Hello everyone!!! I wanted to share with you all these beautiful petunias that I got at Home Depot about 4 days ago. I have no idea as to what category they belong. I do know that they are grown by Viva Gardens and their names. I've got a question though. Would they grow here as perennials or annuals?? I guess I will find out as the season progresses.
The fist one is Orange Zest
Followed by Lemon Zest
Then we've got Creme Brulee
This message was edited Nov 2, 2010 4:23 PM
And finally Rhythm and Blues
Lastly a group shot. I haven't decided if I want them potted or in the ground. For now they are nicely potted and loving the spot that they are in.
Great selection. You have to post more info in a few weeks of what you think. I like the Rhythm & Blues.
So how are those petunias doing now? Pictures please.
Oh! I love that orange zest! Joanna, do you have petunia seeds started yet? When did/do you usually start yours? Yes, please, more pictures! I am anxious for spring and need them to cheer us up in the frozen north country, lol!
I usually start petunias from seed Mid February. We are currently about 16 weeks before our last average frost, so a bit early. I start my little greenhouse up in March (not enough natural light until then)
I work at a wholesale grower and we have already seeded the Wave petunias so they are ready for hanging baskets for Mothers Day.
I recall seeing these petunias at Home Depot in Ft Lauderdale off and on last winter and this winter. They are definitely annuals in our climate Roly. Typically they start struggling with the heat in April and completely die back by early May. You can get them to last a bit longer if they're in a container and you move it to morning only sun in April. Orange Zest and Creme Brulee are my favorites. They all have a mounding type habit. Love the colors of "Rhythm & Blues", but the blooms are very very small (half the size of all the others in the series).
The petunias are long gone. They started dying back a while back. I need full sun plants and these guys weren't really happy. I will get some more if they are available this fall.
I can relate to that. Some will bloom well all winter in South Florida and some get real leggy and seem to run out of energy. Sometimes those can be given a real hard prune back, but there are no guarantees they will look super great again.
Am I too late to plant Lasianthus and dianthus seeds ???
Dianthus would have been better to start in the fall. This is a great time to start Lisianthus seeds. Ironically I started some Lisianthus seeds last night. Right now is also a perfect time to start Rudbeckia seeds in South Florida. Others you could start now are Gaillardia, Salvia and some of the more typical stuff (marigolds, zinnias).
Sounds good and I've got all of those seeds waiting. I'll need to expand the butterfly garden.
Perfect. I've had better germination results surface sewing all of the above mentioned, except for the zinnias and marigolds. Lisianthus germination and growing on has always been a struggle for me. I've had better results if I only bottom water the seeds/seedlings for the first 4-6 weeks. They grow soooooo slowly.
I'm working on a petunia presentation and just realized that some of the names sounded familiar. Those special packaged Home Depot petunias that are branded Viva are actually as follows:
Lemon Zest - Dummen Red Fox Surprize Lemon Zest
Orange Zest - Dummen Red Fox Surprize Orange Zest
Inc-Red-ble - Dummen Red Fox Surprize Red
Creme Brulee - Dummen Red Fox Potunia Cappuccino
Strawberry Zest - Dummen Red Fox Sweetunia Strawberry Ice
Rhythm + Blues - Ball Horticultural (new one this year. Not in a series)
All fabulous petunias. All vegetative propagation, so no seeds to try & buy.
