Pansies - cultivation and care. Pansies: planting and care

A low viola will decorate any interior. It can be grown in boxes on balconies, flower pots, hanging planters, flowerpots. In summer cottages, pansies will decorate a flower bed, create a bright border along the paths. A few bushes will revive boring patches of empty land. Breeders have bred many varieties of this plant - a wide variety of shades. Given that the petals of each flower have a different color, then using pansies alone, you can create the most fantastic ornaments in the flower garden. Growing these flowers from seeds does not take much time and effort, they are unpretentious and hardy.

When is the best time to sow seeds?

Each grower finds his favorite breeding methods ornamental plants. Growing viola from seeds can be done in three ways.

Planting seeds in open ground at the beginning of autumn. By winter, the grains will sprout, take root, the seedlings will winter under the snow and bloom in early spring.
Planting seeds in open ground in May. The first year of flowers will have to wait a long time, they will bloom only by autumn. But next spring plants will bloom again.
Growing seedlings at home. The method is good because no severe frosts and winters without snow will destroy the plants. Pansies bloom early and will decorate the flower bed all summer. The remains of seedlings can be used for planting in boxes on the balcony and hanging planters.

The first option often occurs spontaneously. After flowering, seeds are formed that fall to the ground, germinate, and bloom in spring. Unpretentious varieties that do not require special care, can grow like this for years, renewing from crumbled seeds, your task is only to feed and thin out pansies. Use this method for empty patches of land, and without extra effort you will get green islands that bloom all summer.

To get early seedlings, start sowing seeds in late February. Purchase special soil or other loose, well-retaining soil. Viola will love growing in peat tablets. If you want to prepare the soil yourself, mix equal parts garden soil, humus and peat. Do not forget to spill the soil with a disinfectant composition so that pathogenic fungi and bacteria do not remain in it.

To make the sprouts hatch faster, hold the seed in a growth stimulator. Moisten the soil and place the seeds on the surface with a distance between the grains of 1-2 cm. The closer the seedlings grow, the sooner you will have to pick. You can sprinkle the sowing with a layer of soil about 0.5 cm, or you can leave it on the surface so that the sprouts do not have to break through the thickness of the earth. In the second case, close the container opaque material or put in a dark place, because the light interferes with the emergence of shoots from seeds. Cover the container with foil and keep at a temperature of 20-25⁰. Do not forget to remove the cover for a few minutes 2 times a day: long cultivation without ventilation favors the development of mold and pathogenic fungi.

You can sprinkle the seeds not with soil, but with loose snow and put them in a dark place. Melt water will moisten the earth, and under the influence of cold, the embryos will wake up faster and begin to develop.

Care of young shoots

On average, a week passes from sowing the seeds to the emergence of seedlings. If you have not waited for green sprouts even after 10 days, do not rush to sow again. Some varieties wake up longer than others, and if you poured too much thick layer soil or the soil is very dense, weak growth will take a long time to look out into the light. Sometimes green stems appear after 20 days. For safety, if sprouts do not appear after 2 weeks, sow an additional portion in a separate container.

Further care of seedlings will be quite simple, all work comes down to 5 operations, they all begin with the letter P.

Backlight.
Watering.
Top dressing.
Pick.
Pinching.

As soon as you see the first growth, move the seedlings to the light. Viola is not afraid of the sun, and in March the rays are not too scorching, let the seedlings enjoy the warmth on the southern windowsill. In early spring, daylight hours are too short, and many biological processes cannot take place in the dark. Install a lamp over the plantings and keep the plants in the light for at least 14 hours, arrange more time for them to good development. For the first few days, let the seedlings live in the usual conditions under the film, but every day increase the ventilation time so that after a week you completely abandon the shelter. Pansies can be hardened from a very young age, at +15⁰ begin to take them out to open air, and when the seedlings mature a little, growing even at + 8⁰ will not do harm, but will only strengthen young plants.

Summer sowing can also be done using seedlings. Select a small area and sow the seeds there in June, and transplant the seedlings into a permanent flower bed in August. Such a planting will help save space in the flower garden, and next year you will get lush flowers that do not fade for a long time.

Pansies are very demanding on proper watering. They love water, flowers need to be watered as soon as they begin to dry out. upper layer soil. At the same time, they also do not like growing in a constantly damp mass - the roots will quickly begin to rot. Water generously and make sure excess moisture left the ground. If the pan is dry all the time, check if the drain holes are clogged.

picking

When the third true leaf appears, it's time to dive the seedlings. Viola roots regenerate well, so do not be afraid if any shoots come off. Of course, on purpose to spoil root system should not, but when you inadvertently injure a seedling, do not discard it. With severe damage for some time, the development of the plant may slow down, but soon everything will be restored, and the flower will catch up with its peers. It is desirable to grow each flower in a separate container. Seedling cups should not be too small, but a diameter of more than 10 cm is also not good.

Often the stems of young viola seedlings are too stretched. When picking, deepen the seedlings into the ground to the cotyledon leaves. Deep landing will promote the emergence of new roots from a buried stem. The underground organs of the plant will become more powerful, and top part will be strengthened and will not lean down. Pinch the top of the stem so that the seedlings do not stretch upwards, but become more lush.

Both planting seeds and growing seedlings after picking should take place only in fertile soil, therefore, at an early age, there is enough nutrition for plants. Feed the pansies for the first time 3 weeks after germination with a complex fertilizer. Manure for viola is contraindicated, when using it, the stems can be affected by the black leg. The following top dressings need to be made every month.

Output

Viola is a biennial plant, and in order for its flowers to decorate the flower bed for as long as possible, you need to sow seeds for seedlings at the end of February, and in May after spring frosts relocate to permanent place. Already at the beginning of summer, the site will be decorated with tricolor pansies, their flowering will continue until autumn. The bushes will overwinter under the snow and will release buds again next spring. Even if too many seedlings grow from seeds, it will not be superfluous: these flowers are suitable for decorating balconies, hanging planters, and flowerpots.

The pick is useful for viola seedlings. Their root system is quickly restored, and small injuries to the roots will not bring any harm to the plants. Deep planting, when the extended stem is buried in the ground, will help to form additional root shoots, the seedlings will receive more nutrition and develop better. Pinch off the top of the stem to keep the pansies from stretching out again. After that, all the forces will go not to growth in length, but to the formation of a lush bush.

Viola is not afraid of either sunlight or cool air. Seedlings can be kept on the south window and not shaded, and at + 15⁰ start taking them out into the street. Growing in cool conditions will harden and strengthen plants. Give seedlings enough light, proper watering And regular feeding, and pansies will decorate your country cottage area all summer.

Pansies (viola) planting, growing and care

The scientific name of this amazing plant is violet, which is really very beautiful and quite unpretentious. Pansies come in a variety of colors: white, orange, blue, yellow, etc. in general, the cultivation of these flowers is a pleasure.

Well, judge for yourself, the plant is unpretentious, flowering begins in early spring and ends in autumn. But there are modern varieties, which bloom until frost, and the flowers themselves are quite large. Violet grows in the form of a compact, or semi-spreading bush, whose height is not more than 40 cm.

Pansies look good in flower beds, on alpine slides, they can be grown around bushes and trees. Viola flower looks no less beautiful on balconies and windows. If you decide to opt for these amazing beautiful flowers, then growing and caring for them will give you great pleasure.

Pansies: cultivation and care

Before you start planting the viola, you need to decide on the landing site. It is important to choose a bright place with fertile, loamy soil.

Of course, pansies can also tolerate partial shade, but in this case the flowers will not be as bright as we would like, and even small. In addition, although there will be flowering in partial shade, it will not be very plentiful. When I was looking for information on growing pansies, I found conflicting information.

Some wrote that viola did not tolerate frost well, while others, on the contrary, argued that viola flowers were considered frost-resistant. Although, if the winter was snowy, the viola flower would easily survive the winter, but in severe frosts, with no big amount snow, the plant may disappear, however, like any other plants. Viola flowers love moisture, however, if you decide to plant in a lowland, this will negatively affect the plant. In the lowlands, pansies suffer from wetting.

But even if there is not enough moisture, then the viola flowers will be small, and in general, flowering can stop completely. Judging by the foregoing, care for pansies consists in proper and regular watering. Of course, care methods such as weeding, loosening the soil cannot be neglected. It is very important to water viola flowers regularly during dry summers.

Viola planting, growing and care

Viola cultivation is most often done by seeds, but sometimes they resort to the method of propagation by shoots. Usually, viola blooms the next year and in this case, if you want to get earlier flowering next spring, then the seeds are sown in open ground in late June, early July. Shoots from seeds appear in about 2 weeks. At the end of August, you can start diving seedlings, planting a plant at a distance of 20 cm from each other.

If you plant a little earlier, then in this case the viola may bloom in the fall, which will adversely affect wintering, such plants will be very difficult to tolerate frost. , so that pansies would bloom this year, then planting can be carried out through seedlings. In February, seeds are sown in containers prepared for planting.

First, the earth is moistened and seeds are placed. When the viola seeds are planted, be sure to cover the box with oilcloth and put it in a warm and dark place. Seedlings appear within a week, maybe a little more.

After 20 days, you can start picking, and you can plant in open ground in early May. With this method of planting the viola, flowering can be expected at the end of the month.

Pansies: growing by cuttings

I did not use this method of reproduction, as it seemed to me a little laborious. However, it is good to use it if you have seen beautiful variety pansies from a neighbor, and you really wanted to see such flowers on your site. To grow flowers with green cuttings, take planting material from an adult plant.

Choose any parts of the plant where there are 2-3 nodes, when the planting material is ready, plant them in a shady place. It is not necessary to deepen the seedlings strongly, 0.5 cm of depth is enough.

It is also very important to plant the cuttings of the viola very close to each other so that they touch. Young seedlings take root in 3-4 weeks. early landing seedlings flowering may begin in late August, early September.

With later reproduction, then a beautiful and abundant flowering awaits you next spring. When the seedlings are rooted, they can be transplanted to a permanent place of residence. Before the onset of frost, do not forget to cover the planting.

Pansies (viola) care, top dressing.

Viola care also consists of regular feeding. More precisely, 2 top dressings are carried out per season. The first top dressing is carried out when the budding period begins with fertilizers such as nitrophoska and Agricola.

Fertilizers are bred according to the instructions. The second top dressing is carried out when flowering is in full swing. For the second top dressing, Agricola-7 fertilizer is used.

There are many legends and superstitions around the viola. The French consider the flower a symbol of death, while the Germans associate it with an evil stepmother. The Slavs believe in the legend that a poor girl Anyuta fell in love with a guy from a wealthy family, and he left her before the wedding.

Anyuta died, never reconciled to the loss, and beautiful flowers grew on her grave, which the people called pansies. Despite the sad stories, the cultivation of this flower is practiced by gardeners around the world.

Viola is a decoration of a summer house, garden, balcony, with many colors, shapes and sizes.

What are the types and varieties of viola

Decorating a flower bed with viola flowersAmong the variety of Wittrock violet varieties, the most popular are plants that meet the following requirements:

have a spectacular color; adapted to the climate; resistant to disease.

Distinguish between early flowering and late flowering plants. There are species that bloom throughout the summer - horned violet and tricolor. The spring flower stalks include Altai viola, klobuchkovy, labrador.

Late-flowering plants include elegant viola. Trimardo flower (Wittrock viola) Within the species, according to the prevailing shades, flower size, shape, subspecies and varieties of Wittrock viola are distinguished. The most popular variety groups are:

"Trimardo". Includes varieties: Adonis ( turquoise flowers), Lord Beaconsfield (blue-violet color with white upper petals), Cardinal (dark red flowers with darkening of the middle), Morenkönig (black).
Hemalis flower (wittrock viola) "Hemalis" winter varieties: Helios ( lemon color), Himelskenigin (sky-blue shade), Jupiter (red-violet flowers with white upper petals), Mars (blue shade with darkening of the middle), Nardpol (white).
Large-flowered "Swiss"- flower diameter up to 8 cm. Include varieties: Rococo (terry viola of various shades),
Flower Viola Wittrac Swiss Red Riding Hood (bright red flowers with darkening of the middle).
Viola horned has varieties: Altona(beige colour), Anderland (purple hue), bluewunder(dark blue flower), bambini(a characteristic difference is the presence of a yellow spot with highlighted veins, see photo). Viola fragrant. Varieties: Charlotte (purple), Red Charm(scarlet shade) Triumph(large flowers of different colors).

The last achievement of selection was viola ampelnaya. The plant is intended for growing in hanging pots, on the balcony, as it forms a voluminous ball with many flowers.

Ampel violet tolerates cold well, is unpretentious, after planting seeds in the ground, it begins to bloom in 14-15 weeks. The cultivation of this species is practically no different from the propagation of the Wittrock flower. Ampel violet is suitable for decorating flower beds, alpine slides, flowerpots and hanging pots (see photo).

What soil to prepare for seedlings

Wittrock violet loves loamy soil, well-fed and constantly wet. The plant does not tolerate:

stagnant moisture; lack of sun; fresh organic fertilizer.

For a flower will do substrate from loamy soils with the addition of mature humus. The soil for planting is drained, loosened, without adding humus, fertilized with ammonium nitrate or superphosphate. The latest development of breeders is growing seedlings at home on peat tablets.

Peat is ideal for viola, as it does not retain moisture, retains heat, and contains nutrients. Growing violets in peat tablets provides high level seedling survival, drainage, nutrients and soil moisture. To grow garden beauty in peat pots from seeds, you need to soak the tablets in water. When the peat swells, put the seeds on top and lightly cover with soil. (see video)

At home, seed germination is carried out in a dark place, covered with polyethylene to create the effect of a greenhouse.

How to plant viola seeds

Cultivation of tender violets begins in January-February, depending on the variety. To grow a viola from seed, it will take several months of painstaking daily care of fragile seedlings. Seeds are harvested from August.

After flowering, small boxes are formed, which dry out as the seeds ripen. Hurry up so that the boxes do not crack. A sign of ripe seeds is turning the box up.

The collected grains are cleaned, dried and stored in the refrigerator.

Seeds are sown in the ground in February-March in a greenhouse or containers for seedlings. When is the best time to plant a viola depends on the variety and when it blooms. For example, early flowering varieties should be sown in February in order to plant seedlings in open ground in April.

The seeds are sown in the soil, slightly moistened with a spray bottle. Sprinkle on top with sand, peat, or light soils.

When shoots appear, the plants dive. Planting of young shoots is carried out quickly to prevent thinning and stretching of the stem. The picking distance is maintained at 20x20 cm. It is often practiced to plant seeds directly into individual pots.

With the onset of summer, pots with seedlings are put on a balcony or flower bed, they are looked after as usual.

Planting seedlings and care

In April-May, viola seedlings are planted in open ground. Flowers love partial shade, but can be planted in sunny places. In the sun, the flowers grow large, but fade 2 times faster.

The flowers of the plant are cross-pollinated, so varieties should be planted at a distance from each other. Basic care:

daily watering; fertilizing with mineral fertilizers every 2-3 weeks; weeding; covering for the winter with sawdust, spruce branches.

The main plant diseases are:

Viola cultivation on the balcony and in the garden: important care rules

Viola (garden violet) is a plant that novice amateur flower growers should get acquainted with. Viola flowers look like bright summer butterflies, with wings of red, blue, yellow, white, black shades.

Some varieties planted in groups resemble funny faces from afar. If you look at such a flower close up, you can clearly see in its center a bright yellow eye, framed by strokes-cilia.

For this similarity, some violas (to be more precise, tricolor violets and Wittrock violas) are called pansies by the people. To begin with, in order to grow such a miracle on a balcony or in a garden, you need to purchase seedlings or grow a viola from seeds yourself. And then, in order for the viola to bloom and delight you all summer and autumn, learn how to properly care for it. All the nuances about growing viola on the balcony and in the garden, read on.

The nature of the viola: what conditions are necessary for growth and flowering?

If you want to know how to grow a viola, then pay attention to its character. Pansies - a trouble-free plant that blooms profusely on balconies and flower beds Viola is not capricious, but you need to be able to find an approach to it. Viola care involves the following factors:

1. Lighting and temperature

Abundant flowering of the viola is possible only with good lighting. She has a positive attitude towards the scattered sunlight and direct beams. But! There must be a measure in everything.

If the summer in your area is hot, then the viola will burn out in the midday sun. The viola treats the spring midday rays favorably, and the summer ones are too hot for her. Therefore, if a hot summer is predicted, do not plant the viola in open sunny areas.

South balconies are also not suitable. Rather, the viola will grow and even bloom, but only before the onset of heat, on average - until July.

Later, you will have to get rid of the bushes, as their decorative effect will disappear (there will be no flowering, the leaves will turn yellow and dry). The best place for pansies is sunny areas, but with shading at noon. Morning or evening direct sunlight will only benefit the viola.

That is, ideally, violas need partial shade, with a lot of diffused light. In this case, the leaves remain juicy, green until autumn, do not fade. Flowers do not shrink (this often happens when growing viola in the shade, without direct sunlight).

You will get a win-win result of growing by planting a viola in the openwork shade of a young tree. Or near any screen (fence, bush, flower plantings) that casts a shadow over the viola at noon.

Western and eastern balconies are also suitable. Viola develops well in coolness. Ideal temperatures for her are 10-25°C. It withstands, without loss of decorativeness, and short-term cold up to 3-5 ° C.

But the heat affects the viola badly, so often in hot summers (especially when grown on sunny areas) there is a break in flowering. The second wave of flowering in this case is possible, but only in autumn.

2. Watering

Viola does not tolerate prolonged drying. Therefore, you need to water it often, without waiting until the ground near the roots turns into stone. But swamps should not be planted either! Viola is very demanding on the amount of moisture consumed.

With its excess, the roots of the plant begin to rot and rot, the viola dies.

3. Top dressing

In order for the viola to bloom all summer, it needs regular top dressing. When growing viola on a balcony, that is, in closed ground, it is necessary to fertilize the soil every week. If the flowers grow in open ground (on the site), the frequency of fertilization can be reduced to 1 time in 3-4 weeks.

Viola: planting and care at home

Viola at home develops best on open sunny balconies. Worse - on glazed balconies and loggias. Some flower growers manage to grow violas even on windowsills, but in this case it is necessary that the window be constantly open.

Availability a large number light and fresh air is an indispensable component for growing any garden plant. Viola develops well indoors in the presence of fresh air and a lot of light. Viola planting at home is carried out in flower pots, balcony boxes. Ampel forms - in hanging baskets, planters, tall flowerpots on a leg.

Any container chosen should have drainage holes. Hanging viola varieties look spectacular in hanging baskets Since viola roots are prone to rotting, special attention should be paid to a good drainage layer when planting. To do this, a layer of drainage material (expanded clay, brick shards, polystyrene) is poured at the bottom of the selected container at least 2-3 cm thick.

Soil is poured on top - it should be loose, moisture and breathable. Keep a distance of 10-15 cm between the violas, otherwise strong specimens will oppress the weak ones and force them out of the composition Viola seedlings are planted at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other, while on each copy of the plant must be allocated at least 1-2 liters of soil. When growing violas in closed ground, you need to monitor the regularity of watering. On hot summer days, watering should be done 2 times a day - in the morning and in the evening. The first dressing is applied 2 weeks after transplanting into the ground.

Further, it is necessary to fertilize the violas at home every week. Any mineral complex fertilizer for flowering is suitable for fertilizer. During hot days, a viola in a pot may lose its decorative appearance.

Most often, the stems turn yellow and dry, the bush falls apart, flowering becomes less abundant, the flowers fade and decrease in size. Then the viol must be cut. Usually it is shortened by half the length of the stems.

But if the bush has already lost any decorative value, pruning can be done drastically, leaving 5-6 cm from the branches (there must be leaves on them!). Within 2-2.5 weeks, the viol bush will overgrow with young shoots and bloom. Viola pruning and subsequent flowering: "before and after" photo

Pansies: outdoor care

In the garden, viola seedlings are planted in late spring, when the threat of night frost has passed. Although viola is a hardy plant, its seedlings are too tender. Especially the one grown at home.

Therefore, it is better not to take risks and time the planting of seedlings for warm and sunny spring days. The distance between the viola bushes is 10-15 cm. .Feeding for violas growing in the garden can be made 1 time in 1-4 weeks.

On some soils, flowers require fertilization every week, on others - once a month. It depends on the initial fertility of the soil.

Viola in winter: a few nuances about wintering viola

In winter, it is advisable to cover the violas growing in the garden with spruce branches or dry leaves, and open them in early spring so that there is no dampening. The flowering of plants of the second year of life begins in April, at the same time as crocuses. In a different way, violas grown indoors overwinter.

Usually their life cycle ends in autumn, with the onset of frost. However, if there is a desire to save the plant for the next year, then why not?

You can do one of two options: Option number 1. Violas are dug out of pots, planted in the ground in August-September. Before frost, the plant will have time to take root and acclimatize.

2-3 weeks before the expected frost, it is advisable not to let such violas bloom so as not to weaken them. For the winter, plants should be covered with spruce branches or leaves. Option number 2. Bring the viola pot into a cool, bright room.

For example, on a warmed balcony or veranda. The optimum wintering temperature is 5-15°C. In the spring, the preserved uterine bushes are cut and new young plants are grown.

Growing seedlings of viola

Viola, better known as pansies, is hardy and absolutely unpretentious in care. Its bright color will decorate any flower garden, so flower growers are very willing to plant this flower.

In sunny areas, the viola blooms profusely, in partial shade its flowers are somewhat smaller. However, buying ready-made seedlings every spring is quite expensive, so many grow viola seedlings on their own. It should be noted that the plant is a biennial and, when sown with seeds, will bloom only in the second year.

When to plant viola seedlings

Having bought several bags of bright viola, pay attention to the fact that the sowing of this flower is carried out in the summer. Many inexperienced flower growers make the mistake of planting viola in the spring and expect to get a lush bloom in the summer.

This is a biennial crop, so it is important to know when to plant the viola for seedlings. In June-July, a place is set aside in the flower garden for sowing pansy seeds. Seeds are pre-treated with a growth accelerator. Seeds are buried 0.5 cm into the groove, sprinkling it with earth without lumps.

The soil is carefully shed with water, trying not to erode the place of sowing. It is useful to mulch the sowing place with small sawdust, which will keep moisture in the soil. After 2 weeks, shoots will appear, they must be shaded from the sun with a dark film, which is removed after two weeks.

By August, the seedlings will grow up and it will be possible to plant them in a permanent place. From such planting material plants with lush and long flowering are obtained, which cannot be achieved from viola grown from seeds in seedlings. Caring for seedlings of viola grown in open ground consists in warming it with straw or spruce branches before winter.

Such a "veil" will protect the root system of the plant from freezing. In the spring, young plants are fed with a solution complex fertilizer twice - before the formation of buds and at the beginning of flowering. The use of fresh manure is unacceptable, as this provokes the "black leg" disease.

Growing viola seedlings from seeds

In regions with a harsh climate, planting viola for seedlings becomes the only way to grow this flower. The complexity of this method of growing viola lies in the need to create a number of conditions:

Additional lighting; Compliance with the temperature regime; Selection of the optimal soil.

In late February - early March, you can sow viola for seedlings at home. The seeds must first be soaked in a solution of Zircon, Epin or the EM-1 preparation. this will speed up the germination of seeds and make the seedlings more resistant to pathogens. The optimal substrate for growing viola is made from peat, the pH of which is 5.5-5.8.

Fertilizers do not need to be applied to such soil, viola seedlings need to be fed in the phase of the formation of two true leaves. To obtain good seedlings, an important condition is the creation of drainage in the container. Viola seeds are sown for seedlings on top of a moistened substrate, sprinkling them thin layer vermiculite.

Cover the container before germination plastic wrap or a piece of glass. This will speed up the germination of the seeds. Periodically, the shelter must be removed for ventilation, which will avoid the formation of fungus in the soil.

If you use cups for growing, you need to sow 3-4 seeds in each of them. After germination, the strongest and most well-developed sprout is left in the cup, removing the rest. In container growing, viola seedlings dive twice.

The first time the plants are planted when two true leaves have formed. The second pick is carried out at 5 weeks of age. To do this, use separate pots, the diameter of which does not exceed 10 cm.

If plants dive into large seedling boxes, it is important to maintain a distance between plants of about 6 cm. Unheated greenhouses in the summer cottage are suitable for growing seedlings. Since viola is sown for seedlings in peat soil without fertilizers, the first top dressing is done after three weeks. mineral fertilizers, watering the solution under the root.

Further top dressing is repeated every month. With watering, you also need to be careful. Water should be directed under the very root, avoiding drops on the leaves. In the open ground, the grown seedlings of the viola are planted in mid-May, when return frosts are not expected. with a clod of earth.

The distance between plantings should be about 10-15 cm. For larger plants with large flowers, the distance between the bushes is 20 cm. The seedlings are watered abundantly under the root and lightly shaded for several days.

Sand will allow water to quickly go deep into the soil without forming stagnation. This reduces the risk of blackleg viola disease. This is the basic scheme for growing pansies. But how to grow healthy viola seedlings so that they do not stretch out in a container on the windowsill?

Since sowing is carried out in early dates, shoots need to be illuminated, for which they use ordinary fluorescent lamps or phytolamps, which belong to the category of special lighting fixtures. Viola needs at least 14-16 hours of daylight.

The growth regulator Alar somewhat limits the growth of seedlings, but subject to the use of supplementary lighting. As for the temperature regime, 18-30 degrees of heat is needed for seed germination. Deviation in any direction negatively affects the germination of viola seeds. Even an increase in temperature to 23 degrees causes viola seedlings to linger for up to one month.

Diversity and richness colors this culture has no equal. Pansies - growing seedlings - these are the main, not always simple for beginner flower growers, stages of work. Despite the fragile appearance, the touching name, pansies (violas) cannot be classified as sissies and prudes. They are suitable for cultivation throughout Russia. Violas are planted in the garden and front gardens, parks and city streets are decorated with them. All this makes them a real hit in spring flower beds.

Them appearance distinguished by exquisite panache, especially in early spring, when they decorate the garden with juicy strokes. Another name for these flowers is viola.

The richness of colors, winter hardiness, compactness - that's what makes this culture so attractive. No wonder gardeners have been growing this domesticated subspecies of tricolor violet for several centuries.

Photo of a spring flower bed

Pansies get along well with tulips and daffodils, they look great on their own in containers, hanging flowerpots, baskets. Winter-hardy hybrid varieties have been developed that tolerate hot, cold weather. So viola can be planted in spring, summer, autumn. But what is especially pleasant, this culture is extremely unpretentious.

white perfection- Variety Weiss, photo

Thanks to the tireless work of breeders, flowers become more diverse every year. Don't believe? Visit your nearest seed store or order from a catalog online. Along with the classic purple, white, yellow, you will find new varieties of violas of different tones - pink, orange, pastel shades. Most of them are still decorated with characteristic spots that give the "pansies" a unique charm, but there are monochrome ones, so to speak, with "clean faces".

In addition, varieties are bred with flowers looking up, on a short stem. Such violas are much more noticeable in a flower bed than looking down. It is also important that they tolerate bad weather better.

What variety of pansies to choose

Breeders and seed sellers divide them into two categories:

varieties with large flowers - large-flowered;
varieties with small flowers - many-flowered.

In the largest, the flowers reach a diameter of 10 cm, in the smallest - about 6 cm, and in the rest - somewhere in between.

They sprout themselves, care is minimal - self-sowing, photo

When choosing a variety of pansies, you should not think that the larger the flower, the better. As experience shows, the most hardy, strong plants have just small flowers. In addition, small multi-flowered varieties are better adapted to rainy weather, temperature extremes. Although their flowers are small, they are many. So the overall effect is brighter than from the same number of bushes with large flowers.

As experience shows, where the climate is colder, small-flowered varieties win. But small-flowered violas also became leaders in the south. In fairness, it should be recognized that in the south, large-flowered ones have one interesting feature: the hotter the weather, the smaller the “pansies” become. Thus, planting small-flowered varieties in the spring, by the end of the season you will get very small flowers. This is why large-flowered violas traditionally dominate urban flower beds, for example, they look great in hanging baskets or containers.

When to plant pansies

So, the hardest part is over: the variety is selected. You can follow the line of least resistance, and at the same time save a lot of time - buy seedlings, bring them home, plant them in a country house or a plot.

However, if you prefer to germinate the seeds yourself, then you should know that in order for pansies to flaunt in your garden this spring, you will have to get down to business even in the winter. It will take two and a half, or even three months, for a seedling to be obtained from a germinated seed, which can be transplanted into the ground.

Since violas tolerate cold well, they are transplanted two to three weeks before the last spring frost. Remember the vulgar season, when the last frosts happened then, count three months ago from this date - and get down to business.

Dynamite Orange, photo

The most common mistake amateur gardeners make is that they start germinating seeds too late. Remember that these flowers love the cool, because they have never been tropical plants.

The ideal temperature for seed germination is relatively low: 18°C. You should not germinate them where you have dried or stored gladiolus bulbs. Gladiolus are often infested with thrips, and these pests love to feast on pansy seedlings!

Sowing is done in January in a greenhouse or in April (in the Kuban) in open ground, the seeds are lightly sprinkled with earth. They germinate in 7-14 days. Seedlings are shaded from direct sunlight. The best temperature for plant growth is +16-18°C during the day and +10-15°C at night. It is necessary to monitor the constant soil moisture. Winter seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the spring, and summer seedlings in the fall.

How to plant pansies for seedlings

Sow the seeds in moist seedling soil, sprinkle them with a thin layer of vermiculite or sand. In the light, the seeds of "pansy" do not germinate.

Until shoots appear (usually this happens after about a week), moisten the soil, but not too much. If possible, water through the pan. To retain moisture, you can cover the box with a film, just do not forget to provide ventilation, otherwise cold-loving plants under such a shelter will simply boil.

As soon as the seeds germinate, put the box where it is light, cool - so that the seedlings do not grow too long, skinny. For this purpose, a cold greenhouse or a protected garden bed is perfect: there is a lot of light and a suitable temperature of 13-16 ° C.

If you are germinating seeds at home under a fluorescent lamp, choose a cooler location. Place the box next to the light source, but not closer than 5 cm. After a month, transplant the seedlings into pots. As soon as the air temperature reaches + 5 ° C, take the pots out during the day.

When the plants are 10-11 weeks old, start hardening off, which will help them adapt more easily after planting in the ground. A protected bed is also suitable for this purpose. If severe frosts are expected, cover the seedlings with a thin layer of straw or covering material.

Pansies - plant care

Due to winter hardiness and endurance, it is not difficult to grow modern varieties of viola. Open space and soil with good drainage - that's probably all they need. If you live in the south, plant them in lace shade - this will help the plants survive the heat more easily. Regardless of the climate, the soil must have good drainage. If the ground is dense and damp, pansies will develop root rot. To avoid this scourge, first put them on high bed.

What to feed? Of course, compost. They don't need any other fertilizer. If you do not have compost, use any other organic fertilizer with a relatively high content of phosphorus and potassium and a small amount of nitrogen.

A mixture of varieties on the lawn, photo

If you want to maximize the flowering period, regularly remove wilted ones. Since their roots are quite shallow, when the heat comes, mulch them with straw or grass clippings - this will also prolong the flowering period. If they are still blooming in August, do not forget to cut off the seed boxes, and flowering will continue throughout the fall.

Do you want to extend the spring? Then leave the violas to winter. We assure you, this is not a joke! Plant seedlings towards the end of summer - they will bloom all autumn, during winter thaws, even next spring!
This culture boasts an extremely healthy heredity: its ancestors are field violet tricolor and forest yellow. In fact, modern garden pansies are perennials and, if sheltered for the winter, they live for several years, although most often we treat them as annuals and, with the onset of heat, we ruthlessly pull them out of the ground with the roots.
If you plant them from August 15 to September 10, then Wittrock violets will take root perfectly, decorate your garden not only in autumn, but also next spring. After overwintering, they will bloom in early spring, will bloom throughout March, April, and especially magnificently in May.
Small-flowered varieties tolerate wintering especially well. Classic colors (gold, purple, white and yellow with spots) winter better than trendy oranges, reds, pinks and pastels.
If you decide to plant violas in the fall, leave them to winter in the garden, find a place protected from the wind, provide them with well-drained soil, such as a high bed along the wall or some other shelter. Wind, land with poor drainage will kill overwintering plants. Plant them in the ground at least a month before the onset of frost, so that the roots have time to adapt by the beginning of winter.
We recommend planting pansies mixed with tulip or daffodil bulbs - in spring your garden will have an exquisite carpet.
The best shelter for pansies is snow cover. If the winter turns out to be cold, but with little snow, cover the plants with mulch, for example, coniferous spruce branches. Fallen leaves should not be used for this purpose - they absorb too much moisture, crush, and damage plants.
If you live in the northern regions, you want to plant these flowers in the fall, even leave them for the winter, find out in advance if the nursery has the viola seedlings you need. If this does not appear, germinate the seeds of suitable varieties yourself. They should be germinated in the middle of summer. Prepare a cool place (cellar), get to work.
You can wait until autumn, sow the seeds in a cold greenhouse or protected bed, and transplant seedlings in open ground in early spring. In autumn, you will not wait for flowering, but from early spring, violas will decorate your garden.
As a rule, "pansies" do not have problems with pests. True, sometimes, when it is dry, hot, red mites appear. It is necessary to treat the plants with any insecticidal soap solution.

Video about the care, planting and reproduction of pansies.

To create a colorful velvet carpet in your paradise, pansies, which are known under the elegant name of viola or under the academic name - Vitrokk's violet, will help to create. The traditional colors of this culture are purple and yellow. Over time, breeders have bred about 200 varieties with stunning shades. So garden violet became a lush bloomer and a wonderful decoration of the garden.

The violet family has many features in planting, care, and cultivation. To enjoy such beauty both in spring and autumn, you need to know some of the nuances. You should also choose the right variety for planting.

Flower characteristic

The shades of the petals are so saturated that even in the photo pansies look incomparable. You can see this charm in early spring, when it gets warmer. Some varieties delight the eye throughout the summer, because they easily tolerate hot weather. Others feel great in the velvet season, as they can even withstand frost. Among other things, varieties were bred that are resistant to low temperatures. All this diversity is classified as follows.

Frost resistance

These plants can bloom even at the end of February. Low temperature in the morning or light frost will not spoil the delicate flowers. Gardeners carefully select winter-hardy specimens for their summer cottage. These varieties mainly include:

For all winter-hardy varieties, the compact size of the shrub is characteristic (flower diameter reaches 6 cm). Some varieties of this viola are thrown away abundant blooms. It is they who delight the owners with their charm for a long time.

Flower size and shape

They are of small caliber: 3-5 cm (Snow Maiden, blue boy and little red riding hood). Buds bloom from small sinuses. Pansy flowers are solitary, but in combination they make a chic look. Such giant varieties look especially luxurious:

The pedicel of such titans reaches 10-12 cm in length, and the diameter of the flower is more than 7 cm. They can be monophonic, as well as with exquisite spots or patterns. Among the large-leaved varieties, the most popular are:

The length of the branched stem is 10 cm, and the diameter of the flowers does not exceed 5 cm. The delicate petals of the tricolor violet have both smooth edges and wavy (jagged).
The corrugated petals of the Flamenco, Chalon Supreme and Rococo varieties have an exotic look, as well as an unusual variegated color (hatched color in the center).

Color spectrum

Vitrokk's violet color palette is striking in its diversity. In the flower bed, tricolor specimens in dark shades of blue, purple and red look unusual. Violas, snow-white with a greenish tint, will become a breathtaking property of the garden. At the same time, blue, lilac, yellow and burgundy (with bizarre spots) exhibits will add a touch of romance to suburban area.
Varieties with contrasting stripes, a border and incomparable eyes look special near the house. Such a colorful description of pansies is endless, because it is difficult to consider all 250 varieties at a time.

bush height

Low-growing cultures reach 15 cm in height, and giants - up to 30 cm. In diameter, a viola bush can grow from 6 to 12 cm. Since this plant tolerates shaded areas well, it can be safely grown in a garden between trees.

The flowering period can be artificially extended. To do this, it is necessary to constantly remove fading flowers, preventing them from turning into seed boxes.

flowering period

As already noted, pansies are able to delight with their stunning flowering in the season of the year desired by the owners. So it can:

March or April;
summer months (withstand heat and drought);
autumn period (quietly tolerate snowfalls and lower temperatures).

Therefore, the garden can be transplanted into pots ( plastic crates) and decorate them with balconies, facades of houses, loggias, as well as windows. To do this, periodically loosen the earth and water the plants.

It is important to ensure that the soil is not wet long time because the roots can start to rot.

Landing Secrets

The first step is to choose a variety and a suitable place for it on the site. Many housewives prefer large-caliber varieties. Single-flowered specimens look amazing in a flower bed surrounded by other flowers. However, as experience shows, it is violas with small petals that are the hardiest.
Such crops survive in the rainy season, and with sudden changes in temperature. Therefore, in northern regions it is better to plant small-flowered varieties, because in the southern latitudes the inflorescences become smaller. The same applies to giant varieties if they grow for a long time in a hot and dry climate.

It is better to plant a crop in an open area. Access to heat and direct rays should be at least 5-7 hours per day. It is worth watering the flower beds once a week. Maybe twice, depending on the weather.

Landing place

It is important to consider that pansies are perennial and annual plants. This means that they are bred for one year, or two or three. The growth period largely depends on the labor that the gardener is ready to invest in these garden exhibits, and processing technologies. It was noticed that if you feed the earth with fertilizers, at least once a week, the stem grows faster, and the inflorescences become more magnificent.
Favorable conditions for planting and caring for pansies will be the following parameters:

Soil type. Dry soil mixed with sand or stones is not suitable for viola. The earth must be fertilized to saturate young roots. nutrients. It must contain enough moisture.
Degree of shading. It is important to find the golden mean here. A thick shadow will lead to the degeneration of the plant, and the scorching sun will lead to its destruction.
Good care. Takes care of regular watering of sprouts. Around the rhizome (at a distance of 2-3 cm) should be made from leaves or dried grass. Periodically, you need to pluck damaged stems or petals.

When an amateur gardener has decided on a place and has chosen a suitable variety, then you can begin the sowing process. There are several ways to do this.

Landing time

The first option is to independently grow pansies from seeds. When to plant depends on the period in which the gardener wants to get a luxuriantly flowering crop. These varieties germinate well at a temperature of 16-18°C. So, if you sow the seeds in a container in winter (at the end of January), then after 2-3 months the seedlings can be transplanted into the soil. It is important to correctly calculate the date of the last frost in advance.
You can see what time they were last year, and count 3 months from that date. This will be the date of diving into the open land, only next year.

Those who plan to see this beauty in their garden in the fall should sow during July. Then by September, when the heat subsides, the sprouts will be ready for transplanting into the ground.

perennial crops can be immediately sown in open ground in mid-summer. However, the sun can scorch tender sprouts, so they should be covered with greenery, but so that there is no greenhouse. Until the end of August, the seedlings must get stronger in order to successfully survive the winter. To do this, they must be watered every 7 days and fertilize the soil, alternating mineral and organic top dressing. At the end of summer, the sprouts are transplanted to another place. At the same time, it is important not to let them bloom, because this will deplete the plant before wintering.
As a result, in the spring you can take a lovely photo of pansies and enjoy their delicate fragrance.

Landing nuances

Garden violas, although not very fastidious flowers, still require special treatment. When sowing seeds, you must follow a number of simple rules:

loosen and slightly moisten the soil;
mix the seeds with sand so as not to sow too thickly;
it is not recommended to bury the seeds deep in the ground;
they need to be watered with a watering can with a small strainer so as not to wash away the seed with water;
store the tray for the first week in a dark place;
then it is important to place the container in a more lit room;
periodically a box with seedlings, which are already 25 days old, is taken out to Fresh air(at a temperature of +6 ° C) to harden the sprouts.

When transplanting seedlings into open ground, it is important to adhere to a special system. You need to dive culture in early May. And literally in 3-4 weeks inflorescences will appear. Tuber transplantation is advised to be carried out in the evening, when it is cool and there is no sun. They should be planted at a distance of 25 cm, because they are able to grow. If weather forecasters promise frosts, then the beds should be covered with straw.

Strong winds can damage the plant. Therefore, it is important to make a protective fence for a flower bed with a viola.

Care and protection from pests

Pansies will bloom wildly when proper care And favorable conditions. Winter without snow is a detrimental factor for plants. Therefore, the beds are advised to cover with mulch and a special tarp. Among other things, it is important to follow the following:

The soil should always be soft and moist. Therefore, the soil must be constantly loosened. Moisten the soil only after it is completely dry.
Feed with fertilizer. You cannot do this with fresh manure. It is better to use humus in a proportion of 5 kg per sq. m or compost.
The place must be well ventilated.
Make a piece hut to protect from direct rays.
Shoots with defects should be pinched off immediately.
Remove dried leaves.

These simple rules contribute lush bloom violas. Yet the danger for her is pests. These may be such manifestations:

This plant is not really whimsical. Therefore, pests and diseases almost in rare cases interfere with the vegetation, as well as the lush flowering of the crop. As a result, you can always enjoy the beauty of pansies.

How to grow pansies - video

Flower growers often call it amazing beautiful plant pansies or tricolor violet. We will not look for an explanation for these discrepancies, this is a topic for another story.

Here, let's figure out how to grow a viola so that it pleases the eye, blooming in a flower bed even when the rest of the flowers are just emerging or waking up after wintering.

This cold-resistant plant can be cultivated in two ways:

First way consists in sowing seeds in open ground in the middle of summer. In this case, flowering will begin only next year, in the spring. And to wait a long time, and there is a risk that the seeds will not sprout if the conditions for their germination are uncomfortable.
Second way and more reliable, and pansies will bloom among the very first. It consists in sowing seeds for seedlings in winter at home, or in a heated greenhouse (see).

If you start growing in December-January, by the beginning of the warm season you can get already flowering bushes, which are in great demand among flower lovers. This can bring a good profit, so the second method may also interest you from the financial side.

Sowing

The seeds of the tricolor violet are quite small. They can be collected from their faded bushes - but it is better to buy in a specialized store, be sure to check the expiration date.

Note. Please note that the F1 label on the seed bag indicates hybrid variety. As a rule, it has high aesthetic qualities, vitality, but next year it will not be possible to grow a plant with the same characteristics from the seeds obtained.

Sowing dates are from late December to early March. The sooner you plant, the sooner you will get flowering bushes.

Regardless of where you will grow flowers - at home or in a greenhouse, it is best to plant them in small containers, laying a layer of drainage (pebbles, small gravel) on the bottom.
For a small amount of seedlings, it is best to buy ready ground for violets. If you plan to grow it for sale on an “industrial scale”, prepare the soil yourself by mixing river sand, soddy soil and humus in a 1: 2: 2 ratio.

Advice. Do not fill the resulting mixture with any fertilizers. It is better to feed the viola when watering with ammonium nitrate and superphosphate after the appearance of true leaves. But manure is absolutely impossible to use for this.

The prepared earth is poured into containers, moistened and distributed over the surface of the seeds. Then they are covered with a thin layer of the same soil.
Then, all seedlings are placed in a plastic bag until germination. Or they cover it with glass and take it out to a greenhouse or any other room in which it is possible to provide partial shade and an air temperature of 18-20 degrees. This is an important condition, since at temperatures above 23 degrees, seeds can germinate for a very long time.
Every day, glass or film must be removed for 20-30 minutes, removing condensate from them and airing the crops.
During the first 7-14 days before germination, the soil in the container should be moistened with a spray bottle to avoid overflow and stagnant water.

Note. Viola is a cold-resistant plant, so seedlings should be grown at a temperature not higher than 18-20 degrees. She will also survive a temporary drop to +5 degrees. But a higher temperature can cause a decrease in the size of the flowers.

Watering from above is stopped with the appearance of the first true leaf, starting to pour water into the trays as it is absorbed. And the temperature in the room with seedlings from this moment is recommended to be reduced to 10-12 degrees.

Dive

You can dive pansies immediately after they release the third true leaf. They do this to provide the root system with enough space and nutrition for full development.

Since its roots are small, it will not be difficult to remove a sprout from a well-spilled soil.

The same containers are suitable for transplanting as for seedlings, just the distance between the plants in them should be left about 6-10 cm in each direction. But it is better to take individual cups or sectional containers. Of these, it will be easier to transplant the bushes to a permanent place without damaging the roots.

Immediately after transplanting, the sprouts should be protected from direct sunlight for some time. Before the appearance of new leaves, it is advisable to lightly shade them. And then vice versa - to provide good and long-lasting lighting, using special lamps.

As before diving, watering pansies should continue from below, by pouring water into trays. If cultivation takes place in a garden bed in a greenhouse, you can apply the method from the following picture. Here, each plant sits in its own cup without a bottom, and watering is carried out between them.

After diving and acclimatization, young seedlings need a temperature of 15-18 degrees for normal growth. Not higher, not lower.

Transfer to a permanent place

As soon as it becomes warm outside and the earth warms up, seedlings can be planted in flower beds. She is not afraid of short-term spring frosts, therefore, in middle lane It could be early to mid May.

The distance between plants should be sufficient, about 15-20 cm.

Viola loves sunny places

Excessive heat to grown bushes is also not scary. Especially bright and large flowers will be when placed on the sunny side. They can also be planted in the shade, but flowering will not be as plentiful.

Further care consists in regular weeding, loosening and moderate watering with the addition of fertilizers. In order for pansies to bloom again next spring, after the onset of cold weather they need to be covered with straw and covered with snow.

Varieties of pansies

There are so many of them today that it is simply impossible to list them all. Therefore, for those who are just starting to engage in floriculture, we will talk about the most popular ones. According to the size of the flower, they are divided into: small-flowered, large-flowered and gigantic.

Small-flowered

Image	Description
	The flowers are snow-white, monochromatic, 3-4 cm in diameter.
	Blue-blue flowers with dark strokes diverging from the center, 3-4 cm in diameter.
	Bright red flowers with dark brown spots on the bottom three petals. Diameter 3.5-4 cm.

large-flowered

Image	Description
	The diameter of the flower is about 5 cm. The color is bright yellow, on the lower petals there are dark brown velvety spots. Bush 20 cm high, pedicel 8-10 cm.
	An interesting variety with white flowers with a greenish sheen, purple edging and dark purple strokes on the three lower petals. Diameter up to 5 cm, bush 20 cm high, peduncle 8-10 cm.
	Dark purple, almost black flowers with velvety petals 5-5.5 cm in diameter.
	When blooming, the flowers are bright blue, but in the sun they partially fade and turn pale, acquiring a bluish-lilac hue. Diameter 4.5-5 cm. Bush 20 cm high, stem 9-11 cm.
	Red-brown flowers with darker brown spots on the bottom three petals. The diameter of the flower reaches 5.5 cm. The bush is 10-15 cm high, the pedicel is 9-10 cm.
	Interesting flowers, in which the upper petals are white with a purple tint, and the lower petals are pure white with bright purple spots. Bush 20 cm high, stem 7-8 cm.

gigantic

Image	Description
	A bright white monochromatic flower with wavy edges in diameter reaches 6-7 cm. Bush 20 cm high, stem 9-10 cm.
	Violet-blue flowers with a darker center and a white border around it. Diameter 6-7 cm, bush 25 cm high, peduncle 10-11 cm.
	Flowers of bright golden yellow color also have a diameter of 6-7 cm. Bush 20 cm high, stem 10-12 cm.

Conclusion

With the arrival of spring, we all look forward to the first greenery and vibrant colors. Along with blueberries, crocuses, tulips and daffodils, pansies can also please you if you start growing them in the winter.

This is a simple matter, since the plants are unpretentious, and are only demanding to maintain the optimum temperature in a certain period. It is easiest to do this in a greenhouse, but it is also possible at home.

Watch the video in this article and the whole process will become even clearer.

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