This year I decided to grow the flowers for my back deck from seed. Since it wasn’t safe to go plant shopping this spring, I ordered my seeds in the mail, and I couldn’t be happier with the results! One of my most favorite jobs I have ever had was the five years I spent with a greenhouse and doing landscaping. It was so nice to be a part of the entire process of growing plants again, and it was much more cost-efficient! I spent $9 in total for the seeds and shipping. What I ended up with would easily have cost $30-100 at a garden center or big box store. Next year I plan to buy more because the process was so rewarding!
Because of their hardiness and color range, I decided to go with Petunias. I ordered two different varieties: Evening Sensation Hybrid (dark purple and lavender) and Desert Sky Mix (red, yellow, white, and pinks). The seeds arrived on April 15th and have reached their peak now in mid-July. I am still watering, trimming, and deadheading every day to hopefully keep them going well into September.
TimeLine of Growing Seeds
April 23rd seeds are planted
I used shallow square plastic baking lids and organic indoor potting soil. The hybrid seeds required light to germinate so I placed them on top of the soil. The desert mix I planted beneath the soil by using my finger to make shallow rows or ditches in the soil and spacing the tiny seeds in them. Then I gently covered them with soil. The seeds were so tiny it was hard to see where I was putting them, so I just hoped for the best! I then misted the soil and covered the containers with plastic wrap to create a mini-greenhouse for the seeds. I placed the containers in a very sunny spot on my kitchen table right by my sliding glass doors so they would have light for most of the day. Every day I lifted the plastic wrap and misted the soil.
April 25th misting every day
April 28th signs of life!
Tiny sprouts began to appear and I was so excited! They hybrid sprouts seemed to be much bigger and there were more of them, but the desert mix was showing signs of life as well! I still kept them covered except to mist daily.
May 3rd more sprouts arrive
May 12th Tiny plants start to form
By now the sprouts are starting to become plants. They still have their “baby leaves” but can spend a few hours a day uncovered.
May 16th Mature leaves
The sprouts are officially plants! They have dropped their “baby leaves” and now have mature “adult leaves.” They can remain uncovered and spend an hour or so outside each day to become acclimated to direct sunlight and air temperature.
May 27th Time to transplant
It is time to move my babies outside! Some of the hybrids are even getting tiny flower buds on them. I planted the plants between three large and one small pot, 4-7 plants in each pot depending on the size. Petunias grow to the size of the container they are in and vine out over the sides. I wanted my pots to looks full but did not want the plants to be overcrowded. You can see the spacing of the plants below. In one pot, I planted only the purple hybrids, in two only the desert mix, and in the third both varieties.
June 10th Flowers appear
The purple hybrids are the first to have flowers! The desert mix is starting to have buds. I am still watering them every day.
June 13th
June 19th
July 7th Fully grown and beautiful
My babies are at their peak! I am deadheading and watering them every day. The colors are so vibrant and the plants are much healthier than any big box store garden center plants could ever be. I am so happy with them, and cannot wait to grow more next year!
Here are some tools to get you started with your own seedlings