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Petunias

Danielm2323Danielm2323 Posts: 65
in Plants
I grew some petunias from seed last year but they ended up all long and straggerly, can anyone suggest why and what I need to do to stop them going the same this year. Thanks in advance

Posts

  • sotongeoffsotongeoff Posts: 9,802

    Oh right- you have had another goimage

    When did you sow the seed?

    What happened with the seedlings after germination?

  • Danielm2323Danielm2323 Posts: 65
    Yeh, just joined didn't really know what I was doing ha, I sowed the seeds about march time, then germinated as normal but they there were about 4 tiny plants to every seed tray, I separated these but they still ended up really long and floppy not the kind of petunias you get in the garden centre.
  • sotongeoffsotongeoff Posts: 9,802

    Where did you keep the seedlings once they had germinated?

    When did you prick them out and pot them on?

    Was it fresh seed and fresh compost?

  • Danielm2323Danielm2323 Posts: 65
    I kept the seedling in a cold frame which is south facing, it was about mid April I separated them up and potted them up, the compost I used was potting compost and the seeds where bought from a local garden centre
  • sotongeoffsotongeoff Posts: 9,802

    So where did you sow them-4 plants per seed tray does not sound right-did they get any heat before germination?

    Indoors?

  • Danielm2323Danielm2323 Posts: 65
    Yeh when I sowed the seeds they were tiny so ended up with more then one plant in each seed tray, I separated these so it was one plant per seed tray but they still ended up long and straggerly, they were grown outdoors in the cold frame from the point I sowed the seeds, do I need bigger seed trays maybe?
  • sotongeoffsotongeoff Posts: 9,802

    Right lets start again

    In about 2 months-mid -March--you need a half-tray-fill it with compost -level it- water it -let it drain

    Then sprinkle the seed over the tray-cover lightly with compost seal in a plastic bag -place somewhere warm-check daily-does not need light until the seedlings are showing

    Put the tray in the best lit place on a windowsill turning daily so they are not drawn towards the light in one direction.

    When they are big enough-prick them out into bigger trays around 1-2 inches apart-you should get about 35 plants per tray to grow on in the cold frame-but protect from frost

    They will then be sturdy plants to flower in the summer-you might want to pinch the tops out around the beginning of May to make bushier plants

    Also protect from slugs/snails

    Any questions?image

  • Danielm2323Danielm2323 Posts: 65
    No think you have covered everything there, thanks for your help, hopefully will follow your advice and will have more success this year.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,975

    Seedlings are often long and straggly when they don't have enough light. Petunias need warmth to germinate.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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