Pansies growing seedlings planting care. Pansies, cultivation. Pansy flower plant description

Pansies, viola tricolor, ivan da marya - all these are the names of one wonderful garden plant that can decorate any flower bed with its variegated flowers with early spring until late autumn. Growing pansies from seeds has its own characteristics and involves different dates sowing. It depends on when you want to see flowering and what kind of crop, annual or biennial, you want to get. Breeders brought out a huge variety of large-flowered forms of various colors from nondescript field violets. Among the varieties there are small ground cover species, and ampelous, creating incredible cascades of flowers in hanging planters on balconies and terraces. Having chosen the variety you like, it is quite possible to grow all this beauty from seeds at home. However, as indoor plant, viola is rarely cultivated.

Pansies growing from seeds

It's so easy to go to the market and buy seedlings of your favorite plants to plant in the garden or in pots in the loggia. But for some, the passage of the entire simple process from sowing seeds to planting flowering bushes in open ground It is creativity that is necessary to fulfill life. In addition, this approach will save a lot of money if you plan to plant large areas with viola.

Landing dates

You can sow seeds at any time of the year, it all depends on what goal is pursued.

To obtain seedlings for their own needs, seeds are best sown from late February to mid-March. Shoots do not need additional illumination and reach the sizes necessary for disembarkation just in time for the end of spring frosts.
For the sale of flowering bushes in the spring, you can sow as early as January. In this case, lighting is indispensable, and only a heated greenhouse will ensure mass production.
To obtain biennial plants that bloom profusely in early spring, seeds are sown in summer (late June - July) in open ground.

Planting pansies in early autumn or before winter is not recommended. If in the first case, young seedlings have a chance to take root well in order to endure wintering, then in the second case, freezing cannot be avoided. Alternatively, you can transplant young plants into pots and transfer them to the veranda for wintering.

Preparing seeds for planting

Special preparation of pansy seeds before planting is not required. A positive effect is obtained by soaking them in a stimulant solution, such as Citron. Harvesting planting material independently, select it from strong healthy plants that have reached the phase of physiological ripeness. When buying, they prefer a trusted seed producer.

Soil preparation

Ready soil for violets can be easily found in any flower shop. Adding a small amount of washed sand to it contributes to a better development of the root system. You can prepare nutrient soil yourself. For this, leafy soil and rotted compost are mixed in equal amounts. Or the composition could be like this:

garden land;
humus;
peat;
sand.

All components are taken in equal parts.

To exclude the appearance of a black leg when planting pansies, it is useful to steam the prepared soil for one hour.

Planting pansy seeds

There are two ways to plant viola seeds for seedlings:

distributing them evenly over the surface of moist soil;
embedded in shallow grooves.

Considering that the planting material is very small, you can not sprinkle it with earth. The main condition is that the soil is constantly moist, which is achieved by regular spraying. After placing the seeds, the box is covered with glass or placed in a plastic bag and put away in a dark, warm place. At a temperature of 21-22 ˚С, seedlings appear on the 7-10th day. When this happens, the seedlings need good lighting and fresh air. Glass or film should not be removed immediately, but open the boxes at first for a short time, gradually increasing it.

In the second method, the grooves are cut with a depth of about 0.5 cm, the distance between them is 1-2 cm. The seeds are covered with earth, so there is no need to put boxes in a dark place.

seedling care

The main requirement for caring for seedlings is keeping the soil moist. However, overflows are also unacceptable. While the seedlings are under the film, they should be provided with regular ventilation. It is undesirable for water drops to linger on young leaves.

picking

In the phase of one or two pairs of true leaves, seedlings need picking. It is better to plant seedlings in separate peat pots. IN further landing plants are carried out in open ground with them. When the area on the windowsill does not allow this, you can also dive into a common deep box according to the 5x5 cm scheme. The soil is used the same as for sowing seeds. For 2 liters of the mixture add 1 tbsp. l. complex fertilizers, such as nitrophoska.

It is important that the spine does not bend when picking. If it is very long, then you can just pinch it.

After the seedling is deepened to the first cotyledon leaves, the soil near it is compacted. When the picking is over, the plantings are carefully watered.

Care for pansies

Landed on permanent place flowers need the usual care for any plant: watering, fertilizing, loosening and weeding. Properly selected growing place with fertile, loose soil and an abundance of light (without prolonged exposure to direct sun rays) - the key to long-term bright flowering.

You can plant pansies on poor soils and in the shade, but such conditions are not in the best way affect the quality of flowering. Plants planted in areas open to the sun or southern balconies, with the onset of the summer heat, will completely stop forming flower stalks.

Watering viola tricolor

If pansies have ceased to delight you with flowering, then possible reason- critical dryness of the soil. Balcony beauties on hot summer days can be watered twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. Garden beds - as the topsoil dries.

Mulching the root zone will help to retain the much-needed soil moisture for longer.

Fertilizer

They begin to feed the plants 2 weeks after planting in a permanent place of growth. For garden violas, rotted manure or compost at the rate of 5 kg / sq. m. In the next dose, it can be complex fertilizers, for example, a combination ammonium nitrate and superphosphate at a dose of 20-40 g / sq. m or fertilizer "Kemira".

The frequency of fertilizing, depending on the fertility of the land, is from 2 to 4 weeks. The soil in balcony flowerpots can be fertilized every week, combined with watering.

pruning

The ripening of seeds in place of faded flowers helps to stop the formation of new buds. It is very simple to prevent this - it is enough to pinch off wilted flower stalks in a timely manner.

If the pansy bush loses its decorative effect, stops blooming, it is cut off, leaving a stump of 4-5 cm. Already after 2 weeks, new shoots will begin to form, and soon flowering will resume.

This technique also contributes to abundant flowering in the spring of next year.

Pansies, flowering period

If the seeds for seedlings are sown in January-February, you can count on the flowering of pansies in the spring. In a two-year culture, when sowing is carried out in June-July of the previous year, butterfly flowers appear along with primroses - crocuses and muscars. In order for the viola to bloom in autumn, the seeds must be sown in late April - early May.

So, playing with the timing of sowing and planting grown seedlings in flower beds, you can achieve flowering of beautiful plants from early spring to late autumn.

pansies in winter

Some people prefer to grow pansies in an annual crop, planting new seedlings every spring. But the plant is able to continue the growing season next year, and even more than one year in a row. To prevent freezing, it is better to take care of shelter for the winter, build structures for snow retention, because weak snow cover during severe frosts is an additional risk factor. You can transplant flowers into pots and ensure wintering in suitable rooms for this, where the air temperature does not rise above 15 ˚С. Plant out again in the spring.

Diseases and pests

Pansies do not have specific diseases and pests. Basically, it affects any garden plants aphids, root and stem rot, spotting, powdery mildew. When the first signs of damage appear, the plants are treated with a suitable preparation. A wide variety of colors and shapes, the possibility of obtaining seedlings of different ages, providing flowering throughout the season, the ability to grow in flower beds and on balconies. Isn't this the set of properties that at least once will drag even a sophisticated grower into an amazing process - growing pansies from seeds?

Many experienced gardeners plant pansies immediately in open ground, but no less common seedling method growing pansies at home, which makes it possible to grow healthy plants that will bloom much earlier and most likely even more abundantly.

Caring for the viola is not so complicated and painstaking, so summer residents grow this flower on their plots with great desire.

When to plant viola seedlings

Viola planting dates vary depending on the method of their breeding. Thus, 3 ways to grow pansies can be distinguished:

Spring planting seeds for seedlings late February - early March. The advantage of this method is that the plants will start blooming early and will decorate your garden this summer. Part of the seedlings can not be planted in the garden, but transplanted into pots or balcony boxes.
Viola can be planted with seeds and immediately in open ground in summer. This is usually done in late spring - in May-early June. Flowering should be expected by autumn or earlier (in August-September).
It is common to plant pansies with seeds in autumn or even at the end of summer (usually in August - early September). After a successful winter rooting, the seedlings will begin to grow, and flowering will begin almost immediately after the advent of spring.

According to the lunar calendar in 2020

It can help you choose the best date for sowing seeds Moon calendar.

Viola can be either an annual (an annual) or a perennial plant, each of which has its own dates according to the lunar calendar. However, most often (in conditions of cold and harsh winters), it is grown as an annual plant.

So auspicious days for sowing an annual viola in 2020 according to the lunar calendar are:

in February - 1-8, 10-20, 25-29;
in March - 2-8, 10-14, 29-31;
in April - 1, 2, 5-7, 9, 17-20, 24, 25;
in June - 2-4, 7-9, 11-14, 16-19.

Auspicious days for sowing perennial (biennial) viola in 2020 according to the lunar calendar are:

in February - 1-8, 10-20, 25-29;
in March - 4-6, 12-14, 26-31;
in April - 1, 2, 5-7, 9, 13-15, 24, 25;
in May - 2-6, 15-17, 20, 21, 25-31;
in June - 2-4, 6-9, 11-14, 23-25;

Unfavorable days according to the lunar calendar for 2020 for sowing annual and perennial pansies, the following dates are (the days of the Full Moon and New Moon, as well as the period when the Moon is in Aquarius, because this is a barren and dry sign - italicized):

in February - 9, 21-22 , 23;
in March - 9, 19-21 , 24;
in April - 8, 15-17 , 23;
in May - 7, 13-14 , 22;
in June - 5, 9-11 , 21.

According to lunar calendar from the magazine "1000 tips for summer residents."

How to plant pansies for seedlings: rules and methods

Capacity and soil mix

You can sow and grow viola seedlings in any landing tanks, it can be plastic and wooden boxes, cardboard and peat cups, disposable plastic cups, special trays and cassettes for seedlings, peat tablets. You can make a container yourself, for example, by cutting plastic bottles or milk cartons and other food containers.

When you think about the choice of soil, there are always exactly 2 ways. Buy a ready-made mixture for seedlings of flowers in the store or make it yourself. There is no fundamental difference, everything depends on your time and opportunities.

To prepare substrate for growing seedlings of pansies do it yourself the following components will be required in equal proportions:

sod land;
humus;
peat;
sand.

Then the resulting soil mixture must be well mixed and preferably sieved. You can disinfect the soil with the help of its steaming.

Do not forget! To successfully grow any seedling, including viola, you need proper drainage.

Preparation of seeds for sowing (processing)

To speed up seed germination and increase their resistance to disease, viola seeds are pre-treated before planting. treated with growth accelerators. The most popular means for soaking before sowing seedlings are "Zircon" and "Epin".

direct sowing

A step-by-step guide to planting viola seeds for seedlings at home in the traditional way is as follows:

Moisten (for example, you can still shed a 1% solution of potassium permanganate or to increase protection against rot and other dangerous diseases), and then lightly compact the soil in the planting container.
Sow pansy seeds on the surface (some flower growers plant in shallow grooves, maximum 5 mm, and then lightly sprinkle with earth). Try to distribute the flower seeds as evenly as possible, for this, for example, use a small piece of white paper and slowly sow the seeds along the edge.
Using a spray bottle, thoroughly moisten the crops again.
Then cover with a lid or cover with plastic wrap. You can also put the container directly into the bag or put shoe covers on it.
Place the container with plantings in a dark and warm place where the average air temperature is kept at 22 degrees.

Video: sowing viola seeds for seedlings and germination results

By the way! Viola can be sown on the snow. To do this, lay a small layer of snow on top of the ground and lay the seeds on it. The snow will gradually melt and pull the seeds into the ground.

Viola care after planting seedlings

As practice shows, friendly shoots will begin to appear after 1 week or a week and a half. Now you need to move the container from a dark place to a sunny window (you can even directly to the south).

It is important that the soil near the seedlings is always slightly moist. So don't forget to do regular watering.

Important! The soil must be kept moderately moist, as excess moisture leads to plant disease.

After 6-7 days from the moment of formation of the first shoots - cover will need to be removed., but first it is necessary to begin to ventilate the soil gradually, increasing the duration over time.

Pansies need 15 hour (+-1 hour) daylight hours, respectively, due to early sowing, it is recommended to illuminate young seedlings with fitolamps or conventional LED lamps, otherwise it may stretch too much.

picking

The time for picking seedlings of pansies comes when she has 2 true leaves.

Note! It must be admitted that the viola easily takes root after almost any transplant, not even the most accurate one. So, young seedlings, in which the roots were slightly damaged during picking, may at first slow down a little in development, but then go into steady growth. However you need to approach the procedure with all responsibility!

If possible, try to dive viola seedlings into separate planting containers (pots, cups), or into a common container according to a 5 by 5 cm scheme.

The requirements for the soil do not change, except that this time no steaming is required. However, it is recommended to add mineral fertilizer to the soil mixture, which can be used as nitrophoska or azofoska, at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. funds for 4 liters of land.

Important! Roots should be loose in the hole. It is impossible for them to bend when they are backfilled. If, however, they do not fit, then they should be pinched.

Viola seedlings that are too long should be deepened down to the cotyledon leaves.

After transplantation, watering is necessary. If after it the earth has settled excessively, then soil should be added.

Video: viola pick

That's all! Now you can again put the seedlings on the windowsill or any other bright place where the temperature will be kept at 16 (+ -1) degrees.

Once every 2 weeks maybe feed pansies with complex mineral fertilizers for seedlings, which include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

When about 2 weeks remain before planting, the seedlings of the viola should begin harden, gradually bringing to Fresh air. Try not to keep the pots in direct sunlight, otherwise young and fragile leaves can get burned.

If you did everything right when planting and grew seedlings of pansies at home according to the recommendations, then in the second half of May the violas will bloom, and they can be planted in open ground or transplanted into hanging balcony containers, planters or a high flower bed.

Video: how to grow good viola seedlings

When and how to plant viola seedlings in open ground

It is necessary to start transferring seedlings of pansies to the soil or to a flower bed when the weather is consistently warm outside (no return frosts), that is, in the general case, this occurs in May.

Place for planting a viola, as a rule, it takes a good illuminated(But not open, otherwise the plantings will simply burn out), however, planting near trees is possible, through the crowns of which scattered sunlight will fall.

Priming for planting pansies should be fluffy and airy, therefore, any will do and it is not at all necessary that it be the most fertile land in your backyard. For example, if your soil is too heavy and clayey, then add peat with sand to it, as well as complex mineral fertilizer (about 35 grams per 1 sq. Meter). Then carefully dig the bed.

Recommended landing pattern and distance seedlings of pansies - 20 cm apart. If you want to plant flowers in 1 row, then the distance between flowers should be reduced to 15 cm. During the direct planting of viola seedlings on the garden bed, it is necessary to deepen the root collar a little, by about 1 cm.

If you transplant pansies into boxes on the balcony or planters, then their volume should be about 1.5 liters per 1 flower.

The final touch will be abundant soil moisture around new plantings.

Further care for viola in the open field

Caring for pansies consists of the following main points:

watering;
loosening;
top dressing.

Video: growing and caring for pansies

most suitable fertilizers for pansies are complex mineral supplements containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, that is, it can be, for example, nitroammophoska.

Worth knowing! Viola can not be fed with fresh manure. Flowers generally do not tolerate such top dressing.

Pansies are very fond of regular loosening, which relieves planting of weeds and allows air to better penetrate to the root system of the plant. However, do this carefully so as not to damage the roots.

The long flowering of the viola is a guarantee of a permanent soil moisture. Accordingly, if there is not enough moisture, then you will not have to rely on stormy colors.

In order to increase the flowering time of viola grown in pots or balcony boxes, as well as in the garden, it is necessary follow and get rid of the set seeds in time.

By the way! Pansies are self-seeding. So don't be surprised if a lot of new flowers appear on the site next year.

Concerning pruning viola bushes, it is highly recommended. Say, after the pansies have faded, they should be cut to 4-5 cm. After half a month, fresh shoots will appear, and the flowers will open again. Moreover, such a procedure will have a particularly positive effect on flowering next year.

Thus, plant the viola with seeds for seedlings and in open ground correctly, take care of the seedlings according to the recommendations received, and pansies will delight and decorate you household plot from spring to autumn.

Video: how to grow pansies

In contact with

Viola is not only very beautiful flower, but also a universal decoration, because with its help you can ennoble not only a balcony, but also garden plot. Aesthetic value is not the only advantage of a plant. Another obvious plus is the low cost of viola seeds. Combining all of the above, we get the following result: a beautiful, well-groomed and bright balcony (plot) for almost nothing.

Viola belongs to the Violet family, the main habitats of which are concentrated in mountainous areas, as well as those places that are characterized by a temperate climate.

To date, experts distinguish from 400 to 700 species of the Violet family. If it seems to you that you do not know a plant called "viola", then you are very mistaken, because each of us, if we did not grow this flower at home, then, in any case, saw and smelled it. And all because the second, common name of the viola, sounds like pansies.

Viol Wittrock - garden pansies

The charming simplicity and discreet attractiveness of the flower attracted connoisseurs of beauty for a long time - two and a half thousand years ago, the ancient European peoples used the plant to weave festive garlands and wreaths, as well as to decorate rooms where celebrations were traditionally held. The categorical popularity of the viola has reached our days: now the garden viola is one of the most sought-after plants among lovers of green “decorations”. A variety of varieties allows you not to limit yourself to your imagination.

Viola is a plant whose "life" span ranges from one year to many years of prosperity. Viola has a fibrous root system and an upright shoot. The leaves of the plant are equipped with stipules and can be either collected in a basal rosette or grow alternately along the stem. Viola flowers are amazing, they amaze with their diversity: they can be monophonic, two-color, tri-color, terry, wavy. The diameter of single flowers reaches 7 centimeters.

Viola Vitrocca "ROCOCO"

Growing conditions

Gardeners and summer residents love viola for its abundant and frequent flowering. If a person's choice fell on a plant hybrid, then it will please the eye bright colors during three summer months or twice a season. Flowering time depends on when the viola was planted: either from March to the last month of spring, or from August until the first frost.

A characteristic feature of the viola is its resistance to cold, as well as shade tolerance, that is, the conditions in which it can exist can be quite harsh. The only thing viola lovers need to remember is that the plant will not produce as many flowers in the shade as when exposed to direct sunlight. Loamy, moist soil is ideal for growing viola. Dry sandy soil is also suitable, but in such conditions the size of the flowers will decrease.

Viola Witrokka "Inspire White Visa Red Bloch"

By and large, this is all the information that should be armed with someone who is going to plant a viola. Since ready-made seedlings can empty the wallet, it makes sense to grow them on your own, especially since it is not at all difficult.

seedling preparation

So you've bought a few packets of pansy seeds. The most common mistake of inexperienced flower growers is sowing viola in the spring, with the expectation that in the summer the plant will already delight the eye. lush bloom. But everything is not so, because it is a two-year flower. In fact, pansy seedlings should be planted in the summer, in July.

First you need to treat the seeds with a fertilizer that accelerates growth. Ready seeds are placed in a half-centimeter groove and sprinkled with earth. The next step is to water the seedlings. The soil must be shed completely, but very carefully to prevent the erosion of the earth.

Experts advise mulching the planting with small sawdust to keep the soil moist.

Ten to fifteen days will pass, and small shoots will appear, which should be slightly hidden from the sun's rays with a dark film, and after fifteen days, remove it. Around August, the pansies will be ready to land on their "permanent place of residence".

If you do everything according to this scheme, bushes will sprout with lush, rich and long flowering. From pansies planted with a simple seedling method, this cannot be achieved, because this is how we give the sprouts a strong and confident start.

Viola, planted in the ground, needs to be sheltered for the winter with straw or spruce branches. Such an air cushion will keep your plant safe and sound during the winter, save the roots from freezing. Upon the onset of spring, the flowers must be fed with complex fertilizer twice - even before the formation of buds and at the very start of flowering.

Growing viola from seeds

In regions with a cold climate, growing pansies is quite possible, but only in one way - seedlings in containers at home. In this case, it will not be very difficult to grow a beautiful plant, but there are three factors that directly affect the successful emergence of a flower: lighting, temperature and soil. And in this situation, it will be necessary to take it quite seriously.

To get seedlings, you need to sow the viola in February-March at home, in small cups. To begin with, the seeds should be soaked in a growth-accelerating solution. It can be Epin, Zircon or EM-1. You can buy these substances in any specialized store. This fertilizer will greatly simplify cultivation: the germination process will be accelerated and resistance to diseases and fungi will increase.

It is advisable to select the soil for seedlings very carefully. The best option there will be peat with an approximate acidity of 5.5. It is too early to apply fertilizer, top dressing will be just during the phase of formation of full leaves. The first time fertilizers are applied at about three weeks of age.

The main thing is to prevent stagnation of water in containers. This can cause various diseases, the plant will begin to rot and die. To avoid this, you need to buy cups with holes in the bottom, or lay drainage. In extreme cases, you can make holes in the bottom with your own hands.

When the soil is ready and the seeds are impregnated with the growth accelerator, you can start sowing. To do this, the viola seeds are laid out on top of the soil, sprinkling with a thin layer of vermiculite. Before the sprouts emerge, the planting container must be covered with polyethylene, glass or any transparent material. Such a "greenhouse" will give our seeds an impetus to growth. But we must not forget to periodically remove the “cape” so that the soil is ventilated. This will prevent the formation of fungi and prevent the soil from withering away.

For best results, plant a few seeds in each cup. When they sprout, you can remove excess sprouts, except for the most "healthy".

With this method of breeding viola, you need to dive plants twice. By the formation of two full-fledged leaves, pansies are sorted and seated for the first time. The next picking will occur only at the age of five weeks, already in enlarged containers, with a diameter of not more than ten centimeters.

If you decide to plant the viola in large boxes, you must observe minimum distance between plants - five centimeters. At this age, pansies will grow quietly in a greenhouse at your summer cottage, even in an unheated one.

For good growth in a greenhouse, it is imperative to water the plants with mineral fertilizers, right under the root. Fertilizing should be repeated about once a month. During the flowering period - twice a month. When watering pansies, you should be very careful and direct the stream of water under the stem, without falling on the leaves. In the first months of spring, there is a real danger of returning frosts, so experimenting with planting is not necessary. It is possible to plant seedlings in open ground only in mid-May.

The soil should first be drained - poured into a hole, the depth of which should be about five centimeters, a handful of sand. In order for the viola to take root, a plant with a clod of earth must be planted in the recess. The optimal distance between planted flowers is ten to fifteen centimeters, if the plants are large, then it should be increased to twenty centimeters.

At the time of planting, the seedlings are generously watered - thanks to the sand, the water will quickly go into the soil without stagnation in it. This simple method will help prevent the development of "black leg" - a common disease among plants. Also, the plant needs to be shaded for several days.

The nuances of growing viola in containers

The first thing novice gardeners should remember is the need to supplement the seedlings with phytolamps or conventional fluorescent lamps, which are sold in any store. Pansies are very photophilous: ideally, the daylight hours for a flower should be from fourteen to sixteen hours.

So that the seedlings do not stretch out in the container to unthinkable proportions, it is necessary to use the Alar growth regulator.

Temperature

It is very important to choose the right temperature for seed germination. Ideally, if it is from 18 to 30 degrees. Even minor deviations from the norm can cause the seeds to germinate much more slowly. However, already at the moment the sprouts appear above the soil, the temperature can be reduced to 15 degrees, since the grown seedlings calmly endure cold (but not frost). If you do everything right, then soon you will be pleased with the delicate, beautiful flowering of pansies.

Video - How to grow viola from seeds

The solution to the problem "Pansies: growing from seeds" should begin with the study of information on this issue. Following the recommendations of experienced flower growers will help decorate garden bed, vase, path, border or balcony, get aesthetic pleasure and please your home with colorful plants.

The ancestor of "pansies" in the wild was tricolor violet - a perennial plant common in Europe, Siberia, the Caucasus, and North America. In Russia it is known as Ivan da Marya and was used in traditional medicine as a means for the treatment of furunculosis, diathesis, bronchitis. The first pansies, hybrids from crossing a tricolor violet with a horned one, were obtained in England. Swedish professor of botany Veit Wittrock devoted many years to studying this plant and wrote a book about it. In his honor, pansies received a second name - Wittrock violet.

The plant beloved by gardeners is a herbaceous, slightly sprawling bush 15-35 cm high. The roots go 15-20 cm deep. Five flower petals are arranged in a fan; have a diameter of 5-6 to 11 cm, different colors and shades. A speck stands out in the center of the flower, this makes the flower look like an eye with a pupil. The fruit is a box with small seeds (width - about 1 mm).

Viola and the language of flowers

Flowers were brought to Russia at the beginning of the 18th century. Mini-bouquets served as an addition to the ladies' outfits. high society. A garland of pansies adorned the hair and sash of Anna Karenina's black ball gown. In the language of flowers, this meant the beginning of falling in love and thinking about one person. Butterfly-like flowers quickly settled on ladies' hats and umbrellas.

Lilac-yellow pansies look at us from napkins, tablecloths and curtains, embroidered in the 50s and 60s of the last century.

Gardeners appreciated this fragile-looking, but unpretentious plant. Pansies have become popular in the design of city parks and home gardens. Their combination with early bulbous flowers is successful: viola replaces hyacinths and daffodils that have finished flowering.

Choice of growing method

Pansies belong to perennials, but after the 2nd year, the flowers on the bushes become smaller, the buds are almost not formed. With two-year cultivation, a bush is formed during the 1st year of life, flowers appear in the next season. This period can be extended by more early dates depending on how the plant is grown. The choice of method for breeding viola depends on climatic conditions and the preferred flowering period.

Table. Methods for planting pansies.

What is the method	pros	Minuses
Plant in April - May purchased ready-made seedlings	Blooms soon after planting	Variety and species unknown
Sowing seeds in the ground in mid-May - June - July, transplanted to a permanent place in August	Seedlings have time to take root well before the cold weather, bloom early next spring	Blooms only one season
Sow seeds in late February - early March in a container	Will bloom for two seasons	If a cold winter is expected, it is necessary to cover

The best is to grow the plants from seeds and sow them in a container at the end of winter. In this case, you can admire the flowers for 2 seasons, even in conditions middle lane. For regions with cold winters, this method is also suitable, but the viola must be grown as an annual or very securely covered before the onset of cold weather. The most popular varieties of pansies: Dynamite, Freedom, Aurora, Strawberry with cream.

Growing pansies from seeds can be implemented according to two schemes:

sowing in containers - picking - transplanting to the site;
sowing in the soil - transplanting to a permanent place.

Note! Seeds give good germination if stored for no more than 2 years.

Prices for pansy seeds

pansy seeds

How to grow pansies from seed in a container

To obtain viable seedlings in a given time, you need:

quality seeds;
tweezers (manicure);
container for sowing seeds;
priming;
glass or film;
lamp for additional illumination - LED lamp or phytolamp;
a room where the temperature is not higher than 23ºС (preferably 18-20ºС);
containers for picking (pots with a diameter of 10 cm or boxes, if there are a lot of seedlings);
container for settling water;
spray;
watering can with a capacity of about 1 liter.

Important! Better to use led lamp: in its spectrum there are blue and red colors necessary for plants; they are economical and safe to use.

Video - Pansies: abundant flowering in the year of planting

Sowing seeds in a container

To implement this stage, you need to do the following:

Choose a container of the right size. It depends on how many plants you plan to plant. The smallest one will fit well up to 15 violas. You can make a container for planting by cutting out a suitable PET bottle or can.
If you intend to use non-peat soil, make a hole in the bottom of the container and place it on a pallet.
Fill the container with soil: universal flower peat soil or composed of leafy, soddy soil and compost, taken in equal amounts.
When using composite soil, a hole is made in the bottom.
Peat soil is thoroughly moistened with a spray bottle. For self-composed soil, flower growers recommend combining moisture with disinfection. To do this, prepare a 5% solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) of a saturated pink color and moisten the soil well with it.
Sowing is carried out weeks after treatment with a solution of potassium permanganate - useful microorganisms should appear in the soil.

Important! The solution should not contain undissolved potassium permanganate crystals.

Sowing seeds is carried out according to the principle:

seeds are taken by hand or with tweezers and laid out on the surface of the soil at a distance from each other;
the required number of seeds is counted, poured into a container and distributed in it with tweezers.

Seeds can be:

Press lightly with tweezers for good ground contact.
Sprinkle a layer of soil on top. Note! The depth of embedding in any case should not exceed 1.5 cm.
Humidify again with a spray bottle.
Create a microclimate for future sprouts: close the container on top the same way or place it in a plastic bag.

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Sowing seeds in peat tablets

This method is becoming popular, as the process of picking plants is facilitated.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

tablets (for example, BiTi) are released from cellophane packaging and tightly placed in a container, warm water is poured into the bottom in portions;
when the tablets swell, collect the remaining moisture with an absorbent cloth or sponge;
place 1 seed in the recess in the center of the tablet, if there is no confidence in the quality seed, then two;
sprinkle the seeds a little with soil;
cover the container with a lid with cut ventilation holes;
put on a window with sufficient lighting.

Important! This method is preferably used by experienced flower growers. Growing seedlings in tablets has many advantages, but requires attention and skill.

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Crop care

Crop care includes:

short-term ventilation since condensation begins to form on the walls of the container;
timely and moderate watering: do not flood and do not allow drying;
temperature regime: 18-22ºС, 25 is allowed;
if the window faces south, shade the crops;
care of seedlings of flowers.

Creating favorable conditions for sprouts

When sprouts appear, you should:

release the container from the cellophane or lid;
watering is carried out with a spray gun as the soil dries up;
provide daylight hours 14-16 hours;
the temperature in the room should not exceed 15ºС so that the plants do not stretch;
prepare deep containers for picking, there must be a hole in the bottom;
wait for the appearance of two true leaves - after about 2 weeks.

Seedling picking

Occurs around the beginning of April and includes the stages:

if space permits, prepare containers according to the number of sprouts, otherwise some of the sprouts can be transplanted into a box;
containers are filled with soil. It is desirable that this be the same type of soil in which the viola is to grow in the open air;
thoroughly water the soil in new containers and make a recess in it;
pour the soil from the watering can into a container with sprouts.
for better extraction of sprouts, you can use convenient objects: a spoon handle or a spatula;
if seedlings are grown in peat tablets, the dive stage is not needed - the viola continues to grow until planting in open ground.

Note! A little damage to the roots is not dangerous for the plant. This will be a plus: it will launch a root system growth program.

The next month is devoted to such seedling care, in which it will take root faster and continue to grow:

moderate watering;
hardening on a balcony or loggia in the daytime;
in the presence of 6 leaves, you can cut off the top - the plant will become better bushing;
temperature regime 16-18 ºС.

Planting pansies in open ground

In early May, buds appear on the bushes. This is a sign that the viola can be sent to the flower bed. A possible drop in temperature, even small frosts, will not harm the plants.

You must first:

determine the place where the flowers will grow - it should not be a lowland;
a sufficient, but brightly lit place - partial shade or an area under trees with diffused sunlight will do;
make holes of sufficient depth at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other;
pour water into the wells, pour a handful of biohumus;
pull the plant out of the container, slightly crushing it from the sides;
place the viola in the hole, sprinkle with earth, water.

Plant care during the summer

periodic watering as needed;
obligatory loosening after watering;
mulching the soil around the bush with sawdust;
weed control that weakens the plant;
timely removal of wilted flowers will stimulate the formation of new buds;
removal of reddened leaves, they will be if frosts have occurred;
top dressing with mineral fertilizers.

Note! If the plant is planted in a flower bed, it should be fed 1-2 times per season. When grown in decorative pots - every two weeks.

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Video - Pansies: care and reproduction

Growing pansies with seeds in the open field

Growing seedlings can be organized by sowing seeds directly into open ground. The crucial point is the determination of the sowing time. If sown too early, the violet will begin to bloom without getting enough root mass. By winter, the plant will weaken and may not tolerate frost. With a late disembarkation, the viola will not be able to take root well enough after picking and get stronger for wintering. Optimal time depends on the region Leningrad region this is the second half of July, in the middle lane - the second half - the end of May.

To do this, perform the following work:

choose a well-drained place, in the lowland the violet will freeze;
the best option is loamy or sandy soil acidity not higher than 8рН;
carefully prepare a place for future crops - dig up beds, outline rows;
sow seeds to a depth of 1 cm at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other;
lightly sprinkle with earth on top and mulch;
form each variety in a separate row.

Shoots will appear on the 10-14th day.

Crop care:

watering with a watering can, providing drip irrigation not to wash the seeds;
row spacing.

After 2 weeks, the plants are planted in a permanent place, the distance between the shoots and rows is 20 cm. In order for the viola to get stronger and take root well by winter, it should be ensured.

Pansies (botanical name viola) are rightfully considered universal, they can be grown both in the country and on the balcony. They won the hearts of many flower lovers with their beauty, ease of planting and unpretentious care. They can be transplanted even during the flowering period, from early spring (April) to autumn, with a short break.

Pansies are a low-growing perennial up to 30 cm high from the violet family, although they can also be grown as an annual due to self-seeding. They are planted in the foreground of ridges, borders, in and on. Her colors are iridescent and variegated. Viola Tricolor (for the southern regions), Altai (for the middle lane), Wittrock are popular.

Place and soil

Choose a site for planting pansies sunny, with a variable shadow. In a shady garden, flowering is weak. The soil is fertile, loose with good air aeration. Heavy and clay soil is filled with peat, sand and a full complex mineral fertilizers at the rate of 30-40 g per 1 sq.m for digging. On sandstone and poor soil, flowering is scarce.

Landing

You can grow pansies both by seeds, by planting in open ground, and by seedlings grown at home.

In May, after the end of the period of return frosts, flower seeds can be planted sow directly into open ground, having previously treated with a solution (soak for a day). Pansies are planted in grooves - at the rate of 50-60 seeds per 1 m, or in holes at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other, 2-3 seeds each. The seeds are laid to a depth of 1 cm, covered with loose earth, moistened and mulched with sawdust to preserve moisture for more long time. In a week, young sprouts will appear, which need to be shaded for 2-3 weeks. When 2 true leaves appear, pick, remove weak seedlings. Flowering will begin in the same year, but wintering can be extremely difficult. If you plant pansies in July, then flowering will come only next spring, but wintering will be painless. It is not advisable to plant flowers later than July, as they will not have time to get stronger and most likely will die in winter.

Planting pansy seeds for seedlings takes place in the first decade of March. It is better to use the soil for sowing ready-made, from the store, adding a little sand. If this option does not suit you, then the substrate can be prepared independently using equal amounts of garden, turf soil, sand, peat and humus. Before laying out in seedling boxes, it is better to sift and steam the substrate to disinfect pathogens. Spread the seeds over the surface of the soil, moisten from the sprayer and cover with a film. Put on germination in a dark and warm place where the temperature is kept within 20-22 ° C. After 7-10 days, when sprouts appear, the crops should be transferred to a bright place, regularly moisten the soil and remove the film or glass.

When 2 true leaves appear, the seedlings are picked into separate pots or according to the 5x5 cm scheme, removing the weak ones. Seedlings are planted in the holes so that the roots feel free at the bottom. If they are long, then they need to be pinched. If the seedlings are too long, then they need to be deepened into the hole to the cotyledon leaves. After picking, the soil around each seedling is lightly compacted and watered.

With further watering, the soil may sink, add the missing one without affecting the cotyledon leaves. Seedlings of pansies are grown in a bright place at a temperature of 15-17°C. 2 weeks before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place in open ground, start hardening off.

Seedlings of pansies are transplanted at the end of May-June according to the scheme 15x15 cm or 20x20 cm. Please note that when transplanting, the root neck of the flowers should be slightly deepened (by 1 cm). Then pour and mulch with a layer of peat (up to 5 cm).

The seedling method of growing pansies is good because the percentage of flower loss is less than planting in open ground.

Care for pansies

For abundant and long-term flowering, one condition is required - regular watering. Flowers do not tolerate drought.

Top dressing is applied every 10 days, starting from the 10th day after planting. Use fertilizers "Kemira" or nitrophoska, alternating with a solution of bird droppings or mullein. Fresh manure must not be used!

Faded pansies are cut off, leaving shoots up to 5 cm long above the ground, so that after 2-3 weeks new shoots form and the next wave of flowering begins.

Pansies give self-sowing, so if the set seed pods are not removed in a timely manner, when they dry, they can crack, crumble and even shoot, ending up in an unexpected and possibly unnecessary place.

For the winter, pansies must be covered with mulch. It protects the roots from temperature variability. in early spring. A layer of mulch should not completely cover the flowers so that they do not “suffocate” in the spring. To protect against frost, make snow retention.

Harvest pansy seeds when the seed pods turn pale in color. Seed germination lasts 3 years.

How to propagate pansies

Propagated by seeds (self-sowing or organized, collecting seeds) or cuttings. For the second method of reproduction, the tops of green cuttings are taken, they are cut into 2-3 knots. They are planted immediately in open ground in June to a depth of 0.5 cm in a shaded place (under the trees) very tightly to each other, they should be in contact. Then compact the soil a little, water and spray from above. Rooting takes place in about a month. From one bush you can get up to 10 green cuttings. In the early days, it is necessary to regularly water and spray with water so that they do not wither. Flowering of young plants will begin in current year. Later cuttings will allow flowering to occur only in the spring of next year. It is better to transplant cuttings to a permanent place in the spring.