I start mine in plastic containers,margarine tubs,or mushroom trays,etc,try not to sow them too thick.When they are large enough to handle,I prick them out into the cell packs that you buy annuals in.When these fill the packs well,I pot them up into 4 inch pots.At planting time I have nice full plants with lots of buds.Sounds like alot of work,but with that little container I started with,I usually get 150 plants in the end.I have planted them out right from the cell packs,but they weren't as big.Whatever you use just don't crowd them when you are growing them on.

I have lost many a petunia seedlings due to ignorance on how to handle them. The most important thing to know is that they are fragile when young - more fragile than almost any other seedlings. The key is to have a really porous seed starting mix made up of vermiculite, sphagnum moss, perlite etc. Also important is to feed them every week and provide good sunlight. I have experimented with covering the seed with 1/8 to 1/4 starting mix. They seem to germinate just as fine and I think they had better strength than those grown on soil. If you need 12 plants for your garden, sow at least 24 to 30 seeds to be on the safe side.

Thanks mollyzone5 and carygardener,
Thanks for responding to my post. And giving me such good information. I want to have at least thirty plants. I will sow more seeds to be on the safe side.
Thanks
Mary-Jane

Mollyzone, I always wondered what I could use all em plastic containers,margarine tubs,or mushroom trays,etc for. thanks for your post ;)

aspiring
Those blue mushroom trays I put to good use.I also use them to collect seed in fall,as I collect from so many plants.I write the name on a piece of paper and put in container with the seed.They can be stacked,putting long end then short end,so they get air circulation.Works great in little space.

You might also want to consider winter sowing them. They worked REALLY great for me last year. We'll see how this year goes. They did bloom a week or so later than the ones I started inside under lights, but they caught up quick and bloomed all summer long.

Deb

Hi Deb,
I never tried winter sowing them. When would you start them outside. There is no danger of them freezing?
Thanks
Mary-Jane

Mine have been out there since the end of January. The seeds freeze, but once it starts getting warm consistently, they start sprouting! Check out the winter sowing forum....its fun and addictive.

Good luck.

~Deb

Thanks Deb,
I'll check the winter sowing forum.
Thanks
Mary-Jane