Petunia: Shanin Wild (Petunia violacea)
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General Information
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Germination
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Seedlings
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Harvesting
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Seed Saving
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Companion Planting
Grown as: Annual: 1-8
Perennial: 9a-11
Maturity (Blooms): Summer
Light: Full Sun
Water: Medium. Water seedlings until they become established. Mature plants tolerate some drought, though they flourish with occasional watering.
Soil Moisture: Medium. Lightly moist
Soil Moisture: Low
Beneficial Insects?: Yes. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, and has good pest resistance.
Containers?: Yes. This spreading, plant makes an excellent choice for hanging baskets, borders, and containers
Height: 12”
Spacing: 12”
Sow Depth: On soil surface.
USDA Zone: 3a-9b
Produces: Lovely violet trumpet-shaped flowers up to two inches across.
Petunias are ideal as companion plants because they are nature’s version of a pesticide. They repel a variety of pests including the asparagus beetle, leafhoppers and tomato worms. They are also effective against some types of aphids and Mexican bean beetles.
Some of the plants that thrive when you plant petunias as companions include brassicas, beans, basil, tomatoes, grapes, corn and peppers. Roses also fare well when this natural insect deterrent is planted in proximity.
Protecting Your Vegetable Harvest
The brassica family includes broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts and cauliflower. When planting with broccoli or cabbage, petunias will increase the likelihood of you getting a good harvest because they trap cabbage worms. These “worms” are in fact a species of caterpillar that will eat through an entire crop if left unchecked so the best, organic method for you to control these pests is to plant petunias in your cabbage beds.
Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and tobacco are part of the same family and are susceptible to the same type of pests such as aphids, hornworms, cabbage loopers, Japanese beetles and weevils. Planting petunias or geraniums among your crops will either distract or repel these pests from your harvest plants.
Protecting Grape Vines
Grape vines attract a large variety of pests from aphids, mites and moths, to nematodes. Certain nematode species attack grape vine roots, which lead to stunted growth because the nutrient and water absorption cycle is affected. Companion planting around grape vines of petunias will protect your grapes from most of these pests and guarantee better vigor and health for your plants.
Companion planting is the best way for you to control pests in your garden naturally and cleanly. Commercially available pesticides contain chemicals that cannot be considered beneficial to your health.
Attracting Beneficial Insects with Companion Plants
Petunias are one of the most reliable companion plants due to the wide range of pests they repel. Their scent also attracts bees, butterflies and moths to your vegetable garden which are all beneficial to your plants as they help with pollination. In addition, they also add beauty to your garden. A cabbage patch takes on a whole new look if your cabbage plants are interspersed with petunias.
Suggested Varieties
Beans: Kentucky Wonder Pole (Heirloom) (Phaseolus vulgaris)
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Beans: Lazy Housewife Pole (Heirloom) (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Bean: Royalty Purple Pod Green (Heirloom) (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Broccoli: Green Sprouting Calabrese (Organic) (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
Broccoli: Purple Sprouting (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
Broccoli: Waltham 29 (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
Brussels Sprout: Long Island Improved (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
Cabbage: Early Jersey Wakefield (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
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Cabbage: Late Flat Dutch (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Cabbage: Red Acre (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Cabbage is considered one of the oldest cultivated vegetables, since historians trace it back to 4,000 BC in China. The Romans also cultivated it and praised it for its healing qualities; philosophers Pythagoras and Cato both made the lowly cabbage the subject of a book. Jacques Cartier brought the first cabbage to America in 1536. Cabbages were quite popular in colonial America, being pickled and preserved in every possible way to provide food for the winter.
Cabbage, Chinese: Pak Choi (Heirloom) (Brassica rapa var. chinensis)
Cauliflower: Snowball Y Improved (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
Corn: Country Gentleman-Open Pollinated (Heirloom) (Zea mays)
Corn: Golden Bantam-Open Pollinated (Heirloom) (Zea mays)
Eggplant: Black Beauty (Heirloom) (Solanum melongena var. esculentum)
Eggplants date back to medieval times where they were called mad apples. A staple of regions of Asia, known as the "king of vegetables". Eggplant comes in all shapes colors and sizes. Black Beauty is one of the earliest and dates back to the early 1900's.
Eggplant: Long Purple (Heirloom) (Solanum melongena)
This Italian heirloom eggplant, Long Purple, produces dark purple cucumber-shaped fruit with firm, mild flesh. Good yields, especially in northern climates! Plants will typically produce 4 or more 8-10" fruits with harvest beginning in 70 to 80 days. Average water needs. Some parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.
Kohlrabi: Purple Vienna (Heirloom) (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
Mustard: Red Giant (Heirloom) (Brassica juncea)
Mustard greens originated near the Himalayan region of northern India, where they have been growing for thousands of years. Chinese, Japanese, and African cuisine also make use of this peppery vegetable. Though not particularly well known in most parts of the United States, mustard greens are a traditional part of culture in the southern region.
Mustard: Tendergreen (Heirloom) (Brassica rapa var. perviridis)
Mustard greens originated near the Himalayan region of northern India, where they have been growing for thousands of years. Chinese, Japanese, and African cuisine also make use of this peppery vegetable. Though not particularly well known in most parts of the United States, mustard greens are a traditional part of culture in the southern region.
Tomato: Beefsteak (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Pepper, Hot: Anaheim Chili (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Habanero (Heirloom) (Capsicum chinense)
Pepper, Hot: Hungarian Yellow Hot Wax (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Jalapeno (Organic) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Long Red Cayenne (Organic) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Serrano (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Hot: Tabasco (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Sweet: Banana (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Sweet: California Wonder 300 TMR Bell (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Sweet: Chocolate Bell (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Pepper, Sweet: Purple Beauty Bell (Heirloom) (Capsicum annuum)
Tomato: Amana Orange (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Black Krim (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Green Zebra (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Hillbilly (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Italian Roma (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Purple Cherokee (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Sweetie Cherry (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Tomato: Yellow Pear (Heirloom) (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Basil: Cinnamon (Ocimum basilicum)
Cinnamon Basil is a Mexican cultivar with decorative, purple-flushed foliage, light pink flower spikes and a distinctive cinnamon-like aroma! Use fresh or dried leaves in your cooking! Popular for use in herbal tea and potpourri! Attractive foliage and blooms also make this a valuable ornamental addition to your herb garden! Full size plants range from 18-30" tall by 12-18" in width. Average water needs.