Summer heat can’t keep vinca from performing. The main problem is preventing diseases such as aerial phytophora. This can mainly be done by mulching plants with course material before watering to prevent soil from splashing on the foliage, which is the carrier of the disease. Once the disease has infected a plant it can not be saved.
Transplant into the landscape when soil temperatures are above 70-80 degrees. Cold temperatures will stall the plants and stunt growth. Once established the plants are very drought tolerant and love the summer heat.
Saving thousands of seed occasionally results in interesting plants. Here are some of the seedlings that showed promise.
This dark leaf coleus sports a loose growth habit with large leaves. Did not branch well, but holds great color.
As one of the most colorful choices for the garden, petunias have some special care requirements:
1. Water early in the day to allow the plants time to dry off. Damp leaves during the night and even on cloudy days can lead to rotting.
2. Cut back overgrown branches to promote increased branching and more blooms. The best method is to cut back about 20-30% of the branches to the first node every 7-10 days.
3. Fertilize with both liquid and slow release formulas. Use a ratio of water soluble fertilize around the 13-2-13 to 20-10-20 range. Fertilize with a low rate of 30-60ppm N, every 2-5 days. Higher rates of 150-300ppm N should be used every 7-10 days. After planting add a tablespoon of slow release, such as osmocote, about 2 inches from the plant. Some colors and varieties can be heavier feeders than others in the same series.
The newest introduction to the wave series petunias are the ‘Shockwave’. The flowers are smaller than normal, only about an inch. Even with the smaller flowers the plants make an impact like no other. Current colors are ivory, purple, pink, pink vein, and rose. While I do like the ‘Shockwave’, I have to ask… ‘Just how many waves does a garden need?’ If you like calibrachoa and have trouble growing them, then this is the plant to replace with.
Petunia Shockwave Purple
Petunia Shockwave Pink Vein
Petunia Shockwave Pink
Petunia Shockwave Ivory
Petunia Shockwave Rose
