Coincidence, or external influence?

This year, I sowed a couple of packets (cheap packets too to be fair) of mixed trailing petunias. They performed reasonably well for me last year, despite it being my first year growing them and being a bit ham-fisted with the sowing technique, and gave me quite a nice wee range of mixed colours.

I was a bit more scientific in my approach this year, using silver sand to mix the seed into to get a more even spread, and then sowed in John Innes soil based seed compost (see how all the good habits on GC are rubbing off on me? ), and my germination success rate was vastly improved this year, as well as the seedlings being more uniform in size and being much healthier.

They are now at that point where they are starting to flower, and one thing has become quite apparent so far - - they are all very similar in colour!




All of the petunias that I have grown at home are this deep pink colour; admittedly, one of the blooms on that lot in the greenhouse is slightly lighter, but to all intents and purposes they are all the same.

Is this purely coincidental that I have got two packets of mixed seeds that just happen to contain the pink seeds only, or is there some other influence at play here?

I'm not complaining by the way, just very curious.

 

I think I recall reading something about germination temperature having an effect on the colour of petunias, but then again I could be dreaming again........

Ssssshhh!! Don't let our secret out


Nah, they were Suttons packets from my local garden centre

So far, yes, although some are destined to be popped into flower pouches for my neighbours across the road.