

  Planting petunias for seedlings

Petunia seeds are very small, and the first shoots appear late. It is because of this feature that the flower is grown by seedling.

The long-term development of seedlings makes it necessary to sow seeds in February and March. Only such an early planting can guarantee timely planting in open ground and the beginning of flowering in June.

As a rule, to select the optimal sowing period, use the Lunar calendar, which indicates which days are favorable and unfavorable for garden work (Figure 1). Despite the fact that the timing of sowing varies for each crop, there are some general recommendations. For example, seeds cannot be sown in the full moon and new moon. During these periods, plant juices are concentrated either in the tops or in the roots, so the full development of seedlings or seed germination is impossible. In 2018, such days will come on February 11 and March 12 (full moon) and February 26 and March 28 (new moon).

  Auspicious days in February

February is considered the best month for planting petunias for seedlings, as seedlings must develop and gain strength within 4 months before transplanting to a flower bed. As a rule, the formation of the root system takes 30-45 days and only after this the development of the aerial part begins.

The best days for sowing in February are considered the 7th, 8th, 21st and 22nd. It is important to consider that seed treatment or seed germination is also best done on these favorable days, as these procedures help to saturate the seeds with nutrients and are similar to normal sowing.

  Landing in March

Planting petunia seeds for seedlings in March is more suitable for regions with a temperate climate. This is due not only to the long development of the culture, but also to the optimal timing of transplanting seedlings into open ground: by the time the seedlings are transferred to the flowerbed, frost should completely stop and warm weather should stabilize.

   Figure 1. Planting and cultivation calendar

There are a lot of favorable days for planting petunia seedlings in March: 1, 7-10, 13-15. The rest of the time, you can prepare and cultivate the soil, weed control or planting other crops, as favorable days for different vegetables and flowers differ.

  In April

Despite the fact that the planting of petunia seedlings in April is considered relatively late, this is the method of growing this flower that is practiced in the Urals and Siberia. The cold climate of these regions does not allow replanting crops in open ground in May or early June, therefore seedlings are also sown later, so that it has time to grow stronger by the time of transplantation, but it has not grown too.

If we talk about petunia, then in April it is best sown on April 17-20 or April 25-28. Do not forget about the adverse days. Fortunately, in April there is only one day on which sowing of petunia seeds should be avoided. This is April 16th: on this day it is better to do soil preparation or weed control.

  How to grow seedlings of petunias

The cultivation of petunia seedlings, as well as other vegetable or ornamental crops, is carried out according to certain rules. By following these recommendations, you can grow truly strong and healthy seedlings.

The main nuances that should be considered when growing petunia seedlings are:

1. Proper soil selection: loose and light soil is suitable for this culture, which allows water and air to pass through well. In the case of petunia, it is better to buy such soil in the store. It is not only disinfected, but also devoid of small foreign matter, which is very important when sowing small seeds. If you decide to prepare the soil yourself, you will need a mixture of turf land, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 1. All components of the substrate must be sieved, and the finished mixture should be shed with boiling water or calcined in the oven for disinfection.
2. Seed preparation:  As a rule, petunia seeds are sold unprocessed, but valuable hybrids can be granulated (coated with a special coating). Additional processing for the latter is not necessary, since the shell contains all the necessary nutrients. If you use unprocessed seeds, they must first be immersed in a potassium permanganate solution, then dried and mixed with a small amount of sand. This will greatly facilitate the sowing process.
3. Selection of containers for landing:  petunia can be sown both in large boxes and in separate containers or peat tablets. The advantage is best given to individual containers, as this will save your time in the future, since seedlings do not need to be dived.

In addition, you should take care in advance of additional illumination (especially if you planted seedlings in winter) and fertilizers that you will need later when the first seedlings appear.

  Seeding methods

In addition to the traditional method of sowing in boxes, cups or individual containers, there are other methods of planting petunia seeds. Their essence boils down to facilitating the work of the gardener: since the seeds of the flower are very small, it is difficult to evenly distribute them on the ground (Figure 2).

We suggest using one of the following methods:

1. Mixture of seeds with sand:  prepared containers with nutrient soil should be poured with water, and the seeds mixed with sand in a separate container. Then they are simply evenly distributed on the surface of the soil and slightly moistened from the spray gun.
2. Sowing with tweezers (toothpick): This method is suitable for those who are going to sow seeds in separate containers. In this case, the planting material is spread on a clean white sheet, and two toothpicks and a glass of water are prepared. One toothpick is moistened so that seeds stick to it better, and the necessary amount of planting material is placed in a container, shaking off the seeds with a dry toothpick. As in the previous case, the crops need to be slightly sprinkled with water. The same principle is used for sowing with tweezers.
3. Sowing on snow:  first prepare a container with nutrient soil, and spread a small amount of snow (about 1-2 mm) on its surface. Sow the seeds on top of the snow. The meaning of this method is that the seeds of petunias will be clearly visible in the snow, and if you sow them too densely, you can thin them with tweezers. Watering the bed is not necessary: \u200b\u200bas the snow melts, the seeds will be saturated with moisture and help them plunge deep into the soil.

   Figure 2. Methods for planting petunias: with sand, a toothpick and in the snow

Regardless of the selected method of sowing, containers should be covered with a film so that a stable level of humidity and temperature is maintained inside.

  Peat planting

One of the most modern methods of planting any seedlings, including petunias, is considered to be sowing in peat tablets (Figure 3).

Note:  Externally, peat tablets resemble washers with a small indentation for seeds in the upper part. Before sowing, tablets should be wetted in water so that they swell. The advantage of this method of planting is that the seedlings do not need to be dived, and as they grow, they can be transplanted into the ground with a tablet.

Planting petunia seeds in peat tablets is very simple. To do this, you need to buy the tablets themselves, and it is better to choose the smallest diameter washers. After that, they need to be soaked in water until completely swollen, removed from the water and spread 2-3 seeds into a depression located in the upper part of each tablet. Then they need to be placed in a container and put in a warm, well-lit place.

   Figure 3. Cultivation in peat tablets

The advantage of such cultivation is the ease of plant care. Firstly, grown seedlings do not need to be dived, and you can transplant into open ground with a peat tablet. Secondly, seedlings do not need top dressing, since they get all the useful substances from peat, and you can determine what plants need watering by the color of the substrate.

  Picking seedlings

If you did not have the opportunity to plant seeds in cassettes, peat tablets or individual cups, and you used one large container, grown plants will need a pick (Figure 4).

Note:  Seedlings grow for a long time, and at the same time form a fairly branched root system. Therefore, when they form several true leaves, they should be planted in separate cups, up to 250 ml.

The picking of petunias is carried out by the method of transshipment: the bed is watered, the seedlings are carefully removed together with a lump of earth and transplanted into a separate container. Next, you need to fill up the soil so that there are no voids in the pot and water the plants. Feeding spiked seedlings can be done no earlier than 7-10 days after the procedure.

  Watering and care

In order to successfully grow petunia seedlings, you need to take care of the proper care of the plants. First of all, this includes regular watering. It is important to observe moderation: overmoistening can lead to the development of fungal diseases, and a lack of moisture will stop the growth of seedlings.

   Figure 4. Stages of picking seedlings

The easiest way is to water the petunia from below, immersing the container with seedlings in a pan with water. But, if you do not have the opportunity to use this method, you can moisten the soil with a syringe without a needle, watering so that the water does not fall on the stems or leaves of the plants. It should also be borne in mind that the water should be soft, so tap water must be defended during the day. Just before watering, you can add a little lemon juice to it.

Other stages of care for seedlings of petunias are:

1. Compliance with temperature conditions:  The optimal indicator is + 24 + 25 degrees. Particular attention should be paid to hybrid varieties that react negatively to sudden changes in temperature.
2. Lighting:  in the first few weeks, seedlings need good lighting. To do this, provide additional illumination, which must be left on almost around the clock. Under such conditions, plants will develop more actively. When the seedlings grow, it will be enough to reduce the duration of daylight hours to 11-12 hours.
3. Top dressing: fertilizer application is not carried out immediately after sowing or picking. However, in the process of seedling development and leaf formation, additional nutrients must be added. Sprouts that have just appeared are sprayed with Previkur's solution for the first two weeks, and when 3-4 leaves appear on them, a solution of yellow Kristallon (20 g of substance per 10 l of water) is applied to the soil. Two weeks after the picking, the seedlings can be treated with a solution of a root-forming preparation.

In addition, for the formation of adult bushes of the correct form, a pinch of seedlings will be required. The procedure is carried out when 4-5 leaves appear on the bushes. To make the seedling more magnificent, the top of the plant is cut along with the growth point. As a result, a new shoot is formed from the sinus of each leaf, and an adult bush will bloom more abundantly. It should be borne in mind that in the process of growing adult petunias, pinching is carried out several more times to form a bush with a lush crown.

  Photo and video of petunia seedlings

So that you can independently grow strong and healthy seedlings of petunias, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the video, which details all the details of this process.

6 minutes to read

Petunias are one of the most favorite flowers of flower growers. They have a huge range of colors and textures, they differ in the number of colors and their size.

At the same time, in order for the petunia grown from seeds to be really to your taste, you need to understand how varieties differ, what characteristics they have, and when it is better to plant them so that there is enough time to make them stronger.

Popular varieties of flowers

One of the most common varieties of petunias is considered Milliflora. This is a bush variety of this plant, on which small flowers grow in the size of 2-4 centimeters. But the flowers of the multiflora variety will be larger and will reach around 7 centimeters. If you like large flowers of petunias, then you should pay attention to the variety Grandiflora  - her flowers grow up to 16 centimeters.

The first shoots of petunias.

If you want petunia flowers to appear on your flowerbed before your neighbors, then select the seeds of the variety Polaris, well, if your site is located on a windy area, and there are often rains in the region, then it is better to give preference to Sotra Storm.

To create a beautiful decor on the loggia balcony or terrace, it is better to choose cascading varieties of petunias. The most resistant to natural phenomena, cherry, Ramblin, Typhoon and Rose are considered decoratively attractive and blooming..

Ampel petunias are often used in the decoration of buildings, their shoots fall from the pots, therefore it is recommended to hang such plants in a cache-pot and create “living” curtains from them. The most common and decoratively attractive species is considered a variety. Surfinia.

Features of ampelous species

Ampelny petunias are also called cascading. Their feature is that the branches of the bush fall from the pots, forming a flower cascade. Such petunias should be grown in the air, hanging pots and flowerpots on the railing, walls or in special flower pots.

All ampelous petunias can be divided into three types:

1. With shoots, the length of which can be up to 120 centimeters. They grow down, because they are most often used to create “living curtains”.
2. With stems that first grow up, and then begin to fall.
3. With small lashes that spread along the flowerpot. Such flowers usually decorate balconies or they are planted in large flowerpots to create a floral carpet.

Terry plants at home

Terry petunia is an annual plant, however, in order for it to bloom actively throughout the season, you need to know how to properly care for it. First of all, it should be understood that the flowers of terry petunias are quite heavy. Therefore, with strong gusts of wind, they easily break off.

Dense flowers.

From this follows the main rule of growing terry petunias - they should be placed in a calm place and, preferably, under cover, so that during rain or hail the flowers do not break off.

Landing dates: determine the best time

So that the seeds have time to sprout, and the seedlings get stronger for planting it in the ground and at the same time from the very early spring began to please with their flowering, it is necessary to choose the right time for. Experts say that petunias should be sown in February-March.  But more accurate dates will depend on the region in which this flower will be grown.

Sowing seeds by region

The climate in which this flower will grow makes its adjustments to the sowing dates. So in the southern regions, for example in the Stavropol Territory and the Crimea, you can sow petunias for seedlings from the first of February. At this time, in these regions it is already quite light, and when the time comes to plant seedlings in the ground, there will be a quite acceptable temperature. By the way, in these regions, on petunias, only 8 weeks after sowing seeds into the ground, the first flowers may appear.

Seeds planted in egg packaging.

If we talk about growing petunias in Siberia and the Urals, then in this case it is not recommended to sow the seeds of this plant earlier than the sardine in March, but rather at the end of this month. Otherwise, the seedlings will have to be planted in the still unheated soil, which can threaten the death of the plant. In this case, it is not worth worrying especially about petunia, because it can withstand frosts to -4 ° C.

Briefly about the timing of planting lobelia for seedlings:  depending on the region, this may be February — April. Some gardeners begin to sow lobelia in January. True in this case, a flowerpot with seedlings must be provided with an additional source of artificial light.

In order for the seeds to sprout successfully, and the shoots are strong and healthy, it is necessary for these plants. Manufacturers recommend planting petunia in the soil for indoor plants. But to make the seeds more comfortable in it, you should add a baking powder to the pot, which is usually vermiculite or perlite.

Petunia seeds must first be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. To do this, the seeds need to be wrapped in gauze and soaked in a solution for 1-2 weeks.   As soon as the grains start to peck, they can be planted in a container with prepared soil.

How to care at home?

Petunia seedlings love heat, therefore it is recommended to keep it at a temperature above 23 ° C, but over time, it can be slightly omitted. Please note that as soon as you dive seedlings, you need to lower the temperature to 20 ° C, while it is better that it is not warmer than 15 ° C at night.

So that the seedlings do not die, do not water it too abundantly, otherwise the root system of the plant will rot and the flower will die. It is best to water with a syringe, directing a stream of water strictly under the root of the plant - petunia does not like when water falls on foliage.

The process of picking seedlings.

To grow a healthy flower, seedlings need to be fertilized, but it is recommended to do this no earlier than 15 days after emergence. The first feeding should be carried out with nitrogen and mineral fertilizers. And when you transplant seedlings into the ground, additional feed should be carried out using phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.

And another important factor for the successful growth of petunias is considered a sufficient amount of light. And since in our regions in March and April there is still not a long daylight hours, it is recommended to install a fluorescent lamp at the seedling growing place and turn it on daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

How to plant in open ground?

Usually seedlings of petunias can be planted in open ground in late May - early June. But again, you need to focus primarily on the weather this year. P when choosing a time for a transplant, consider that there are no frosts at night.  If you plant a petunia at standard time, then it will bloom by mid-June and will delight with flowers right up to mid-October.

It is necessary to plant seedlings of petunia in loosened soil, which is enriched with organic fertilizers. You need to place petunia bushes at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from each other, if you have a multi-flowered variety, and 20-25 centimeters if the seedlings are large-flowered.

To reduce stress levels for seedlings, you need to plant it on a cloudy day, or in the early morning before sunrise or after sunset. After planting the seedlings, you need to pour them with water and mulch with peat or humus.

Useful video

If you chose high-quality petunia seeds, carefully treated seedlings, and planted it correctly in the ground, this flower will delight you with abundant flowering throughout the summer until late autumn, and the older the petunia will be, the more resistant it will be to temperature changes, gusts of wind and other various aggressive influences of Mother Nature.

Petunia is a moody beauty, known for her exactingness in planting and grooming. Sowing petunias for seedlings is carried out according to strict rules. If you miss something, the plants will be frail, and the flowering will be short and inexpressive. Experienced gardeners have figured out how to properly process and germinate seeds, what soil and fertilizer the flower prefers, as well as its requirements for moisture and light.

Plant features

Petunia is an ornamental crop that is grown as an annual. Graceful bell flowers of all kinds of shades and shapes adorn both garden plots and window sills. Both at home and in the open, flowering lasts an average of 3.5 months.

Suitable varieties of petunias are easily selected for any garden composition, as the shades of flowers vary from white to rich red. There are yellow, blue, pink and even black varieties, as well as with a beautiful border. The densely blooming petunia is a sign of a confident gardener and a reason for pride.

Sowing dates

The optimal age is 11-13 weeks. Overexposing the sprouts is not recommended, as well as moving it too early to the garden. Sowing dates are calculated depending on the temperature in the region. Petunia seedlings do not respond well to spring frosts, so they are planted with a stable temperature. If you plan to relocate seedlings to the site in May, then sowing seeds is carried out in late February. And if young petunias will be planted in June, then the seeds will dive in early spring.

The peculiarity of sowing in February: at this time of the year, solar heat is still not enough for the harmonious development of seedlings. Therefore, when growing seedlings at home, you will have to use phytolamps to add 2-3 hours to the daylight in the morning or in the evening. If this is not possible, then it is better to plant petunia on seedlings in early or mid-March. A sufficient amount of light is the key to active growth and the formation of buds.

Preparatory stage

In order for the seedlings of petunia to grow strong and give abundant flowering, it is necessary to take care of it before sowing the seeds. It all starts with the selection of soil, capacity and their preparation for planting.

Capacity should be moderately wide and deep. Seeds germinate under a film or a transparent cover. The greenhouse effect significantly accelerates germination. Plastic containers are suitable from improvised means: seedlings can be in them before transplantation.

After picking at the stage of 3-4 real leaflets, boxes with a separate hole for each sprout are selected. They can be both wooden and plastic. The bottom of the dishes should be equipped with drainage holes. Since stagnation of water will not bring any benefit to the root system, a moisture-removing layer of expanded clay or broken brick is laid on the bottom of the boxes.

The flower is demanding on the composition of the soil - you should plant petunia only in nutrient soil and fertilize it from the very beginning of cultivation. Suitable soil for indoor or flowering plants, purchased in a specialized store. However, experienced gardeners mix such soil with peat.

The composition of the optimal soil for petunia:

• 0.5 parts of sand;
• 1 part peat;
• 1 part of turf land;
• 1 part humus.

Petunias prefer neutral or slightly acidic soils. To reduce acidity, lime or wood ash is added to the soil. The soil, regardless of its composition, should be well tilled, it is even allowed to pass it through a large sieve.

Advice! Do not forget about soil disinfection. Before sowing, pour plenty of water with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. To prevent seedlings from being exposed to fungal diseases, use a fungicide solution. From pests helps scalding the soil with boiling water. Perform the procedure a few days before sowing. Boxes for seedlings also process, for example, a solution of formalin or other antiseptic.

Types of seeds

Petunia seeds are sold either in bulk or in granules. A placer is a seed collected directly from a plant. Petunia seeds are quite easy to distinguish: very small, usually do not exceed 0.5 mm, resemble poppy seeds, but smaller.

Granular seeds are placed in a water-soluble shell, so they need much more moisture to germinate. Granular material is more convenient to sow, it is larger, which allows you to place the seeds in the substrate with a certain interval. Germination of pelleted seeds is higher than usual, but they are more expensive. On the other hand, the placer can be considered for quality.

As for the plant varieties, for all varieties of petunias the rules for processing, planting seeds and caring for the sprouts are similar. When choosing planting material, you need to focus on its quality and combination with other plants in the flowerbed. For growing in hanging pots, special ampel varieties are taken.

Several ways to sow seeds

The tanks and the soil are prepared, it remains to choose the method of sowing. For scattering and granules different methods are provided. Since planting material is very small, it is not buried in the soil, but scattered on the surface. For better germination, the seeds are sprinkled with a thin layer of substrate, but not more than 1-2 mm.

A scattering of petunia seeds is sown in three ways: mixed with sand, use snow or a wet toothpick.

The first way: sand

Mixing the placer with sand facilitates its uniform distribution in the substrate, and hence the correct growth. Seeding Stages:

1. The disinfected container is filled with soil. The soil is watered abundantly with settled water.
2. A scattering of seeds is poured into a deep plate, a little sand is added to them. Everything is thoroughly mixed.
3. The mixture is transferred to a moistened substrate: you need to carefully scatter it with a thin even layer.
4. Now you need to moisten the placer using spraying from a spray bottle. Why you can not use a watering can: a powerful stream of water will deepen small and light seeds into the soil stronger than required, and they may not germinate.
5. It remains to sprinkle seeds with 1-2 mm of the substrate.

The second way: snow

To grow petunia seeds evenly using a thin layer of snow:

1. Soil is placed in a box, it is not necessary to water it. Snow is distributed on top with a thin layer, not more than 1.5 mm.
2. Now seeds are sprinkled directly onto the snow. They will be clearly visible on a white background.
3. With a toothpick, the placer is distributed more evenly.
4. The snow gradually melts, thereby drawing the seeds into the soil and moisturizing it. In addition, it is not necessary to sprinkle the seed with soil.

Method Three: Toothpick

Another way to get uniform seedlings:

1. Seeds are distributed on a white sheet of paper.
2. The tip of the toothpick is wetted in water, and a seed is picked up by it.
3. Now it moves into the ground. The seed is easily separated using a second (dry) toothpick.
4. So all the seeds are distributed. The method is convenient when a limited number of seedlings are required.

Advice! Pour the soil in the box so that 2-3 cm remain to its edge.

Granular seeds in peat tablets

The better the cultivation of petunia from pelleted seeds:

1. They are easier to distribute on the ground evenly. So each sprout will be provided with the same nutrition.
2. Subsequently, seedlings are easier to dive without damaging the root system.
3. No need to feed.

Peat pills are a special substrate for germinating dragee seeds of petunia. The method is convenient in that the maximum amount of material sprouts, and there is no need for picking. Tablets come in different sizes; medium sized 4-5 cm dia are suitable for petunia seeds.

How to plant a granular seed in a peat tablet:

1. Peat is placed in special plastic containers.
2. A few hours before planting, the tablets need to be liberally moistened before swelling. Peat absorbs water well, but if excess fluid has accumulated at the bottom of the container, then it must be drained.
3. Seeds are picked up with tweezers and moved to the center of the tablet, there is a special recess.
4. In order for the seeds to sprout faster, the tablet needs to be moistened again well. This time it is done with a spray gun so that the seeds of the petunia do not go deep.
5. After a few minutes you should stir the sour shell of the tablet.
6. It remains to cover the container with a transparent lid and move to a warm place for germination.

Seedling Care

Immediately after sowing, the container must be covered with plastic wrap, creating a mini-greenhouse, and provide good lighting. Therefore, the box immediately moves to the brightest place in the house. Additional lighting is organized using a phytolamp.

The temperature for germination should be stable and warm, approximately + 24-25 degrees. Daily spraying of the substrate is required. If condensation builds up on the lid, remove it with a dry cloth.

After about a week, the first seedlings appear from the seeds. Now you can lower the temperature to + 18-20 degrees. Every day you need to open the seedlings for a ten-minute ventilation (hardening). Gradually, the procedure becomes more frequent. With the advent of the first true leaves, the lid or film is removed for good.

Picking is a crucial stage, which consists in moving the sprouts into separate containers. From the moment when 3-4 real leaflets appear in them, further proximity in one container only slows down their development. Healthy sprouts of 4-5 cm long are transplanted. Since the petunias have a branched root system, they require special care when transplanting. It is carried out by the method of transshipment, that is, the lump of land is stored on the roots.

Dive Rules:

1. According to the rules described above, a container, drainage and soil are prepared. This may be a general large drawer, but it is better to dive petunias into separate drawers.
2. Each sprout is dug up with a wooden stick to a depth of 3 cm at an angle of 45 degrees. This is necessary to pinch off the edge of the central root, so that a strong branched root system is formed.
3. The sprout is moved to a new box and sprinkled with earth so that about 3.5 cm remain on the surface, that is, to the cotyledon leaves.

How to care for seedlings after a dive:

1. With the advent of new leaves, you need to prepare seedlings for moving to the open ground. The room where the box is standing is aired for 10 minutes daily, gradually extending the procedure to 30 minutes. The temperature should decrease by an average of 10-15 degrees.
2. Now you need to create diffused light so that the sprouts do not suffer.
3. Seedlings require moderate hydration. A lack of water leads to drying out, and an excess leads to fungal diseases. You can water the petunias from the pan, so the plant itself regulates the amount of moisture. Crust should not form on the soil, this prevents the access of oxygen to the roots.
4. Seedlings of petunias are in dire need of feeding. The first fertilizer application is carried out already 2 weeks after sowing. Immediately after a dive, you can help the seedlings adapt by adding nitrogen fertilizer to the soil for growth.
5. To strengthen the above-ground part, a spraying procedure with a solution of complex liquid fertilizer is introduced. Suitable preparations are "Crystal" and "Uniflor Micro."

Caring for seedlings in peat tablets is somewhat different. Before emergence, they are kept at a temperature of +25 degrees, then they are reduced to +18. If the room is warmer, then the seedlings will begin to stretch. Like simple seedlings, sprouts in peat tablets are sensitive to lack and excess of moisture. The main difference is that they do not require top dressing. All the necessary substances for growth are already contained in a peat tablet. In addition, there is no need to dive into the usual understanding. Seedlings are placed in a container with earth directly in the tablet. In this case, the protective shell is carefully removed.

Advice! Sometimes the roots have time to germinate through the shell of the tablet. In this case, just make a few cuts and carefully remove the coating. The roots should not suffer.

Possible difficulties

When growing petunia seedlings at home, flower growers notice that the plants turn yellow, stretch, and dry. Sometimes this happens even with all the rules of care.

If adverse events are observed, petunia needs additional help:

1. Chlorosis is a disease caused by iron deficiency. Seedlings begin to turn yellow and wither. It is necessary to reduce watering and, for example, iron chelate.
2. Seedlings do not develop. It is necessary to pay attention to the friability of the soil and feed the petunias with nitrogen.
3. If the seedlings are stretched, then nitrogen fertilizers are replaced by phosphorus and calcium.
4. If the bushes are not thick enough, you can pinch the top or feed them with a solution of the Epin preparation.

Landing

Planting petunias in open ground is carried out 11-13 weeks after sowing seeds, and occurs around the end of May or mid-June. Saplings are removed from the pots along with an earthen lump. Transplantation is carried out on a cloudy day or in the evening when there is no sun. Before you remove the seedling, the soil is watered abundantly. This prevents damage to the roots.

Advice! On the plot, plant petunia next to begonia, left-handed, irises, tulips, snapdragons, marigolds, hyacinths, lilies.

The capricious petunia strikes with amazing shades of flowers. Their bright scattering will decorate any terrace, balcony or summer cottage. Starting with sowing seeds, you need to carefully monitor seedlings in order to achieve abundant bud formation. If everything was done correctly, then bright flowers will decorate the site throughout the summer and until mid-September.

Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to grow this beautiful and rich flower at his dacha knows what will be discussed now. What seeds to take, and when to plant petunia on seedlings, so that it later blooms luxuriantly, glad for a long time and does not hurt? How to learn this skill? How to develop your own variety or even arrange flower growing for sale (which is very profitable)? What are the subtleties of this mastery - this article will now tell you everything.

What and when to sow? Choose the best varieties

Sow petunia should not be earlier than mid-March, the day should be long enough for its growth. If possible, light up the seedlings with a special lamp.

If you are planting using different varieties, then first plant ampel forms - those with a long cascade: they need more time to build up the required volume. But note: modern hybrids can germinate only at a temperature of at least 20 ° C-25 ° C, while old ones could easily tolerate 17 ° C-18 ° C. There is one more nuance: the small-flowered species bloom first, they need to be sown a little later.

Sometimes on sale you can find seeds in a special shell. As a rule, they are expensive - these are rare varieties that we recommend growing only in peat tablets. If you want to create your own variety - it’s bolder: first of all, it will help you, which simply works wonders!

Paving the way for small petunia seeds

The flower has always attracted summer residents with the variety of its varieties and hybrids, and it is much easier to grow it than roses or other "pampered" plants. Observe only a few conditions: select the soil well, put in additional lighting and keep the temperature from 20 ° C to 25 ° C. Prepare the soil loose and moisture-resistant. To do this, mix equal parts of turf land, peat and humus, or peat, garden soil and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. If you brought the finished soil, add more sand (only washed) in the following ratio: 1 part sand to 5 parts soil.

Even if you take the prepared land for seedlings, it is still desirable to improve it. A poor foundation is bad, but oversaturated colors are also useless. Just follow this recipe: on 5 l of soil add:

• 0.5 liter can of ash
• 250 gr perlite
• 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium sulfate. If you don’t have the latter, then add 1 tablespoon of Kemira or any other fertilizer where there is a lot of potassium.

Mix well. At the bottom of the container, first put drainage - expanded clay, and only then the soil. The earth should be just like that, because petunia seeds are very small in size, they are not so easy to give sprouts. Small lumps of earth should pass air and moisture well, the soil should not be acidic or too alkaline.

If you don’t know how to grow the plant correctly, or you already had a sad experience - this time calcine in the oven or treat the whole soil with a potassium permanganate solution.

When filling the boxes, leave about 2 cm from the edge - so that the seedlings are then protected by the edges from accidental drafts. As containers for seedlings, plastic or wooden boxes are quite suitable, at the bottom of which you need to make drainage holes for water. If you forget about this nuance - petunia quickly decays, be careful.

We plant seeds - carefully, many subtleties!

So, before planting a flower, treat the container well with an antiseptic - at least with the same potassium permanganate solution.

If you do not use snow during sowing, then pre-mix the seeds with sand - so that later they can be equally distributed evenly.

If you have acquired pelleted seeds, it is better to plant them in peat tablets, but ordinary seeds are more convenient to sow in the snow. They simply can be better seen on it, and so they are then easier to evenly distribute. Pills are good because they are instantly saturated with water, do not gain too much, are not compressed and do not mold, and when divided into several parts, they scatter into components, without damaging the delicate roots of the seedlings. And, most importantly, the color of the tablet can visually determine whether watering is needed now or not. By the way, in one tablet you can sow 5 seeds at a time.

So that the seeds germinate well, keep the temperature exactly + 25 ° C. These are ideal conditions. But try not to overheat the room - in such conditions, seedlings will grow elongated, and much more susceptible to various diseases.

After planting, the seeds of this culture should not be watered, because they are too small and will quickly go to the ground. And they will not germinate there, of course. Therefore, the first few days just spray them - several times, and for additional disinfection, add a small amount of potassium permanganate.

To summarize: the main difficulty in growing petunia seedlings is seed germination and constant feeding. But the result will please you very much!

We grow the first sprouts of our flowers

The fact is that, first of all, the plant strengthens its root system, and only after 1.5-2 actively develops the aerial part. That is why the first time the seedlings will develop a little slowly - this is due to the fact that their strength will go to building up the root system. And the most important thing at the time of germination for seeds is sunlight. Without it, they will not sprout - that is why it is customary not to dig them up with the earth when planting, but only gently press them to the soil.

Watering seedlings is also necessary skillfully: in no case on the leaves, only "under the root". Are there droplets on the plant itself? Shake them off. Especially make sure that no crust forms on the surface of the earth, which immediately blocks the oxygen to the roots of the plants, and they "suffocate" from this. To prevent this from happening, often loosen the soil. Watering itself should be neat, moderate and regular. Sprouts will die quickly if you allow the soil to dry out at least once, and if you overdo it with watering, you will get a “black leg”.

Remove the shelter gradually: on the first day, just five minutes, and after a week, increase the interval. So do it until the seedlings have real leaves - young plants quickly get used to everything.

We dive seedlings: neatly, carefully and warmly

As soon as you can already hold the seedlings with your fingers, it is time to move on to picking into cassettes. Carefully loosen the soil with a toothpick or spatula, and pinch long roots. After transplanting, carefully water the soil so that it asses. But not all varieties need pinching - only to those who have a fairly strong growth of shoots. In those, as soon as they grow to 6-7 cm, you need to pinch the shoots above the 4th leaf - so that the bush is wider and more beautiful. You do not need to deepen the seedlings - then, after diving and rooting, you can add more land to it. In the process of picking, deepen each plant to true leaves - so petunia will develop strong and healthy roots, which are much less likely to get sick.

Now it is important to ensure that the plants do not stretch. To do this, place the already grown sprouts in a cool place - after another month you can plant it in a greenhouse or flower beds. It will be the first of June. Want petunia to give color sooner? Highlight.

A plant blooms from May to autumn, and all this time the garden will delight you with a wealth of colors. Try to grow this flower yourself - you will succeed!

It’s probably hard to find someone who wouldn’t like petunias. They are very bright with many shades, lush and pleases their owners with long color and unpretentiousness. But, unfortunately, not every owner of a private sector or a country house turns out to curb this beautiful flower.

This is due to the fact that it is quite difficult to grow petunia from seeds for seedlings. But, if you adhere to fairly simple and simple rules and our recommendations for growing petunia seedlings at home, then very soon saturated inflorescences will delight your eye!

Since the price of ready-made seedlings is quite high, it will be quite expensive to green the house territory. Therefore, it is advisable to learn how to make petunia seedlings at home independently. Moreover, if you learn to grow it, then with other flowers you certainly will not have problems!

When to sow petunia for seedlings?

It is believed that already prepared sprouts should be planted in open ground in mid-June. Therefore, this means that the planting of petunia seeds for seedlings should take place in March. But, we draw your attention to the fact that if you want to get flowering as early as possible, then seeds should be planted already at the end of January. They will need from twelve to fourteen weeks for the seeds to sprout and they will finally grow stronger for transplanting. Also, this period is very important, because it is at this moment that the root system is laid and develops, which will make your petunias stronger and more resistant to weather changes. When to sow petunia for seedlings? The earlier the better!

Firstly, before planting a petunia on seedlings, you must correctly select and prepare the soil itself, in which you plan to plant future flowers. For petunia, it must be very nutritious, not heavy, retain moisture and let air through.

Therefore, it is most reasonable to buy ready-made mixtures for planting petunias for seedlings in stores. Now there is a huge variety of them, differing in price. The positive aspects of this decision are obvious. After all, this land is peeled, that is, sterile, which guarantees a painless germination of your flowers. Also, in such soil there are no foreign inclusions, which is so important when it comes to such small seeds as petunias.

However, it should be borne in mind that not every store mix will be "to the taste" of your flowers. If the substrate is too acidic, then the petunias will emerge rather slowly and germinate worse. That is why it is worth giving preference to peat of low origin (black), since they have optimal acidity.

By the way, if this happened - you noticed that the petunias sprout poorly and you sin on the substrate, and its acidity, then don’t worry, you don’t have to run to the store to buy a new one. You can lower your acid level at home. For this you need to add limestone or dolomite flour. Take a teaspoon per kilogram of soil.

If you decide to tackle the soil yourself, then you will need white, river sand, turf land and some peat. We mix all the components in the proportions of one share of sand, into two parts of peat and earth. Also, it is not superfluous to carefully sift the mixture, in order to avoid the ingress of large particles and various kinds of debris. In addition, we recommend additionally disinfecting the soil - heating it in the oven or pouring it well with boiling water.

The technique of planting petunias for seedlings

It is important to note that petunias are flowers that simply adore the light. Therefore, if possible, provide seeds and sprouts with additional lighting - if you decide to plant them in February. If this is not done, the seedlings will be very weak and will have a wilted appearance. If there is no possibility of additional illumination, it is better to wait until March, when the sun will be more active.

Also, it is worth taking care of the place where you will plant the seeds. The best thing is to get store containers for planting, which have opaque walls, or buy tablets from peat. Once everything is ready, you can proceed to the process itself, and here the planting of petunias with seeds for seedlings should already begin. In order to plant petunia on seedlings correctly, it is necessary to determine the seeds.

Now they are provided in two forms - granules and loose.

As a rule, in the form of granules, the seeds of hybrids are most often sold, which are distinguished by lush flowering and very saturated colors. Among them you can find interesting ampelous petunias, multi-colored, terry and many other non-standard types.

If we talk about the shortcomings of these varieties of seeds, then this is only an excessively high price and too few granules. On average, there are three to seven granules in the package, which will be very few if you plan to sow on a flower bed.

As for the pluses, there are a lot of them, for example:

• convenient size for sowing. The seeds themselves are very small, much smaller than grains of sand and therefore it is extremely difficult to plant them. But granules greatly facilitate this process. You only need to decompose the granules into an already prepared mixture and gently press down.
• Please note that there is no need to fill up with earth from above, since petunia is sown superficially.
• Granules should be laid out at a small distance from each other. After that, the container is wrapped in cling film or bag.
• Excellent shoot results. Compared to standard grains of sand, granules show a higher germination result. This is another advantage and a certain trick of sowing petunia seeds for seedlings.

As for loose seeds, the situation is more complicated with them. But, all the discomfort from use is offset by a fairly affordable and low price. Also, we draw your attention to the fact that in such packages on average about a couple of hundred seeds can be contained.

Planting petunia seeds for seedlings

If you have chosen a more affordable version of the seeds, but do not know how to plant the petunia on the seedlings correctly, we recommend using our instructions. We offer at your discretion several options for planting petunias for seedlings.

Option 1 (Planting Petunia Seeds)

select a mixture and prepare it for planting. About the types of mixtures and how to properly prepare it yourself, we spoke above.

Pour the soil with warm, room temperature, water.

Pour the contents of the package into a small plate and lightly rub the seeds with sand. After which, mix everything thoroughly.

Distribute the mixture of sand and seeds as evenly as possible over the topsoil in the container.
  Done! Now we just have to moisten the soil a little.

But watering from a bottle is not worth it, so as not to drive the seeds of petunias too deep. It is better to use a spray gun for these purposes.

So the planting of petunias has been completed. Now you just have to cover the containers with the substrate with cling film and put in a warm, well-lit place.

Option 2

This option is more time consuming. Before planting petunia on seedlings, you need to take a clean, white sheet and pour out the contents of the package.
  After we take a glass of water and toothpicks.

You can also use tweezers. We dip the tip of the toothpick into the water so that it gets wet and quickly clings the seeds to it. Transfer to a prepared container with soil. So do until all the seeds are planted.
  After, as in the first embodiment, sprinkle with water and wrap it with a film.

Option 3

To prepare petunia seedlings at home, you can also use the snow. Yes - yes, it didn’t seem to you, it was snow.

To sow seedlings of petunia on seedlings using snow, you must:

• take some snow and lay it on top of the soil. It is not necessary to press and level.
• pour the contents of the package onto the snow. Due to the fact that the snow is white, you can see if the seeds are unevenly distributed and correct the situation.
• When everything is ready, leave it for a while until the snow melts and places the seeds at the right depth.

Using this method, planting petunia seeds with snow, you do not need to water the seedlings, seedlings are already sufficiently moistened.

Petunia tricks of sowing seeds for seedlings in soil or peat mixtures

As we mentioned above, the earth before planting petunia on seedlings must be checked for alkali and acidity. Also, it is necessary to give preference to nutritious and fairly loose soil mixtures. Since they absorb liquid better, but at the same time remove moisture.

Stages of planting petunias for seedlings

Put drainage at the bottom of the container, it is best to use special expanded clay for these purposes.

Fall asleep on top of a larger screen.
  The remaining third, the smallest.

Next, spread the seeds in an even layer and sprinkle a little water from the spray gun. It is not necessary to ram or fill the seeds.
  We cover with cling film and send to a warm, well-lit place without drafts.

If you are looking for the easiest way to plant petunia for seedlings, then you should use special tablets from peat. To do this you need:

purchase peat mixes in the form of tablets in specialized stores;
  pour boiling water over them and allow them to cool;

using toothpicks or tweezers, place the seeds in the designated recesses.

As practice shows, such a method as planting petunia on seedlings using peat gives the best results, guarantees fast germination times and excellent quality of stems and roots. As you can see for yourself, there is nothing difficult in growing petunia seedlings at home, it is enough to have the necessary materials, a little free time and take advantage of our tricks of sowing petunias for seedlings.

Petunia seedling care

In order for the forces to be spent not in vain and the planting of petunias on seedlings would give a long-awaited result, it is important to provide future flowers with full and proper care.

To do this, ensure the correct temperature. In the room where the petunia seedlings are located at home, germinating, the temperature should be at least twenty degrees. But it is not worth overheating, it is considered optimal from twenty to twenty-three.

Also, petunia seedlings require a maximum amount of light. The most ideal option is a round-the-clock backlight using lamps.

In addition, special attention should be paid to the soil of petunias.

The earth should always be moist, but at the same time, you need to ensure that the water does not stagnate, as this is fraught with decay and the development of pathogenic bacteria.

The liquid that collects on the cling film also needs to be cleaned with a napkin or dry cloth.

Each sprout of petunia needs to be hardened. To do this, you need after the sprouts appear daily open the film.

We will reveal to you some tricks of sowing petunia seeds for seedlings and hardening:

• first, we make airing for a couple of minutes, so that future flowers are accustomed to a change in temperature.
• after, the time spent in the fresh air can be increased.
• seedlings can be fully opened only when at least one leaf appears on each stalk.

In addition, if you decide to start sowing petunias for seedlings, you need to think in advance about additional nutrition and top dressing. Of course, in the initial stages there is no need for this, but improving their protective functions is more convenient than ever. To do this, you can take the immune top dressing and dilute it in a spray.

Dive seedlings of petunias should be when the height of the sprouts reaches five centimeters. For these purposes, take a narrow and thin sharp knife and remove each sprout. In this case, pinch the root to a depth of approximately three centimeters.

After everything is ready, plant each individual stem in a separate container. It is important to note that sowing seeds for seedlings of petunias in separate pots gives the plant a chance to develop better and faster. It is believed that it sprouts more durable and healthy.

Difficulties encountered when planting petunias for seedlings

How to make sure that the planting of petunias with seeds for seedlings is correct, we told you above. But how to make seedlings strong and prepared for planting in open soil?

One of the problems that beginner growers encounter is sprouts that are too tall due to lack of lighting. In order to solve this problem, you need to dive the plant. At the same time, deepening petunia into the substrate to the area on which the castings begin to grow.

Another common nuisance that can occur with petunia during seed planting is mold on the ground. This can occur from heavy watering and excess moisture accumulated on the film. In order to eliminate this, it is necessary to remove the top layer of the earth and pour a new one. This must be done carefully so that the seeds of petunia are not removed with moldy soil, since they are not placed deep enough.

Too weak and sluggish sprouts. Also, this may be encountered by both those who first decided to start planting petunia seeds, and experienced gardeners. To solve the problem once and for all, seedlings need to be provided with more light, especially if the weather outside does not please, and provide additional nutritious nutrition.

The roots filled the entire container. Don’t worry, it’s great on the contrary! So it will be healthier to plant petunia seeds for seedlings of which you produced. Simply - simply take a box, a glass or other larger container and transplant your sprouts there. The main thing is to do this very carefully and transplant the earth with your lump, just filling the voids with the necessary amount of soil. In no case should you clean the roots of the substrate! At the risk of completely violating the root system and destroying the plant.

Petunia seedlings grow very slowly. This is normal. Initially, it will grow well, very slowly, since the formation of the root system is carried out at the first stage. But, already after a month and a half, everything is normalized and part of the plant above the ground will be quite actively developing.

If you want luxurious petunias full of life to spring from your seeds, pay special attention to daily watering. It must be carried out very carefully so as not to injure the plant once again. If this is not done, then the earth will dry out and seedlings will eventually die. In turn, if it is too plentifully poured, there will also be little sense.

Seedlings will begin to rot and a disease such as a "black leg" will appear, which is almost impossible to cope with.
  Hardening plays a huge role in the successful planting of petunias for seedlings. This will prepare the sprouts for planting in open ground, make them stronger and healthier. However, it is worth careful to ensure that the flowers do not stand in the draft and are protected from the flow of cool air.

Top dressing. No matter how sad it may sound, but without it you are unlikely to be able to grow good seedlings in truth. After sowing the seeds of petunia on seedlings and picking it, after about a couple of days ten can be fed. Initially, give preference only to spraying with useful substances, changing either mineral fertilizers or growth stimulants. After, when the plant is strong enough, you can enter the "diet" and top dressing for the root system.

Before transplanting petunia, sowing seeds for seedlings of which you produced in open ground, it also needs to be prepared. To do this, take the flowers out into the open air about a week before planting. It will be ideal to place them on the balcony or porch. Initially, "air baths" should be short-lived, but each time slightly increase the length of stay. After all, in three or four days, containers with plants should remain on the balcony for the night.

To plant petunia seedlings, it is best to choose a cloudy day or start the process in the evening. Planting under scorching sun is strictly prohibited!

Petunias are rather capricious and finicky flowers. Planting with petunia seeds is a very delicate and delicate matter. Not every gardener, even with a guard, agrees to take up this business: either the seedlings do not sprout, then they are very weak and die, in general sheer misfortune. But, if you use our methods and tips on how to plant petunia on seedlings correctly, then this summer season your flower bed will turn into a colorful and fragrant flower garden!

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