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Monday, July 18, 2022

The Flowers I Started From Last Year's Collected Seeds

I just wanted to share photos of how my flowers from collected seeds turned out. 

Last year, I had Patriot Mix petunias, a mix of red, white, and dark purple blossoms. They looked something like this photo.


We had such beautiful sunny and warm weather in May and June of 2021. The blossoms looked great for the 4th of July. This year, not so much. It was cold and wet for all of May and most of June. Petunias don't like cold and wet. The leaves yellowed and the plants looked like they were on their last legs before warmer weather finally set in, here. There were hardly any blooms at all by the 4th. In addition, the colors were not what I had hoped they would be.

So, with the petunias, I saved a bunch of the seeds and planted some of them this spring. This is what I got from some of the seeds, white, light purple with white spots, dark purple, and very dark purple. 


and


The medium purple with white spots is interesting. It has had several blossoms and each blossom has its spots in a different place, but white spots nonetheless. On this bloom, there's just a single white spot on the corner of one petal.

and

The marigolds were more like what I expected, an assortment of gold, orange, and burnt red blossoms, some double and some single in layers of petals. This is very close to what I remember from last year's flowers. I planted these last year with the idea that they would be our late summer through early fall flowers. This year, I've got them in pots and am hoping for the same gorgeous autumnal display that I can move around to decorate porches and other areas. I have a small pot of the marigolds in the pumpkin and sunflower patch, perched on a stump. The color from those marigolds adds just the right cheer as I await the formation of pumpkins.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share how the saved seeds turned out for me.

10 comments:

  1. Nice! The shades of purple are even pretty than the original colors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cat,
      The different shades of purple are quite pretty, even if they were not what I was thinking would come from those seeds.

      Delete
  2. Very pretty and interesting how they are blooming with different colors. I am lucky that my sister overbuys petunias every year and gives me some. I plant whatever she gives me in pots. However, something as been snipping of the stems at their base. Those plants have not survived, but the others are giving a nice show of color.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Live and Learn,
      Yes, lucky you to be on the receiving end of your sister's surplus! What a nice sister. I'm glad some or most of the plants are doing well. It's always frustrating when something comes along and destroys the seedlings.

      Delete
  3. I think you should do a post of your flowers mid-winter, when we all are looking forward to spring. :) So pretty!

    I used to plant petunias but found that begonias did better for me. Our front porch has an overhang and is north facing (mix of sun and shade) so perhaps the petunias didn't get enough sun?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kris,
      Some years, our rhododendrons bloom super early, in winter still. I'll keep an eye on blooms around the neighborhood this next winter. A few neighbors had Christmas rose (not a rose at all) blooming in January. I'll take some photos this next year to share.

      I'm not an expert on flowers, but I do know that the petunias I've tried always do better with a lot of sun, whereas the begonias need more shade.

      Delete
  4. I never save seeds since I don't know how to do it. But I don't buy premade hanging baskets for myself anymore. My MIL likes the big premade ones so we get her one each year but I like making my own handing baskets with a geranium and petunias. By big brag this year are my hydrangeas. About 5 or 6 years ago, we had to move one to a different place, then perhaps 2 years ago, we bought a new one to plant near the other one. This spring we moved two of them to be near the other two. The beautiful colors on those full and healthy hydrangeas are so beautiful this year. I had no idea a hydrangea could have multiple colored flowers on one plant. I have light pink, dark pink, light purple, dark purple, almost white on another and they are so lovely this year. https://photos.google.com/u/1/photo/AF1QipPg8muY7xdcGBi2vscfwcTBF_TZ0KA1mNrzAwKa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alice,
      Ooooh, your hydrangeas sound lovely. I'm still working on learning how to improve mine. Maybe I should try moving it to a different location.
      I can understand the appeal of pre-planted hanging baskets. They instantly look great. But they are expensive. I'm sure your MIL has appreciated them as a gift from you and your husband.

      Delete
  5. Beautiful flowers!! I have never grown flowers ever in my lifetime. I know I'm missing out on something wonderful and inspiring. Growing it from seed that you harvested must be so special and rewarding.

    Have a nice day,
    Laura

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Laura,
      I still feel like a newbie when it comes to growing flowers from seeds, and especially seeds that I collected myself. But maybe that's what makes me so enthusiastic about it at this point. I'm still learning.
      I hope you had a wonderful day today, Laura, and are now enjoying a lovely evening!

      Delete

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