How To Grow Petunia

The Petunia is a popular flowering plant due to its bright, showy trumpet-like flowers. They scent the air with a lovely fragrance making them perfect for container gardens on balconies and outdoors. Petunia is a genus of over 30 species in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). 

Petunia species are mostly annual herbs which are insect-pollinated. They are a wonderful choice for container gardens.

Ecology

Water Requirements: Petunias are shallow-rooted and will tend to dry easily. You will need to water them frequently but make sure they do not sit in water to avoid root rot.

Temperature: Thrive in the full sunlight for about 5 – 6 hours. If they do not receive sufficient sunlight, they will produce fewer flowers.

Soil Type: Fertile, loose, well-draining soil. They thrive in slightly acidic soils

Soil pH: 6.0-6.5 

Sowing method

Varieties: In Kenya, you can get Petunia Colorama Seeds by Stark Ayres

Seed rate: Petunias are not so easy to start from seed. Mainly because they are tiny and can be slow to germinate. You would be better off purchasing seedlings. However, you can choose to patiently start them from seed.

Sowing Depth: Sow seeds lightly and do not cover the seeds as they need a lot of light to germinate

Germination Period: Around 21 days

Flowering/Blooming Period: 75 days from germination of seeds

Transplanting Period: Petunia is best sown directly to the final growing spot as they need light and can be fickle when transplanted. However, you can start seeds in a seedbed or seed trays.

Spacing: 20 cm between plants 

    30 cm between rows

Light requirement: Full sun

Feeding: Petunias are not heavy feeders however when in flower it is advisable to feed with potassium-rich plant feed

Care Tips: Remove the dead flowers to encourage more growth