Planting petunias into the ground

Probably, there is not a single garden where petunia grows. Bright, fragrant flowers - the indispensable inhabitants of the plants, flower beds and flower beds. Since the beginning of summer and until the frosts, petunias of various colors bloom on the balconies and in the apartments.

Petunia is an annual plant with straight or creeping stems. Flowers of different shades and colors are simple and terry. Fruits are bivalves with very small seeds.

The flower loves light and warmth, so to plant petunias into the ground, you should choose open sunny places. Large-colored petunias are more demanding for heat than small-colored ones. In rainy, wet weather, they can stop flowering altogether. Soil for petunia is better to choose loamy or sandy loam, although they will grow in any fertile soil. The plant is drought-resistant, but with prolonged absence irrigation can die. Does not tolerate petunia and stagnant water.

Reproduction of petunia

Petunia reproduces more often seeds, which can be collected independently , but sometimes cuttings, cut from queen cells. To plant a plant in the soil can be very early, then it will blossom much earlier. If you have the opportunity to make a highlight for the cultivation of petunia seedlings , then the seeds of the plant can be sown already in February and early March. Since the seeds of petunia are very small, the soil for growing seedlings must be fertile and loose. Before sowing, the top layer of the earth with a noticeable thickness of 1 cm should be sieved in order for the seeds to spread evenly on the soil. Then the seeds must be mixed with dry sand, poured out onto as follows moistened soil and sprinkle with water, then cover the containers with seed glass. At a temperature of about 22 ° a week later, small shoots of petunia should appear. Now they have to be sprinkled every day and turned twice a day to the sun. During this period the seedlings need high humidity, but an overabundance of it can cause disease and death of the plant. The glass can be removed when petunias have the first real leaves. Weeks after three petunia seedlings usually dive into pots. If you have a hotbed, then in April the petunia seedlings should be moved there.

Petunia planting in the open ground

Each grower is worried about the question when it is better to plant petunia in the open ground. They plant the petunia seedlings on a permanent place only after the spring frosts pass, and in each region this is their time. Hybrid varieties of petunia have been introduced, which tolerate a decrease in temperature until short-term frosts. Planting petunia seeds in the ground is carried out at the end of April or early May. Such a transplant is usually tolerated by the plant painlessly.

To plant petunias in the open ground it is better to choose a cloudy day, or do it in the evening. Pots with seedlings should be well watered and planted with a clod of earth. In this case, the distance between the colors will depend on the type of petunia. If this is a large-colored petunia, then plant it at a distance of 20-25 cm between plants, multicolor - by 15-20 cm, and an ampel - by 25-30 cm. After planting, the plant must be watered and the soil mulched with humus or peat. Petunia in the open can feel a lack of moisture, and a layer of mulch will protect the soil from rapid drying, and even in the event of recurrent cold weather, it will protect young plants.

If you are late with the sowing of seeds in the early spring, then sowing petunias into the open ground may be another variant of plant reproduction. Approximately in the end of March it is possible to sow seeds in soil (it is possible directly on a snow). On top of the earth, they do not need to be sprinkled. Petunias, grown in this way, blossom a little later than those planted with seedlings.

Observing all the features of growing petunia, you can grow beautiful flowers that will please you all summer.