It's the second week of January - and you're starting seeds? Are you nuts? For God's sake, it's 15 degrees and snowing outside right now.
Yep, the first seeds of the 2013 Kersey Gardens have been started - a variety of petunias, both standard and trailing (wave) petunias started indoors. Although the packets and catalogs instruct to start the pentunias 8-10 weeks prior to the final expected frost of the season. With as delicate and tiny as petunia seeds are, I have a hard time believing only 8 to 10 weeks - so, we'll give them a good chance starting them way early.
This year, for the first time, I've ordered in and are using grow light (Jump Start set-up by Hyrdrofarm) and seedling heat mats (also from Hydrofarm). Found a pretty good (price) deal on both at Amazon.com. I'm also using pre-netted seed starting pellets.
What's getting started? A whole variety of petunias, both regular and trailing (wave) petunias. Here's a look at the kinds we hope to have by this summer.
Phantom Petunias. The came onto the scene a couple of years ago and have become very popular with their striking and unusual black coloring. These will be the most difficult to grow from seed.
Burpees Summer Madness Double Hybrid Petunia were the first to germinate. The pink double bloom flowers with red veins should make these a highlight in any container.
New this year, the Sophistica Blackberry Petunia. The deep, dark red flowers should help accentuate pink and red petunias in all containers.
For the "Wall of Petunias" in the back yard (8 fence mounted, coconut lined large baskets), I've brought in four kinds trailing (wave) style petunias
Burpee's Shock Wave Coconut Petunia
Burpee's Shock Wave Denim Petunia
Burpee's Baby Duck Petunia
Most petunia seeds run about $4-5 a packet, usually with 10-15 pelletted season. Burpees (www.burpees.com) seems to have the best variety, Park Seed (www.parkseed.com) also seems to have a decent variety.
YouTube can often be a great instructor. Found this video on how to harvest petunia seeds from plants in the summer and fall. Something to definitely think about in the fall as the growing season starts to end.
