Lots of information here about petunias, including good varieties of bedding types. https://www.thompson-morgan.com/petunias-article. Personally l'm fond of a formal bedding scheme, the ones in Eastbourne a few years ago were quite something.
I think the problem is @fliprollsw -in an average , domestic garden, you can't replicate these Victorian planting schemes, because of scale. That's really what they are, and they came about because of the glasshouses which were the prerogative of the wealthy only, and these were plants which had to be grown undercover. It was a social statement. It's why they were mainly in the large estates of country houses etc. Eventually, when glass became cheap enough, these displays were seen more often, especially in public parks. Apologies for the history lesson, but most people nowadays tend to have a smaller display - either a single border, or pots etc for bedding plants. Nothing to stop anyone having loads of them if that's what they want, but if you have nothing else, it means a lot of empty space for several months of the year - around 6, at least, up here.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
This is a private garden that I visited a few years ago when there was a village open gardens day. The elderly gentlemen loved growing his annuals, a blaze of colour. There were petunias in his beds.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
There are bushy petunias as well as the trailing varieties used in hanging baskets.
One thing to bear in mind about such bedding plants and displays is that they tend to be utterly devoid of wildlife. I've just been watching the repeats of a short series by Sarah Raven on public planting schemes. Trials were done and the traditional bedding schemes had almost zero insect life whereas ones using wildflowers - annuals and perennials - were buzzing with all sorts of pollinator insects and just as colourful.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
As dated as some people think, a nice well kept lawn and bedding display adds summer colour, and other shrubs/perennials can be dotted in behind.
Don't let people put you off.. lawns & bedding isn't my thing either..but then again it isn't my garden. As long as it gives you pleasure, that is really all that matters.
Try to find a copy of this book - they're quite good in a old fashioned type of way. I still have my mums - full of her scribbles & notes.
Hmmm ... the problem with starting tender plants off this early is that they're going to be quite big before you can plant them outside ........ work out how much well-lit indoor space you have to grow them on in ... and work out how much area they'll cover when they're in larger pots ... right up to when they're the size they'll be in late May/early June which is the earliest I'd be planting most of those out.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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https://www.thompson-morgan.com/petunias-article.
Personally l'm fond of a formal bedding scheme, the ones in Eastbourne a few years ago were quite something.
That's really what they are, and they came about because of the glasshouses which were the prerogative of the wealthy only, and these were plants which had to be grown undercover. It was a social statement. It's why they were mainly in the large estates of country houses etc. Eventually, when glass became cheap enough, these displays were seen more often, especially in public parks.
Apologies for the history lesson, but most people nowadays tend to have a smaller display - either a single border, or pots etc for bedding plants. Nothing to stop anyone having loads of them if that's what they want, but if you have nothing else, it means a lot of empty space for several months of the year - around 6, at least, up here.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
One thing to bear in mind about such bedding plants and displays is that they tend to be utterly devoid of wildlife. I've just been watching the repeats of a short series by Sarah Raven on public planting schemes. Trials were done and the traditional bedding schemes had almost zero insect life whereas ones using wildflowers - annuals and perennials - were buzzing with all sorts of pollinator insects and just as colourful.
Try to find a copy of this book - they're quite good in a old fashioned type of way. I still have my mums - full of her scribbles & notes.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.