How to plant a petunia in open ground. Petunia: planting seedlings and care in the open field and pot

I have already told you how naively I sowed petunia seeds into the ground, but for some reason they did not sprout. It turned out that these "guys" are very small, and the sprouts that break through from them are too weak to break through the layer of soil poured over the seeds.

Therefore, they need to germinate only on moist soil, without deepening. And it is worth propagating petunias in seedlings. But now fresh and juicy seedlings are turning green on your windowsill, it’s warm outside, and your soul asks you to move all this beauty closer to your neighbor’s eyes (let them envy). How to do it right?

Earlier, I already said that seedlings in pots need to be dived twice, that is, they should be transferred to the ground fresher and a bigger “house” (of course, if you did not grow them in peat tablets, in this case, picking is not needed).

This is done in May - early June.

If this is a flower bed (for bush varieties), it needs to be prepared a little:

• Dig up the ground - well, that goes without saying.
• Fertilize the soil. Do not save peat or humus, if there is little nutrition, the petunia will skimp on flowers. You can also flavor this “food” for flowers with ash (a shovel of ash is added to a bucket of humus). Well, if the earth is acidic, add lime.
• Mark holes for holes. This is done based on the size of the inflorescences: small flowers can be planted after 20 or even 15 cm, and large ones after at least 25 cm. To make the rows of flowering bushes as slender as possible, help yourself with pegs and a cord. No less successful are round flower beds.

• And remember: petunia loves the sun. Rare varieties feel fine in partial shade, but the plant does not like thick shade at all. Therefore, choose a completely open place. Although, of course, in the first three days after transplantation, the flowers can be shaded a little so that they take root in a new place more easily.

The sprouts need to be hardened in advance, every day (a week) taking them out into the open air for 15 minutes, and on the day before planting, leaving them for a day.

• Choose a free evening or at least a day when the sun is completely covered by clouds - this is the most favorable time for transplanting. If it is hot outside, be sure to wait until evening: a flower transplanted during the heat may not take root, as the sun will have time to dry out both the soil and its root system.

• Water the seedlings in pots to soften the soil between the roots.
• Transplant flowers by transshipment. Their roots are very fragile and there are a lot of them, so be as careful as possible and do not put sharp objects in the pot - if the spine does not come out, it is better to tilt the container and tap it lightly.

• Sprouts immediately transfer each to your hole and dig their roots with earth.
• Water the flower bed. The soil around the flowers can be mulched with peat. This will kill a few birds with one stone, and give the flower the nutrients it loves, and help the earth retain moisture for longer. Humus is also suitable as mulch - although of course, not everyone will want to lay it out in their yard.

plant care

• spraying. Even if the plant blooms in a flower bed, pamper it with extra moisture from a spray bottle in the heat. If the summer is more than sunny, you can spray your pets every day, morning and evening.
• Watering. It needs frequent, but strictly dosed - you don’t need puddles near the flowers, so don’t overdo it.
• Safety. Do not "wash" the flowers from the watering can - let's give water at the root, as many varieties are afraid of it (and not only flowers, but also leaves). Because of this fear, even some petunias growing in pots have to be moved under cover during rain ... To prevent this from happening, plant only non-capricious, rain-resistant varieties in pots and balcony boxes. Also remember: many ampelous (with shoots hanging down) varieties are afraid of the wind, so place planters with them in cozy corners.
• Feeding. You can remember about it once every 7 days, applying root fertilizer for one week, and the foliar method for the second. How long to feed a flower? Until it blooms completely. You can buy potash fertilizers. Organic will work too.

• Purchased means for stimulation. They will help the plant bloom brighter, bush more actively and delight you even more. They do not need to be applied just like that - but if the weather conditions are not the best and the petunia is in no hurry to be covered with a million flowers, buy Epin-Extra or Zircon.

Faded flowers, as well as sluggish branches, are best removed in time - this way the bushes will look even more elegant.

Is it possible to sow the seeds directly

Yes! Although I did not manage to grow a petunia in this way, many gardeners succeed. This is done at the end of May.

The germination of seeds is proved at least by the fact that the flower beds, on which petunias bloomed last year and which you did not have time to dig up in the spring, are covered in June with rare, but still sprouts of these flowers.

Here is what experienced flower growers told me:

• The earth needs to be dug up so that it is loosened. Of course, and give fertilizer too.
• Seeds can not be buried, they just scatter on the ground. Do not cover them with soil at all (all the more, you can not sprinkle and tamp).

Such a plant will bloom 2-3 weeks later than seedlings. But at the end of June you will already see the beautiful fruits of your hands.

By the way, such seeds are sown in pots earlier than in open ground. Moreover, you can also arrange a planted or sown flower like this:
To remind you how to grow petunia seedlings, you can watch this video:

Petunia is the most common plant, both in home gardens and on balconies. Abundant flowering begins in early May and pleases with its beauty until the first serious frosts.

Petunia flowers, planting and caring for them is considered an easy task, as the plants are not whimsical. But for its successful cultivation, you need to know certain rules:

• the plant loves sunlight;
• prefers sandy or loamy soils;
• does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of liquid;
• requires constant feeding (1 time in 12 - 15 days).

Planting petunia seeds for seedlings

Planting petunia seeds, for early flowering, should begin in mid-February. A prerequisite for growing seedlings is the presence of the required amount of light. If this component is not enough in the room where it is planned to grow, then it is advisable to use.

The plant begins to bloom 65 - 92 days after sowing the seeds. It depends on the variety of petunia. The larger the flowers of the plant, the longer it takes for it to bloom.

Before planting petunia seeds, prepare:

• planting containers with drainage holes;
• expanded clay;
• sprayer with water;
• covering material (it is advisable to use non-woven material, for example, spunbond, which allows the plant to breathe);
• selected seeds.

At the first stage, we prepare containers for seedlings:

• at the bottom of the cup, with drainage holes prepared in advance, we pour a layer of expanded clay about 1 cm high;
• spread and lightly tamp the soil mixture. It is necessary to leave a distance of 3 - 3.5 cm to the edge of the container.
• we moisten the soil.

Let's start planting petunias. Since the seeds of the plant are quite small, when planting, you can use a mixture of seeds with sand. This will allow the most even distribution of the seeds in the pot. You can use coated petunia seeds, but their cost is much higher than that of ordinary ones. Sprinkling petunia seeds with soil is not recommended. It is best to lightly press them until they are in full contact with the soil.

After planting the petunias, the boxes should be covered with covering material. Instead of matter, you can use glass or polyethylene. In this case, the plants will have to be forced to ventilate.

Under favorable conditions (ambient temperature 24ºС and humidity 98%) the seeds germinate in 7-9 days.

There is a simpler, but more costly method of obtaining plant seedlings - planting petunias in peat tablets. For this:

• acquired are poured with warm water and wait for it to swell and cool;
• with tweezers, place petunia seeds in the central hole;
• water moderately.

Plants dive into pots or into the ground along with tablets. Damage to the root system is completely excluded. For beginner flower growers, this method of growing flower seedlings is most preferable.

Planting an ampelous petunia is carried out in the same ways as a bush one.

Growing seedlings of petunias

When the seeds germinate and the first leaves appear, the covering material from the box must be removed. Water the plants gently and lower the ambient temperature to 18ºC.

At the first stage, petunia develops very slowly. Initially, the root system of plants is strengthened, and only after that the stems and leaves become stronger. This stage lasts about 4-5 weeks.

During this period, you need to monitor:

• soil moisture. It should not be dry or waterlogged.
• timely application of fertilizers. For petunias, complex fertilizers or preparations with a high content of potassium are suitable.
• sufficient lighting. In the daytime, the lamp should work at full power, and at night it is advisable to dim the light, but not turn it off completely.

For the development of strong and profusely flowering plants, after the appearance of several leaves, the top of the flower must be pinched. Strengthened plants are transplanted into separate, more spacious containers and continue to care for seedlings according to all of the above rules.

A month before planting petunias in the ground, the plants are hardened for 10 days. In the first half of the term, the daytime temperature near the seedlings should be 18ºС - 20ºС, and at night 16ºС. In the next five days, these figures are reduced by 2ºС - 3ºС. After carrying out such a procedure, the strengthened flowers will transfer the pick in the open ground the least painfully.

Video: how to plant petunia seedlings

Planting petunias in the ground

Let's move on to the question of how to properly plant a petunia in a permanent place:

• it is best to plant a plant in cloudy weather or after sunset;
• it is desirable to dive a seedling together with a clod of earth from a pot;
• the hole for the seedling must be at least 10 cm deep and wide;
• the distance between plantings depends on the variety of the flower. For large-flowered petunias, it is necessary to withstand 23 cm - 25 cm. For small-flowered petunias, 18 cm - 20 cm is enough. Ampelous petunia bushes are planted at a distance of 28 cm - 30 cm;
• after transplantation, the flowers are watered;
• for better rooting of petunia, the ground around the transplanted plant can be covered with humus or peat. Such a shelter for a longer period to retain moisture and protect the flower from possible frosts.

petunia care

Petunia care consists in watering plants, timely and constant feeding, and removing wilted flowers.

Water the plant only in dry weather. It is advisable to carry out this procedure after sunset. When watering, the water should not stagnate. It is enough just to moisten the earth around the root system of the flower.

The first top dressing is carried out 9 - 11 days after transplanting the plant to a permanent place. It is best to start feeding plants with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. You can use nitroammofosk.

For abundant flowering, during the period of bud formation, it is preferable to use fertilizers containing a large amount of phosphorus and potassium, such as superphosphate and potassium salt.

Petunias can be fed with wood ash. This fertilizer contains all the components necessary for the plant. Moreover, you can use both purchased fertilizer and made yourself, after a fire or from a stove.

An important component for proper plant nutrition is iron. In the absence of sufficient iron, petunias can develop chlorosis. The first signs of the disease appear on the leaves: they begin to turn yellow and fall off. Ferovit will come to the rescue, with which the plants are sprayed 3-5 times with an interval between sprayings of 2-3 days.

Wilted flowers should be removed from the plant. This leads to the formation of new buds and a long duration of flowering. Petunia flowers, which are properly planted and cared for, will be even more delightful if a beautiful crown of the plant is formed in time. For this, young shoots striving for high growth are pinched. The procedure is considered correct if pinching is carried out after 4 - 5 leaves. After the operation, the plant produces abundant multidirectional shoots, which are necessary for the formation of a beautiful "hat".

Proper planting and care of a petunia will lead to long and rich flowering. Planting petunia seeds in the video will help novice gardeners become more familiar with the procedure.

- read here!

Video: sowing and picking petunias

Florist Svetlana Shcherbak from Krasnoyarsk shares her personal experience of growing seedlings of petunias in Siberia:

Bright, playful petunia bushes adorn Siberian gardens and front gardens. So I, living in the country from spring to autumn, paid attention to neighboring plots: in pots on open terraces, in flower beds and in flowerpots - always attractive (and so diverse!) Petunia reigned. Surprisingly, at that time I did not "understand" her. For the first time I planted petunias several years ago at the request of my beloved husband, he really liked them on the "green" market. Sowed, grown and ... fell in love! Now this is one of the main flyers on our new large site!

When to sow petunia in Siberia for seedlings?

In Siberia, petunias are grown through seedlings, so they increase the period of its flowering in our short summer.

Terms from personal experience: when is it better to sow

I tried to sow petunia at different times, December to March.

In December, ampelous ones were a good success. The first flowers appeared in the second half of March, and by the end of May they were already quite decorative bushes with lush "lashes". True, I had to dive first, later transfer to more spacious containers, and only then, closer to summer, plant them in a permanent place. But ampelous ones grow well even with later sowing, only bloom a little later, in April-May, which is also quite good.

Shrub and cascading shoyu petunias in the second half of January. This year, at the end of the month, I sowed 51 varieties (different), all sprouted. Can be sown later, it’s just that I’m already selling flowering seedlings in the second half of May, so I sow early. Once a friend gave me “favorite” seeds on March 15, I sowed the numbers 16-17, in early June there were already pretty flowering plants.

What did you like about later crops?

In the short December-January daylight hours (we have less than 7 hours), both crops and seedlings need to be illuminated, and the temperature should be carefully monitored. And in March already “everything grows by itself”, the raspberries are stronger and get sick less. Well, they will bloom a little later, anyway, already at the beginning of summer - these are pretty bushes with several flowers.

On the street, in permanent pots or in flower beds, in our area, petunia seedlings are planted no earlier than the second half of May, when the frosts go away. Year after year is not necessary, sometimes you have to wait until June.

Favorable dates according to the lunar calendar 2019

The 2019 lunar calendar for the center of Siberia (MSK +4) recommends sowing annuals in February from the 11th to the 17th. Auspicious days for sowing petunias in early spring are March 10th and from the 11th to the 16th of the month. The next "correct" dates start from April 6, but it's too late for planting petunias in Siberia.

Table 1: When to sow petunias in Siberia in 2019

Unfavorable dates for planting all plants are the same. As a rule, these are the days of the Full Moon, New Moon and the entry of the Moon into the sign of Aquarius.

Table 2:Calendar of unfavorable days for planting all plants for 2019

February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October
3 (from 20:00), 19, 20 (until 23:00).	3 and 4 6, 7 (until 23:00), 21.22 (until 9:00),	1 (until 23:00), 5, 6 (until 16:00), 19, 20 (until 19:00).	1,	4, 5, 26 (until 14:00).	2 and 3	1.2 (until 11:00), 14 - 16 (until 20:00), 31 (until 18:00).	10, 11, 12 (until 18:00), 14, 15 (until 12:00),	7 (from 12:00),

My mother and I (a summer resident, what to look for - for more than 50 years with a passion for “flowering”) do not look at the Lunar calendar at all. We just try not to plant on the new moon and full moon, and on traditional Christian holidays too.

Planting petunias in Siberia: personal experience

When I first planted petunias for seedlings, I followed generally accepted recommendations. Then I was convinced: as with other crops, you need to watch the melts every day, adapt to the existing conditions.

Indeed, in different areas, the composition of the soil, the properties of water are different, in the apartments the windows face different directions, which means that the illumination is different! For example, I have a winter greenhouse (it is heated with firewood, which means that the temperature is not constant), the soil is dense loam, the plot is “on seven winds”. Everything grows in a completely different way than in my mother's dacha, and the distance is only 30 km. I had to adapt to new conditions, and now I am convinced: attention, observation, love for flowers - and everything will work out!

The soil

I try to follow my grandmother's advice. She said that the best land for seedlings (and for indoor flowers, by the way) is from last year's cucumber bed or from under bird cherry. It is not always possible to collect just such land, then I take simple garden soil, it is very fertile with us.

I have been preparing the land since autumn. A few days before sowing, I add sand (1/4 or 1/3 part - as much as I have, “by eye”), and spill it with this composition: a bucket of water + 0.5 cups of Fitosporin solution + a little potassium permanganate + 1 liter of drug solution "Aktara" (1.2 ml ampoule per bucket).

Seeding tanks

I sow in plastic containers (300 ml) with tight lids, having previously made holes in the bottoms (I use a screwdriver). I tried to sow in peat tablets, for some reason it didn’t work. And in containers it is convenient:

• in each place 1 grade, stick a sticker with the name;
• a tight lid provides the necessary microclimate, because according to traditional technology it is necessary to cover containers with crops with glass or film.

How do I care for seedlings?

I maintain the temperature at 20-25 degrees, at least 15 at night. If you need to warm it up, I turn on a simple incandescent lamp.

Be sure to light it up with a fluorescent lamp, but if there are few blooms, even an ordinary energy-saving light bulb (for example, a table lamp) will do.

I spray with warm water. If necessary, I add “medicines” to the water if the seedlings do not feel well.

Every day I start with an inspection and end with it (at the same time I ventilate the "greenhouses"). This is a very important point, because if there are problems with the health of petuniks, rescue measures must be taken immediately!

"First Aid Kit" for petunias

I am preparing a “first aid kit” for flowers in advance:

Bordeaux mixture,
iodine,
Boric acid,
"Fitosporin",
"Aktara",
any product containing chelated iron,
lemon acid,
milk.

I use one or more tools, as needed.

picking

I'm not in a hurry to dive. My seedlings sit for a long time in the same greenhouse containers. I dive strong, with 6-8 real leaves, plants. I have them take root better than little ones. Although all sources recommend diving when there are 2-3 true leaves on the seedlings.

I usually dive in March, the latest dive was in mid-April.

When the petunias “take over” after picking, I pinch the tops, so the bushes branch better. In the future, I do this periodically, when I notice that some branch does not give lateral processes.

top dressing

About two weeks after picking, I start feeding. I use only nitroammofoska ("Azofoska" - sodium, phosphorus, potassium). I breed 30-40 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water, this is about one matchbox. I water under the root on moist soil.

Beginning of flowering

Seedlings begin to bloom in mid-April. By the time of disembarkation, these are already stocky fluffy bushes with dark green foliage and several flowers.

I record all observations, stages of plant development, each care action in the journal of work and observations. It helps a lot to draw the right conclusions))

Svetlana Shcherbak, Krasnoyarsk

Petunias have a fairly long growing season. From sowing seeds to the appearance of the first flowers, an average of 70 - 80 days passes. Therefore, it is usually grown through seedlings. Under favorable conditions for growing petunia seedlings, this period can be slightly reduced, and under unfavorable conditions, the flowers will bloom a little later.

Content:

The plant is unpretentious, can grow almost anywhere and blooms until frost. But the bushes will be even more powerful and spreading, and the flowering will be more abundant and brighter if the petunia is planted on favorable days according to the lunar calendar. Below are just such calendars with favorable planting days for January, February, March and April 2019.

When to plant a petunia according to the lunar calendar in January 2019

January is not the best time to plant flowers. The days are still short, there is little sun, and it will not be possible to grow good seedlings without additional lighting. At this time, seedlings are planted for sale, but if you are going to plant flowers for yourself, then it is better to do this in late February - March.

The most favorable days for planting petunias according to the lunar calendar in January 2019 will be - January 1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24 January.

According to the lunar sowing calendar, it is strongly not recommended to plant plants during the period of the full moon and new moon. In January 2019, the full moon will be on January 21st. The new moon will be on January 6, but it is not recommended to work with plants the day before and the day after the new moon, that is, January 5, 6 and 7.

Auspicious days for planting petunias in January

January
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

Planting petunia seedlings according to the lunar calendar in February 2019

At the end of February, the days become noticeably longer, there is more sun and it is already possible to start planting seedlings of flowers without lighting.

The most favorable days for sowing petunias for seedlings in February 2019 will be February 7, 8, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25 February.

The forbidden days for planting any plants are the period of the new moon on February 4, 5, 6 and the full moon on February 19.

Favorable days for landing in February

February
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28

You can find out about favorable days for planting other plants here: Lunar sowing calendar for February 2019

Favorable days for planting petunias for seedlings in March 2019

Most flower growers plant petunias for seedlings in March. Already a lot of light and heat, seedlings grow quickly, stocky and healthy.

The best days for sowing seeds in March are March 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24 March

The forbidden days for sowing and planting are the period of the new moon - March 5, 6, 7 and the full moon - March 21. March new moon and full moon coincided with January.

Favorable days for sowing seeds in March

March
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

More detailed information: Lunar calendar of gardeners, gardeners, florists for March 2019