Planting on

150 Petunias to plant on... that will keep me busy for awhile.


And it did

 

Yes, that would take a while Capney.
I used to find that kind of job very hard on my back - standing at a bench for a long time slightly bent forward.
My husband fitted an extra high working bench in my potting shed so that I can work upright (no slight forward bend) and what a difference that makes when I'm planting seeds or potting on.

 

So, do you eat them? I am kinda new to this gardening thing.

 

Google is your friend, MrEco.

 

Hi Eco..
Do you eat them? Not a good idea. They are a very popular flower that are often used in hanging baskets.
This picture is a typical use of Petunias

 

Capney, wow, thanks for posting this picture. I never understood what the point was in petunias. (I'm sure we all have our collection of underrated plants for very irrational reasons...) But I am going to give them a go this spring, those containers are inspiring!

 

hello Capney
Nice petunias , and an impressive germination rate ! When did you sow your seeds ? They are very well developed . I sow petunias in early March as the daylight is getting a little longer. After a month my double petunias are doing fine. But I grow some petunia shock waves trailing petunias and they are just getting the first pair of leaves , also erratic germination ,depending on the colour I think, from a very poor 10% to 90% with the pink colour. Would an earlier sowing be OK do you think?

 

Goodness me Capney. Hats off to you.

I just wouldnt have the patience for that kind of task.

Then there is the daily deadheading and pinching out to look forward to.
Im getting tired just thinking about it! :D


Petunias are on my 'not a chance' list! :D

 

Petunias

I wish I could say I did grow them from seed.
But I cant...
They arrived today via post.
Buy 100 and get 50 free. I could not resist.
They were very dry and as supplied they where not in the water retension gel, so a transplant seemed vital.
They will end up in hanging baskets with all the other plants I have coming on.
If its a summer like last they will be watered twice a day to keep them fresh.
And as you say Melinda.... deadheaded twice a day !

 

I've got some Lobellia to prick out. These were taken a couple of weeks ago and the trays are stuffed now, only managed to prick out 40, and I reckon there are a couple of hundred per tray ... although I think I only need about 100 of each ...

 

Well done Robert, want a job?
How about doing it for six or seven hours a day for five weeks, I've done it for so long I don't notice my back aching standing at a bench but kneeling on the polytunnel floor setting out two thousand plants at a time does.
Fortunately for my back and my knees, this is my last year.:yess:

 

Very impressive. I potted on some petunias today - but only 12! Not quite the same.

 

What's the best way to get them out and replant without damage?
Got mine to do, they are in the 40 cell trays but some have 3 plants in.
Salvias, lobelia, verbena, sweet William.
My first attempt. :-S
Do they go onto normal compost or stick with seed/cutting mix?

Cheers
David

 

Assuming these are very small plug plants?

They normally have a small draining hole per-plug which fits the head of a pencil.

I use the pencil (blunt end) to gently push them up and out of the module, and then the pointy end to make a nice cone shaped hole in the pot they are going in to.

I fill 3" pots to the brim with compost (without firming it, so its all still fluffy). Make the cone-shaped hole, pop the plantlet in, and then gently firm it into place - basically to ensure that it is in good contact with the compost, and there are no air pockets. That action, and subsequent watering over the coming days / weeks will compact the compost down half an inch, or so, which will then provide the watering space at the top (although, to start with, probably better you bottom-water by sitting the pots in a tray of water for 10 minutes whenever they need a drink - probably only twice or thrice a week, or so, to start with)

Use multi-purpose compost, not seed compost. The M.P.C. should have enough "food" for about 6 weeks - by which time you will be planting them out