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Starting Petunias from Seed Outdoors: Timing Challenges vs. Buying Transplants

Q: I have a front yard flower bed. Can I successfully plant petunias by broadcasting seed? When is best?

Petunias can be grown from seed but usually indoors or in a greenhouse. If planted in spring when ground is warm, flowers take several weeks—possibly mid-June. By contrast, nursery plants bloom in late April.

Planting Petunia Seed

About Gardening: Growing Wisteria from Seed: Patience Required; Troubleshooting Seedling Problems: Brown Leaves, Weak Blooms, and Green Mold; Can You Grow a Citrus Tree by Burying a Whole Fruit?; Growing Roses from Seed: A Realistic Guide; Growing a Magnolia from Seed: George Washington's Tree; Growing Nepenthes ampullaria from Seed: Viability Warning and Expert Resource; Growing Hostas from Seed: Step-by-Step; Seed-Grown Lemon Tree: Years to Fruit, Better to Buy Meyer; Banana Seeds? Commercial Bananas Are Seedless Hybrids; Growing Plum Trees from Seed: Expect Reversion to Green Foliage

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