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Petunias are a reliable source of summer color with a wide variety of colors and shades. As long as you deadhead constantly, they will keep blooming for you most of the summer. They look well in beds and borders, as well as all kinds of containers.
Most people buy petunias already started, but the fact is, they're easy to grow from seed and produce very sturdy plants that way. It should be noted that they have a ver small seed size which means that they make very small sprouts. So if you're going to start petunias indoors, make sure you keep an eye on them, as they need to stay evenly moist.
Petunias are a classic American flower that put on a great show, under most normal conditions.
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| Type: |
Annual |
Water: |
moderate |
| Zone: |
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Sun: |
full sun |
| Height: |
10-15" |
Soil: |
light, well-drained |
| Starting: |
Buy plants or start indoors 10-12 weeks before last frost. Seeds are tiny and require light to germinate, so don't cover. |
Growing: |
Grows great guns in warm, moist spring weather with ample sunshine. Can usually handle heat pretty well, but don't like excessive moisture which can lead to mildew problems. Blooms continually from June until late summer, provided you keep deadheading. Likes an occasional application of fertilizer. |
| Etymology: petunia = Latinized version of the native Brazililan name; hybrida = 'mixed' |
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