Wave Petunias

I’m so new to this whole “starting from seed” process … WOW!!!! :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

you must have very loose soil there, do you? If you pluck them out and transplant them

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I use a soiless mix I.very carefully use a pointed knife to lift the tiny plants out.I have been doing it this way for a number of years now,and always have great success.It is easy,but tedious,got to do it with alot of patience.LOL

-- Southwestern Ontario Canada Zone5b

Me too and I loathe the job.

I tricked my grandson a couple of times but saying it was fun but he’s wise to me now.

Bob

-- I want to believe in a lot of things but, in the meantime I have to deal with the truth

This is my second year to plant by seed in the house under lights. I wish now that I had got some wave petunias but I do have petunias. I dont have room for 500 although I probably have that many germinated. I plan on saving about 100. I am in the process of repotting some of them now. I rather enjoy this job. Maybe its because at this stage of life I have more time for it. I mentioned some of my plants in my blog and I have since added Sweet William and Carnations, Shasta Daisy and some others.

-- Dahlitsa

“Waves” are wonderful. Good for you for dibbling away. 7-11 slurpee straws with the little spoon end make excellent dibbling tools for seedlings. Learned this in hort school where I got more than my fair share of training in dibbling seedlings and pinching fuchsias. I can’t wait to see your fields of petunia photos later this summer!

-- GardenMentor, Seattle, WA (zone 8/9), www.gardenmentors.com & www.gardenhelp.org

Lots and lots of work, no joke there … but I know your customers love the results!! How awesome to be able to make $$$$ from something that you honestly love doing.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I NOTICE THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REFERENCE TO PLUG OR CELL TRAYS IN GT SO FAR, I ALWAYS USE SMALL CELL PLUGTRAYS THIS HELPS THE PLANT FORM A GOOD ROOT SYSTEM AND SO THE PLUGS CAN BE PUSHED FROM OUT FROM THE BOTTOM TO EASILY TRANSPLANT INTO POTS HENCE NO DISTURBANCE TO THE SEEDLING ,NO PRICKING OUT OR THINNING AND TEMPORARY CHECKING OF GROWTH.
I AM NOT TRYING TO SELL MY PRECISION SEED SOWER BUT THATS HOW I CAME TO INVENT IT,I ALSO HAVE BIG FINGERS . USING MY GADGET I CAN PICK UP AND PLACE SAY 20 TO 30 PETUNIA SEEDS A MINUTE ( AND MUCH SMALLER SEEDS ) VERY EASILY . WITH TINY SEEDS LIKE LOBELIA I FIND THAT THE SEED SOWER PICKS UP SMALL CLUSTERS OF SEED WHICH I PLACE INTO LONGISH TAPERED CELLS ABOUT AN INCH SQUARE.THESE ARE IDEAL FOR POKING INTO POTS AND HANGING BASKETS. SEE MY GREENHOUSE PICTURES IN ” PUTTING A QUART INTO A PINT POT” FORUM ARTICLE.
REGARDS MIKE

-- MIKE MILTON COMMON U.K.

Hi Mike
I start mine this way as they need to be started early and I do not have enough space under lights to accomodate trays.I time this, so that when I separate these seedlings and pot them into cell packs they can at least get out to the GH in the daytime.Some nights are still getting cold,so I can bring the flats in at night and put them just about anywhere for the night,as they will go back out the next morning.
I am now sowing seeds for all my other kinds of plants into cell packs as my trays can stay in the GH”s from now on with a heater, if the temps dip down at night,it is only -1 or-2 and the heater can handle that.
Now with that said,my wave Petunias will only grow to fill the cell packs and then they are all potted up into 4 inch pots,when by the end of May,they have filled the pots.Yes this is extra work,but what I have to work with,this is the only way I can grow the large number of Wave Petunias that I need for orders,to such a large size.

-- Southwestern Ontario Canada Zone5b

hi countrygal its very interesting the way we all achieve the same and adapt to such different conditions of light and temperature , i found your wave petunia article very interesting as i grow to sell also . although i am doing it here for the first time since i moved to the country only a year ago. i grow mainly pendula plants as i sell baskets and pots all planted up .
regards mike

-- MIKE MILTON COMMON U.K.

when the little seedlings are doing well in the little plugs do you just put the entire thing into a bigger pot or… are there other steps?

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Mike me ol Mucca…....I just realized you managed to type a post without the Caps, what happened over there in Milton Common, or is someone pretending to be you? LOL

Just pulling your leg mate. ROTFL

-- Hooked on Gardening.....Ontario zone 5b

HI BULLSEYE NO IVE GOT A SORE THROAT CAN`T SHOUT!!!!!!!!!!!

-- MIKE MILTON COMMON U.K.

hahaha Mike.. you are hilarious… pretty quick with the wit

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)