Petunias, Garden Flowers

They have achieved great popularity in America.

Look for some of the most recent petunia types such as Lyric, Smita, Duet, Rhapsody, Blue Danube, Pink Cloud, Orchid Cloud, Yellow Magic, Sunburst, Sugar Daddy, and Summer Madness.

Petunias have long ranked among the top garden flowers. They have achieved greater popularity as a result of the plant breeders' efforts. The nomenclature of petunias today is staggering with hybrid double grandifloras, hybrid single multifloras and hybrid grandifloras with selections especially for hanging baskets and other garden usage. Even with better growth characteristics, greater hardiness and the large beautiful flowers of most every color including yellow, petunias still can be most challenging to the gardener.

Petunias partial to sun…

Petunias prefer full sun so that the foliage and flowers do not stay damp or wet except for short periods. They are adapted to a wide range of soils.

They flourish in fertile soil…

Petunias, like most garden flowers, grow and flower prolifically when grown in a good, loamy garden soil with plenty of organic matter. That is not to say they will not grow in less desirable soils, but for best results more ideal soils are preferred. Heavy clay soils can be amended to grow petunias. Flower beds should be thoroughly worked by spading, plowing, or rototilling. Adding and completely mixing 3 inches of peat moss, manure, finely ground pine bark or compost plus 1" of coarse sand will pay off in results. Add 1 - 2 Ibs of a complete fertilizer and work it into the top 10" - 12 " of soil.

Water daily, at first…

Water immediately after planting. It will be necessary to water daily during the first ten days. After that, watering at 3 - 4 day intervals should be adequate unless it is extremely hot and dry.

Insects prefer petunias…

Aphids or plant lice sometimes bother petunias. If you find these insects clustered on the stems or the bottom side of the leaves use a spray of Malathion to clean them up.

Give your petunias regular care in watering and fertilization at monthly or six weeks intervals and they will reward you.

For more information on petunias, contact your local county Extension office.