Start Indoors or Buy Healthy Starts
While direct sowing petunias can be done, it’s not always reliable—especially when you’re aiming for uniform coverage. Petunias have tiny seeds and are slow to germinate outdoors. Starting them indoors or buying nursery starts gives you a strong head start on your bloom season.
Start seeds 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost date and transplant after all danger of frost has passed. Choose sturdy, compact seedlings with lots of leaf growth but no flowers yet. These will transition better into your field and put their energy into rooting instead of blooming too early. A well-rooted start sets the foundation for a full, lush plant later on!