Growing petunias starts with the right purchase - how to choose petunia seeds

How to choose petunia seeds? I used to buy flowers in pots every year, but in this I decided to try to grow my seedlings. The other day I was going home from work and looked into the seed store, it was so easy for my eyes to run up. There are so many things, and the varieties are different, and the colors, and the height ... What would you advise to pay attention to and navigate? Otherwise, it would be my will, I would buy everything (just kidding, of course, but it's really difficult to choose).

They can be found almost everywhere, from hanging pots on balconies to flower beds in city parks. Bright and profusely blooming petunias will leave few people indifferent. And from their variety, every flower girl involuntarily has the question of how to choose petunia seeds. Large double buds or small bright flowers, under which foliage is not visible, look at the same time gentle, and gorgeous, and bewitchingly beautiful. How not to get confused and make the right choice? Today we will not talk about varieties, but about general recommendations for growing these flowers. In particular, regarding the choice of planting material.

How to choose petunia seeds

So, going shopping, you should decide on such points and pay attention to the following details:

• where will you grow petunias;
• shelf life of seeds;
• the form of the planting material.

Another important fact is the seed producer. Here it is better to follow the advice of practitioners. Buy material only from verified and certified sellers. Especially if it is important for you to purchase varietal petunias. Buying from hands or from unknown companies is not the best option. You may come across either low-quality seeds, or the wrong variety, which is indicated on the package, if at all.

The choice of petunias depending on the place of cultivation

Petunias grow well both in pots and in flower beds. But for each place it is better to choose "your" types of flowers:

1. For planting in open ground, on clubs and in front gardens, bush varieties are more suitable. At the same time, for the lower tier, take multiflora petunia with its miniature flowers. And for voluminous and catchy compositions, terry petunias and superbissim.
2. It is better to plant ampelous petunias in balcony containers or hanging pots. Also, cascading varieties look good in them, which can still be grown just in pots.

Why check the expiration date of seeds

It is no secret that the seeds of each plant have their own percentage of germination. This is especially important for petunias. The fresher the seeds, the more of them will germinate and the more seedlings you will have. Petunias lose their germination very quickly. Within two years after collecting seeds, only half of them can sprout, or even less. Therefore, do not take the "expired", but buy only fresh seeds harvested last season.

In what form are petunia seeds sold, and which ones are better to buy

On sale you can find either just seeds, or pelleted, covered with a special shell. The latter are more convenient to plant, especially in peat tablets. Due to the coating, the seeds seem to increase in volume. While the seeds poured in bags are very small and sowing them one by one is unrealistic.

In addition, pelleted seeds have another advantage. They do not need pre-processing, which saves you a lot of hassle.However, there is also a nuance: the shell dissolves only when there is sufficient moisture. However, this is still a more convenient option than thickened seedlings obtained by sowing untreated seeds in one container.

Do not forget about the series indicated on each package of seeds.

What is a series in petunias