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The Annual Garden: Petunias

Petunias. Petunias are best started under glass in early March or April. They are tender and cannot be sown in the open before May 10th in the average season, which delays the bloom until early August.

They are benefited by being transplanted; therefore, they should be sown first in a seed bed, moved to the garden when the true leaves are pretty well developed, and planted 8 or 10 inches apart. Petunias like a rich soil and a sunny location, but they can stand partial shade. The plants are heavily laden with flowers which continue until frost. The seeds are very fine and must be barely covered with well-pulverized soil. Varieties are obtainable in various shades of crimson, rose, lilac and white, but the finest color of all is the rich purple, as, for example, Purple King. The Rosy Morn is a cheerful, bright pink variety and a very free bloomer. Snowball is a good white. The double flowering varieties are very handsome, but they do not bloom quite so profusely nor for quite so long a period as the single kinds.

Phlox Drummondi. The flower heads of this phlox resemble those of the perennial varieties. It [35] will grow in almost any soil, but the length of its blooming season can be greatly prolonged under congenial conditions. It prefers a sunny exposure, a rich soil, and occasional feedings with liquid cow manure, sheep manure or wood ashes. It is of great importance not to allow the plants to dry out, or to go to seed. When its requirements are carefully observed, the annual phlox will bloom until frost and prove a great addition to the annual garden. Seeds may be started in a hot bed in March, or in the open in early May, for bloom in late July. When grown under glass the seedlings should be transplanted, when large enough, into a light, rich soil, and kept watered and cultivated to encourage growth. Pinch out any flower buds that form when the plant is too young, as much of the future success depends upon conserving the energy of the seedling at this stage, for the development of a compact, bushy plant. Grandiflora varieties may be set 10 inches apart, 6 inches being sufficient space for the dwarf varieties.

Varieties come in crimson, white and rose, but the primrose, shell-pink, and soft lilac are the best colors. Portulaca. Portulaca is also called the "sun plant" because its flowers close on cloudy days and at sundown. It is suitable for edging, and may be sown where it is to bloom about May 15th as it does not [36] germinate until warm weather. Germination is assisted by covering the seed with sand. Thinning is unnecessary unless a very thick stand of seedlings is obtained. Bloom is continuous until September when it usually dies out unless the conditions are exceptionally favorable. The flowers come in brilliant cérise, deep yellow and white. They are suitable for gardens in which a riot of color is desired.