Planting petunias in March will create an autumn show that is just as colourful as that in spring and summer.
Petunias like sun, sun and more sun. Planted now, they will flower up a storm before winter. Even if the flowers get frosted, the growth will not be affected and they will bounce back with a sensational spring show.
What’s to like?
Petunias are low maintenance annuals that never stop flowering.
Most petunias with single flowers are self-cleaning. No need to deadhead.
They are water wise.
They mix well with other flowers but also look good planted en masse in the garden, as well as in containers and hanging baskets. In other words, everywhere!
Petunia pointers
- Petunias prefer full sun or sites that get plenty of morning sun. They will cope with a little shade.
- Plant in compost enriched soil that drains well.
- Don’t over water. Let the soil dry out moderately before watering.
- Fertilise once a month to keep the flowers coming.
- Don’t plant petunias in the same spot for two consecutive years because they are susceptible to soil borne diseases.
Beat the frost
If you are in a frosty zone, plant petunias against a sunny north facing wall. The heat reflected from the sunny wall sun creates a cosy micro-climate and blooms are less likely to suffer frost damage.
What’s new in Petunias?
There is never a shortage of petunias and the many colours and types cater to every taste but trying something new always adds that little bit of extra interest in the garden. Here is a selection to make your mouth water:
Quick fillers – E3 Easy Wave
This new Easy Wave Series has a 10 hour daylength flowering and spreads quickly to cover pavements, large beds, and sunny slopes as well as fill large containers and hanging baskets-.
Plants are more rain tolerant, don’t need grooming. Individual plants can spread up to 80m which means you need fewer plants to cover area.
Being a seed grown variety they are more affordable than the vegetative varieties. These petunias need lots of feeding because they grow so fast.
Novelties for containers and baskets
Petunia Sky series
Petunias never really stood out as a novelty until ‘Night Sky’ was introduced, with each single bloom like a star- spangled sky in the evening.
‘Cherry Sky’ is the newest in the Sky Petunia range and it has large bright red blooms with white flecks. It is a mounded petunia that grows up to 40cm, with a spread of 70cm. There is also Circus Sky’ with white flecks and stripes on bold pink petals.
What sets the Sky series apart is that the blooms are single and each is different, with its own unique pattern.
Although they are annuals, the Sky petunias have a long growing season and don’t need long days to flower. If planted now, they will continue through to the following summer, with non-stop blooms, especially in warm, sunny winter gardens.
Their neat growth suits smaller gardens, patio planters, window boxes and hanging baskets. Plants can double-up as in indoor flower arrangement for a day or two before being planted outdoors.
Super compact petunias
Petunia ‘Strawberry Shake’ that looks very much like a strawberry milkshake and is a colour breakthrough in genetically compact petunias.
There’s also Blueberry Shake and Raspberry shake, and these three are perfect for patio containers or hanging baskets and are just as pretty in the garden. Plants grow 20cm high and wide and stay round and neat.
BeautiCal Weather resistant petunias
Petchoa Caliburst ‘Yellow’ is the deepest yellow petunia available. It is an interspecific petunia that combines the vibrant colours of calibrachoa, and the cold durability and long flowering daylength of Easy Wave petunias.
It’s a seed variety with the flower power of vegetative varieties but is more affordable. Plants mound 15 – 25cm high with a spread of 70cm making them suitable for cascading out of containers and hanging baskets.
Petchoa BeautiCal ‘Red Maple’ has large petunia-like flowers that are rain resistant and with improved mildew resistance, owing to its combination of petunia and calibrachoa traits.
Other colours in the BeautiCal range are Bordeaux, Cinnamon, white, Purple Dawn, Sunset Orange and Yellow Sun. They are all are self- cleaning, so there is no need to deadhead. Plants are compact and mounded, making them suitable for patios, balconies, and outdoor pots as well as in the garden. For more inspiration visit www.ballstraathof.co.za
TEXT & IMAGES: Alice Coetzee
