Hi there, since there were no replies yet about pinching off blossoms, here is my take on it.
On flowering bedding plants, OLD blossom removal, including the seed containing part, will encourage more blossoms because the plant “wants” to produce seeds (and they have been removed) , and the plant will be encouraged to make more flowers and seed heads. Leaving old seed heads on makes the plant “think” it has completed ( or is on the way to completing) its life mission of reproducing.
Petunias in particular, benefit greatly from seed head removal. They will become stringy, weak-stemmed plants without seed head removal.
Marigolds are prolific seed producers. I like to remove old seed heads so you don’t see the old brown flowers.
Impatiens will drop old petals on their own, but not the seed heads. However impatiens do fine without removing the seed containing part of the old flower.
Removal of new unopened flowering plant blooms is not good,unless the gardener is Morticia Addams, who famously snipped the heads of long stemmed roses off and declared them perfect.😊
In the veggie plant department, I recall reading that competitive (giant variety) pumpkin growers might snip off some blooms, leaving a few to mature to the biggest pumpkins possible. The theory is that fewer pumpkins might have a chance to get bigger than if all blooms were left on the plant.
I do not recall other veggie plants benefitting from flower removal, but I am sure one of our friends here will think of some.
🌸🌼🌺
"I do not recall other veggie plants benefiting from flower removal, but I am sure one of our friends here will think of some."
See Post #65 for my explanation of why I pinch off young blooms on tomatoes and peppers, and advised Ern to do so, too.
But you are right on the other dead-heading you talked about. Isn't it nice that they've breed a number of Petunia now that are very quick about shedding their spent blooms? I am growing three hanging baskets of 'Wave' Petunia this season and I LOVE them!
I always thought Petunia were for Old Ladies - but now I are one, LOL! ;) Not cheap, though! $9 for a 6-pack, but they really are beautiful.
