Petunia Growing guide One of the most popular of all summer annuals providing continuous colour all summer in beds or containers. Type Frost tender perennial grown as a half hardy annual. Garden conditions Best in plenty of sunshine. Thrives in hot sunny summers but dislikes high humidity. Different varieties from the wide range available are suitable for window boxes, tubs and urns, hanging baskets, and beds and borders. Good soil and no shortage of water gives the best display. Sowing indoors Sow thinly early to mid spring in fresh seed compost at 70-78F/20-25C. Immediately before sowing treat the compost with a copper-based fungicide to prevent damping off disease. Do not cover the seed, but cover the pot with clingfilm and place in a bright, but not sunny place. Pricking out As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle prick them out into trays or small pots of fresh compost. Water them with a fungicide to prevent damping off. Growing on Grow on at about 60F/15C until well established, then reduce the temperature 50F/10C to develop a well-branched plant. Try to keep temperatures below 60F/15C as high temperatures encourage leggy growth. Planting out Steadily acclimatise the plants to garden conditions then plant out when all danger of frost is passed. Sowing outdoors Petunias are not suitable for sowing direct into garden soil. Pests and diseases Greenfly and other aphids attack both young and established plants; grey mould can be troublesome in humid seasons and cool summers. Rain can damage Grandiflora types. Variety Guide Grandifloras Large-flowered, best warm, dry areas. Aladdin ( colours), Express ( colours), and Prism ( colours), are all good series. Storm (5 colours), is more rain-resistant than the others. Multifloras Smaller-flowered but more prolific and more universally successful. Celebrity (24 colours), Mirage (22 colours), and Carpet (15 colours), are all excellent. Others The trailing Wave (4 colours), is ideal for hanging baskets and ground cover, the very compact, small-flowered Fantasy (9 colours), is best in for tubs and window boxes.   Petunia A-Z   ©copyright 1999 Graham Rice. All Rights Reserved. All Images Digitally Watermarked.