Petunia
Insists on full sun - shady spots produce leggy plants with few flowers. Once established it takes very little upkeep, but regular deadheading and fortnightly feeding keep the display going for months.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 30cm
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Mature height
- 30cm
- Flowering season
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
- Common diseases
- Grey mould (botrytis)
- Common pests
- Aphids
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: July-September. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: August-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.
Growing stages
Germination & planting
- Choose a full-sun position; shady spots produce leggy plants with few flowers
- Space plants around 30cm apart
Establishment
- Water moderately while roots establish; watch for aphids on soft new growth
- Once established, petunias take very little upkeep
Vegetative growth
- Compact, spreading growth to about 30cm
- Grey mould (botrytis) can develop in damp, crowded conditions or on faded flowers
- Aphids can build up on new shoots and buds
Flowering
- Regular deadheading and fortnightly feeding keep the display going for months
- Remove any grey mould-affected blooms promptly to stop it spreading