When to plant viola? Viola ampelnaya: growing from seeds.

Viola is the official but little-known name of the flower. pansies. It is used to decorate garden plots and balconies. Plant this common perennial plant immediately in open ground or in seedling containers. Exactly growing viola from seed at home - main topic this page of the site for .

Viola growing methods

Pansies are quite unpretentious, so you should not set yourself up for failure, even if you are not an experienced grower. If you are going to grow these cute flowers on your site or balcony, you should be aware of two ways to plant their seeds:

1. Landing in open ground. This method is used most often, it has two options:
spring sowing - produced in May-June, flowering occurs at the end of the season, and ends with the onset of frost. In early spring, flowering begins anew.
autumn sowing - Produced at the end of summer or in September. Before frost root system plants have enough time to get stronger in order to safely endure the winter and bloom in the spring.
2. Seedling planting. The seedling method of growing is not used so often, but it also takes place in our latitudes. Having started growing at home back in February, flowering can reasonably be expected already in early summer. So the bushes will bloom all summer and will also be covered with flowers next year.

Growing viola seedlings at home

Sowing viola seeds in seedling containers should be done early - in February or March. To get chic plants, you need to prepare well for planting. To do this, it is important to have suitable containers: a box, pots, cups or peat tablets. They should be filled with the correct substrate: moisture-absorbing and loose. Viola has a special love for moisture.

Advice! It is best to grow seedlings in peat container. Peat retains heat and moisture well, nourishes plants with useful substances.

Pansy seeds can be sown with or without incorporation into the ground. In the first case, grooves are made 0.5 cm deep and seeds are sown in 1-2 cm increments. After that, an impromptu greenhouse is created, which is placed in a bright and warm place.

In the second case - without embedding - the soil is watered abundantly warm water and sown with seeds, trying to keep a distance of 1-2 cm between them. In this case, it is also desirable to create a greenhouse, only it should be placed in a warm, but dark place. Viola seeds need darkness to germinate.

Care of sprouts grown from seeds

Germination usually takes 5 to 10 days. In some cases, longer germination is possible, which can be explained by several reasons:

old seeds,
excessively deep landing,
heavy soil.

The container with seedlings should be in a well-lit place. It is better to remove the shelter after a week, first airing it daily. From the very beginning, young plants can be taken outside for airing, so that they get stronger and hardened. Viola tolerates even low temperatures well.

With watering seedlings of pansies at home, you must be especially careful. On the one hand, the plant loves moisture, and on the other hand, it rots with its excess. Be careful that the top layer of soil in the container does not dry out, and the bottom layer is not waterlogged.

Growing viola seedlings from seeds at home

If viola seeds were originally sown in a common container, then after the formation of 1-2 true leaves, they must be transplanted into separate containers. Do not worry about damage to the roots - the viola tolerates this trouble well and recovers fairly quickly after that.

For good tillering, the viola needs pinching (top trimming). Perform it when 2-4 leaves develop on the seedlings. It is necessary to move pansies from home to open ground in stable warm weather - from the end of May. You can go to the balcony earlier - from the very beginning of March. It is important to know that the viola does not tolerate a dense planting. The optimal distance between adjacent bushes is 15-20 cm. In balcony boxes, flowers should be placed so that each bush has at least 1 liter of soil. The plant is cross-pollinated, so different varieties plant separately.

Advice! You can easily collect viola seeds. To do this, you need to wait until the boxes appear in place of the flowers. Gradually, they will dry out, and when they turn up, you can safely pluck them. It is important not to be late, otherwise the storage of seeds will crack. Seeds need to be cleaned, dried and stored in a cool place (you can in the refrigerator).

Place to grow and care

Pansies love moisture and are afraid of extreme heat. In view of this, for them in open ground, a place in partial shade should be chosen. It would be ideal to plant them near young trees with a sparse crown. It is especially important that the flowers are in shallow shade during the midday hours.

If we are talking about home conditions, that is, growing a viola on a balcony or loggia, then in this case the western or eastern side of the building is perfect. In the north, flowering will be scarce, and in the south it will stop at the height of summer heat. Loamy soil is best for growing viola. Before planting flowers, the site must be loosened and fertilized. Fresh organic is categorically not suitable. It is better to use superphosphate and ammonium nitrate.

Viola ampelous

Once every two or three weeks, experienced flower growers are advised to feed the viola with mineral fertilizers. Weeding and loosening is a must. Flowers should be watered every day. For the winter, plants must be covered so that they do not suffer.

Growing viola from seeds at home allows you to rejoice in the year of planting beautiful flowers plants all summer long. This gorgeous flower everyone likes it. If you decide to plant it in your backyard or on your balcony, be sure that these places will attract the eyes of others. You yourself will experience indescribable delight!

Which is known to many under the name " ”, grows most beautiful if it is grown from seeds. You can decorate your balcony or yard for minimum funds, because viola seeds are very cheap compared to grown seedlings. Seeds can be sown both in special seedling containers and in open ground.

Viola: the choice of seeds for planting

Some gardeners and summer residents complain that the viola crop either did not live up to expectations, or did not rise at all. But often the cause of such consequences must be sought deeper than in insufficient feeding or inappropriate climatic conditions.

The whole problem may lie in the initially bad acquired seeds. Next, we will share with you how to avoid buying low-quality planting material:

Buy seeds from the store as early as possible. Do not delay until the moment when the assortment remains minimal.
Plan in advance where you will plant your viola. This will help you with calculations and save money. Of course, there is an option when the seeds can be purchased with a margin if they need to be resowed.
Look carefully at the expiration date, which is indicated on the pack. Take those that have at least a year's supply left.
Don't go for the bright design. Beautiful design does not mean the best quality, and the cost of such seeds is usually much more expensive.

Previously, only a few color schemes of violets could be found: blue, purple and yellow. To date, breeders have brought out many more different colors.

Now you can meet and buy viols from white color to almost black. Most Popular decorative varieties, which are most suitable for amateur gardeners, are the following:

Varieties from the series " station wagon»begin early and bloom very profusely.
Varieties from the series " Hemalis» are well adapted to wintering and have a wide range of colors from white to purple.
Variety " Rococo» with corrugated flower petals.
Variety " Swiss giant» grows in low bushes with massive flowers.

Important!In order for the purchased seeds to correspond to the characteristics that are stated on the packages, you need to buy them only from trusted sellers and manufacturers. In this case, the viola will produce gorgeous flowers all season long.

When is the best time to sow pansies?

Viola can be either two years old or perennial plant. Any of the types and varieties of viola can be grown using one of three schemes. How to plant pansie seeds, we will consider further.

First method- this is sowing with the calculation of flowering for next year in open ground. This is the traditional pattern often recommended on viola seed packets. The essence of this method is as follows: seeds are sown in the ground in August or September. During the autumn, the flower rises, grows stronger, and a powerful root system manages to form in it.

Thus, young pansies are already ready for wintering. Viola begins to bloom by mid-spring in April. Flowering lasts until frost.

Second method- this is the planting of viola seeds for seedlings with the calculation of its flowering in the same year. There is an erroneous opinion that the viola blooms only in the second year after planting the seeds. Its flowering can occur as early as the first summer. You just need to sow the seeds in advance - at the end of winter or early spring.

It is advisable to use backlighting. So pansies will bloom already in the third month after sowing, that is, in May or June, at the same time as other summers. Viola can bloom throughout the summer period.

For this to happen, you need to choose the right place for landing: without direct sun and scorching heat. Then green flower she's gone for the winter next spring will bloom again. Grown from seeds planted in spring, viola is suitable for planting in open soil or balcony boxes.

Third Method- sowing viola seeds in summer in open ground with the aim of flowering in the same year. You can sow the seeds of pansies directly into the ground in May-June. Viola blooms in August-September. Viola leaves for the winter with flowers, and in early spring she's starting to bloom again.

Did you know?Breeders have bred hybrid types of violets that can bloom from spring to autumn. For them, annual cultivation technologies were specially developed.

Preparing the soil for planting

The seeds of the future plant are sown in any containers suitable for this: pots, containers food products, cassette. Prepare loose soil with good drainage capacity - this is a very important property for future viola seedlings, which suffer greatly from a lack of moisture in the soil.

For the viola to dissolve in the future beautiful flowers, its cultivation from seeds must be carried out in such soil. Such a mixture can be prepared independently according to the following scheme: you need to take fertile garden soil, peat, humus in a ratio of 2: 2: 1.

Pour the soil into the seedling container. It is very convenient to grow seedlings of pansies in peat tablets, which are previously placed in plastic cassettes.

Did you know?The fruits of violets are very original. The three-winged boll leans downward on the pedicel during the maturation period until many seeds have matured in it. Then it rises up, bursts and violently spews out seeds with a diameter of more than five meters.

Viola planting technology (pansies)

First option sowing is traditional with incorporation into the ground. According to this scheme, viola sprouts are supposed to germinate in the dark. Therefore, again, traditionally, viola seeds are embedded in the soil. If you want to do everything according to this scheme, then proceed as follows:

Plow the prepared soil with your finger to a depth of half a centimeter. The distance between them should be one centimeter.
Put the seeds in the grooves with an equal distance of two centimeters, and sprinkle the grooves. Water the seeds.
Cover the container with plantings with a film in order to create a humid microclimate.
Twice a day, open the mini-greenhouse for ten minutes. This will ventilate the soil. Otherwise, the top soil layer may become moldy.
Put the container with seedlings in a warm place with a temperature of about 25 ° C. Remember that lighting is not important for the viola until its first shoots have appeared. You can even put the container in a dark pantry or on a sunny windowsill.

Second option popular among flower growers and it does not involve embedding in the ground. In this case, sprouts appear much faster, because they do not need to expend energy breaking through the soil layer.
But there is one important point: the viola, by its nature, germinates in the dark, so after sowing, the seed container must be taken to a dark place. Planting pansy seeds is done as follows:

Moisten the soil well with warm water at about 35 ° C.
Lay the seeds on its surface in increments of a couple of centimeters.
Cover the container with transparent material and ventilate the soil regularly.
Place the seeds in a warm place or just cover with cardboard.

Important!It should be remembered that the greater the distance between the seeds, the later the plant will need a pick.

Third option is a cross between the previous two. How to plant viola seedlings using this "intermediate" option? This is done in the following way:

Sow the seeds as in the first option.
Sprinkle them on top with soil or sand, literally one centimeter.
Pour warm water over everything.
Cover the container with transparent material and ventilate regularly.
Put in a warm place. Don't worry about lighting, it doesn't matter.

Did you know?Violas were the favorite flowers of the French Empress Josephine, who was married to Napoleon Bonaparte. They were also loved by the famous actress, and also from France, Sarah Bernhardt. They were admired by the German literary genius Goethe and the Russian classic Turgenev.

How to create optimal conditions for successful growth

- the flower is unpretentious in care, therefore, the initial cultivation of it from seeds rests only on the question of when to plant. Viola seeds can be sown in different dates to choose from. It all depends on exactly when you need it to bloom.

The earliest can be planted in February. The first step in growing seedlings is to provide them with comfortable conditions. In this case, it is necessary to sow seeds only in closed ground. The selected container for planting must be filled with pre-fertilized and moistened soil.

As fertilizers, you can use superphosphate or ammonium nitrate.

Spread the seeds evenly in the container and moisten with a sprinkler. After planting, cover tightly with cellophane film, creating a greenhouse effect, and leave in a cool place at a temperature of about 22 ° C for a week.

Did you know?AT Ancient Rome violas were present at every celebration. The Latin proverb "in viola esse", which literally means "to lie on violets", that is, to be blessed.

Rules for the care of seedlings

As we have said, viola seeds, by their very nature, sprout best in the dark. Monitor the level of soil moisture and carefully loosen it so as not to damage the sprouts. When to dive viola after germination?

A week later, the seeds should give the first shoots. When the first leaves appear, you can already perform this procedure. It is absolutely not difficult, the main thing is to keep a distance between sprouts of 5-6 centimeters. This is followed by similar care: moistening the soil, feeding with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, a cool and dark place.

Planting and caring for the viola (in a nutshell)

Landing: perennial seeds are sown in the ground before winter, annuals are grown in seedlings: seeds are sown for seedlings in March, and seedlings are planted in the ground in May. If the viola is grown in biennial culture, then the seeds are sown on the school garden in June or July, and at the end of August or the beginning of September, the seedlings are transplanted to permanent place.
Bloom: depending on the species, variety and method of cultivation from early spring to late autumn.
Lighting: bright sunlight.
The soil: rich, moist, well-drained.
Watering: in a season with normal rainfall, the viola can not be watered, but in a drought, watering should be regular: the soil on the site is kept loose and slightly moist.
Top dressing: once a month with a complete mineral fertilizer.
Reproduction: seeds and green cuttings.
Pests: clover owls, spider mites, gall nematodes and violet mother-of-pearl.
Diseases: pythium, smut, leaf spot, gray mold, blackleg, powdery mildew and variegation virus.

Viola flowers - growing conditions

Viola is represented by perennial, biennial and annual herbaceous plants, reaching a height of 15 to 30 cm. The root system of the viola is fibrous, the main shoot is erect. Simple or pinnately dissected viola leaves, equipped with stipules, are either collected in a basal rosette or grow alternately. The flowers of the viola are axillary, solitary, on long peduncles, up to 7 cm in diameter, the upper petals are with marigolds, the lower ones are larger, with a sac-like formation at the base - a spur. The colors and shapes of the violas amaze with their variety: monophonic, two- or three-colored, spotted, striped, with one spot, with wavy or even edges of the petals, simple or terry...

Viola blooms very profusely, depending on the time of planting, either from mid-March to the end of May, or from August until frost, although there are hybrids that can bloom throughout the summer or twice per season. The fruit of the viola is a box with seeds that remain viable for up to two years.

Viola is winter-hardy and shade-tolerant, although away from the sun it blooms not so profusely, and the flowers become smaller. The soil for viola is preferred loamy, fertile, moist, since growing on dry sandy soils also leads to the fact that viola flowers become small.

Growing viola from seeds

Sowing viola for seedlings

You can sow viola seeds directly in open ground, but we'd better tell you how to grow viola seedlings, since seedling seed propagation is usually more reliable than seedlingless. If you plan to see flowering already this year, viola seedlings should be grown from the end of February.

Before sowing the viola, buy at flower shop soil substrate for violets, and soak the seed for a day in a solution of Epin or Zircon. Then lay the seeds in the grooves made in the ground and sprinkle them on top with a substrate ground between the palms, pour, cover the container with glass or transparent film and keep it in a room with a temperature of about 15 ºC.

In the photo: Viola flowering in a flower bed

viola seedling

Viola seedlings from seeds will begin to hatch in a week and a half, and as soon as the viola has sprouted, the glass must be removed, and the seedling container should be placed in a cool place where the air temperature is not higher than 10 ºC, under bright diffused light protected from direct sunlight. Viola care at this stage consists in the timely moistening of the substrate and the application of complex mineral fertilizer in the form of a solution twice a month.

Viola pick

There are two opinions about how many times and when to dive the viola.

Some flower growers insist that viola seedlings are dived twice: the first time when a pair of true leaves grows in the seedlings, and the second time the viola picks are made after another 2-3 weeks according to the 6x6 scheme.

But others no less experienced experts believe that the second pick is, in fact, planting the viola in open ground, so it’s up to you to decide whether you need to dive the viola a second time. In the end, the viola can be planted on the site in an already flowering state - it takes root perfectly. And viola blooms from seeds in late spring or early summer.

In the photo: Dense thickets of viola

Planting a viola

When to plant viola

Viola planting in open ground is carried out depending on the climate of the area in April or May. Define for viola sunny plot with optimal composition soil and add 0.2 parts of not too finely crushed coal to one part of the earth, so that its fractions perform, in addition to everything, a drainage function, and the same amount of humus or dry bird droppings. Viola will also grow well in soil of this composition: humus, soddy land, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1.

Do not plant a viola in a lowland where they lie close ground water so that there is no stagnation of water in the roots of the viola.

How to plant a viola

If you are concerned about the question of how to plant a viola correctly, let me reassure you: planting viola flowers does not contain any secrets. Seedlings are placed in pre-prepared holes at a distance of 10-15 cm between specimens, sprinkled with earth, compacted the soil around the bushes and watered after planting. Please note that growing viola flowers involves transplanting plants every three years, combined with dividing the bushes, otherwise the perennial viola grows strongly, and the flowers become small, which makes the plant lose its decorative effect. Most the best varieties viola can be easily propagated by cuttings.

Pictured: Pansies

Viola - care

How to grow a viola

Growing viola requires maintaining the soil on the site in a wet and loose state, since the root system of the plant is superficial - it is located at a depth of only 15-20 cm. and only if the summer is hot, you have to mess with watering. It is also necessary to remove weeds from the site as they appear and cut off in time withered flowers with seed pods so that the flowering of the viola does not lose its intensity.

In addition, the care of viola flowers provides for monthly feeding with ammonium nitrate or superphosphate at the rate of 25-30 g per square meter.

In the photo: White and blue viols

Viola pests and diseases

As you can see, planting and caring for a viola is very simple, so do not neglect the rules for growing a viola, follow them meticulously, otherwise you will have to face difficulties that could have been avoided with proper care. We are talking about diseases and pests that occur when the rules of agricultural technology are violated.

Viola most often suffers from powdery mildew, which manifests itself at first in the form of gray or white plaque on leaves, buds and stems. This happens if fertilizing is done only with nitrogen fertilizers or in a dry sunny summer with abundant morning dew. In case of illness powdery mildew plants are sprayed with soda ash with soap or Fundazol, or ground sulfur. If the disease persists, treatment can be repeated after two weeks.

In addition, if the temperature, air and soil humidity regimes established by agricultural technology are violated, troubles may arise with diseases such as gray rot or blackleg. Eliminate the causes of the disease until it has covered all the plants, remove the affected specimens, and pour the soil after them with Fundazol.

In the photo: Large viola flower

Sometimes the viola suffers from spotting, from which its leaves dry, and the plant itself weakens. It is necessary to destroy specimens affected by the disease, and it is best to burn them so that the infection does not spread throughout the garden. For prevention purposes, healthy plants are sprayed with Bordeaux liquid 2-3 times with an interval between sessions of two weeks.

Of the insects, caterpillars of the clover scoop and violet mother-of-pearl, which eat the leaves of the plant, are dangerous for the viola. They are destroyed by spraying the viola with chlorophos or tobacco infusion.

Viola after flowering

How and when to collect viola seeds

Collect seeds from faded plants in August-September. After the flowers wither, small boxes with seeds remain in their place.

A sign of the readiness of seeds for collection is the turn of the box up.

Seeds are removed from the cut boxes, dried indoors and sent for storage in the refrigerator. If the seed boxes are not removed, then abundant self-seeding can happen, and you will see fresh spontaneous seedlings either in the fall or next spring, but if they are thinned out and planted in time, then you can grow viola on the site without labor costs for sowing and planting work.

In the photo: How the viola blooms in the garden

Viola in winter

The current varieties of perennial violets, if covered with spruce branches or dry foliage, can even withstand very coldy– up to -30 ºC. And annual violas are disposed of after withering.

Types and varieties of viola

Viola Wittrockiana (Viola wittrockiana)

The most common type of viola in our flower beds is Wittrock's viola, or pansies. It is a perennial 20-30 cm high, cultivated as a biennial plant, with oval alternate leaves with blunt teeth along the edges and single large flowers from 4 to 10 cm in diameter of various colors and shapes.

Flower growers divide garden viola varieties into several categories: according to the timing and quality of flowering, flower size, color, shape and level of winter hardiness.

If the criterion is the size of the flowers and their simultaneous number on the bush during flowering, then according to these characteristics, Wittrock's viola varieties are divided into groups of large-flowered (grandiflora) and multi-flowered (multiflora) varieties.

If the basis of the difference is color, then the varieties are conditionally divided into one-color, two-color and spotty, but it should be understood that there is no clear boundary between these groups, and the same variety can be classified, for example, as spotted and two-color.

One-color varieties of Wittrock viola:

Viola White- a sprawling shrub up to 25 cm in diameter and up to 20 cm high with green leaves, white with barely noticeable greenery and yellowness, fragrant flowers on long peduncles. This variety blooms from mid-April to early August and from late September to October. Winters well under cover;
Blue Boy- a bush up to 25 cm tall with bluish leaves, lilac-blue corrugated flowers up to 6 cm in diameter, with dark lilac strokes at the base of the petals, the upper petals are bent back. At the same time, up to 19 flowers can open on a bush. Blooms from April to August and in September-October, winters well under cover;
Rua de Negri- compact bushes up to 23 cm high, leaves with a bluish bloom, flowers up to 5 cm in diameter with rounded black velvet petals wavy at the edges, slightly bent back, at the base of the lower petal there is a bright yellow eye. Opens simultaneously on a bush up to 14 flowers. Blooms from April to August and from September to October. Winters well under cover;
Viola red- erect stems up to 20 cm high, flowers up to 7 cm in diameter, red with a very dark eye at the base of the petals.

In the photo: Viola Wittrockiana (Viola wittrockiana)

Bicolor varieties of Wittrock viola:

Jupiter- a compact variety up to 16 cm high with dark green leaves and flowers up to 5 cm in diameter with rounded white purple flowers, the upper petals of which, white at the base, are bent back, and the lower ones have a velvety texture and a deep purple hue. Opens immediately up to 20 flowers. Winters well;
Lord Beaconsfield- bushes up to 25 cm high, bluish leaves. Flowers up to 5.5 cm in diameter. The upper petals are white-blue with ink strokes at the base, the lower ones are deep purple with an uneven lilac rim around the edges. At the same time, up to 30 flowers bloom on a bush. Winters well;
Saint Knud- compact bushes up to 20 cm in height with green leaves and flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, in which the upper petals are a light yellowish-orange hue, and the lower ones, bright orange with a red base, strongly protrude forward. Up to 19 flowers can be open on a bush at the same time.

In the photo: Viola Wittrockiana (Viola wittrockiana)

Spotted violas:

Shalom Purim- a many times improved form of the rococo viola variety, the same terry viola, but with an incredibly strong corrugation of the petals of very large flowers - a third larger than the standard. It goes on sale as a mixture of seeds of various colors. Unlike the parental species, it prefers light penumbra to the sun - then the corrugation of the leaves is more pronounced;
hybrid F1 Eyes of the tiger- a novelty of incredible coloring: on the yellow background of the petals there are frequent thin brown strokes, the diameter of the flower is up to 3 cm. It can be grown both in flower beds and in pots. The hybrid differs in early, abundant flowering and pleasant aroma;
hybrid F1 "Cassis"- a compact plant with purple petals with a thin white border around the edges, blooms very profusely, has a high winter hardiness.

In the photo: Horned Viola (Viola cornuta), or ampelous viola

In addition to Wittrock's viola, horned viola, or ampelous viola, is often grown in culture - a perennial plant with a height of 15 to 25 cm with a creeping branched rhizome, which, growing, forms a carpet. Its stems are triangular in cross-section, the leaves are oblong, coarsely serrated, up to 6 cm long, the stipules are pinnately incised. Numerous flowers 3-5 cm in diameter, with a horn-shaped spur, are painted in a lilac-violet range with a small yellow eye. Blooms from May to September. Winter-hardy, but it is desirable to cover it for the winter. Growing ampelous viola is not much different from growing garden viola. The breeding of new varieties of viola horned was mainly carried out by English breeders:

Arkwright Ruby- a large-flowered variety with intense red petals with a yellow eye and dark spots on the base of the lower petals;
Balmont Blue- a variety with blue flowers and climbing shoots, grows well in hanging baskets and balcony containers;
Purple Duet- the flowers of this variety have two upper petals of burgundy color, and the three lower ones are dark pink with darker strokes at the base.

In the photo: Fragrant Viola (Viola odorata)

Fragrant Viola (Viola odorata)

Another species that grows well in culture and has many garden forms, is fragrant viola - a perennial with a thick rhizome and almost round leaves up to 9 cm long and up to 8 cm wide, forming a rosette. The flowers are quite large, fragrant, purple hue. Blooms in May for three weeks, sometimes re-blooms in autumn. Varieties:

Rosina- very fragrant pink flowers, darkening closer to the base, their upper petals are bent, the side ones are slightly extended forward - the flower looks like a flying bird;
Charlotte- Viola with large dark purple flowers;
Tsar- Viola with very fragrant purple flowers.

In the photo: Viola moth (Viola papilionacea), or viola klobuchkovy (Viola cucullata)

Viola moth, or clobuche (Viola papilionacea = Viola cucullata)

The moth viola, or klobuchkovy, is also in demand in culture, 15-20 cm high with heart-shaped or kidney-shaped, serrated leaves along the edge and large, single purple flowers, in which the upper petal is white with a purple stripe, and the center is yellowish green, almost white. Blooms from April to June. Varieties:

Freckles- white flowers with dense purple speckles, which become larger in cool spring. Blooms in spring to early summer. One of the most unpretentious varieties of viola in culture;
Royal Robe– miniature viola with very fragrant flowers, the petals of which are bent back, and at the base of each petal there are yellowish and black strokes. The petals themselves have a color from violet-blue to purple;
Red Giant- very large red-violet flowers on long peduncles. Long flowering variety.

In addition to the listed widely used types of viola, graceful, mountain, yellow, swamp, Altai, hairy, Labrador, single-flowered, motley, sandy, Somkhet, dog, sister, stop-shaped, amazing, hill and Selkirk viola could grow well in garden culture. In the meantime, they are used by breeders for the most part to develop new varieties and hybrids of garden viola.

Great for framing borders and borders, tamping bushes of small height. Undersized varieties look very organic in rock gardens and rockeries. Mixes of violas give the landscape a unique flavor, create bright accent. Today it is difficult to imagine a garden without this beautiful plant.

Viola is also a great container plant. It will perfectly decorate the terrace or balcony.

What is the name of the flower

Very often there is confusion with the name of this plant. Some call it violet, others call it viola, and still others call it pansies.

Violet is a genus of plants from the violet family (Violaceae). Viola is the Latin name for the violet. Perennial pansies (or tricolor violet) - a plant species from the genus violets.

Viola (or violet) - more often one-, two- or perennial herbaceous plant, less often a shrub. Plant height 15-30 cm.

A bit of history

Viola, whose flowers are one of the oldest garden plants, has been known to botanists since the 16th century. Also in ancient greece and Rome, people decorated their premises during the holidays. But it began to be cultivated only after two centuries. F. Miller, the famous English florist, was the first to do this.

In Russia, violet appeared at the end of the 18th century, thanks to the famous botanist P.S. Pallas, who studied the flora of Altai. It was he who brought the violet, which is now called Altai, to St. Petersburg.

AT early XIX century in Europe, well-known pansies appeared - Wittrock's hybrid violets. They combined the beauty of three types of violets: Altai, yellow and tricolor.

Planting seeds

How is viola grown? Flowers, the easiest and cheapest way to grow from seeds, can also be planted by sowing in open ground or cuttings.

Growing from seeds - this way you can grow enough plants for a garden or balcony. In addition, it is beneficial - seeds are much cheaper than ready-made seedlings. To improve germination, viola seeds should be soaked for a day before planting in a solution of special preparations (for example, zircon).

Any variety of perennial and biennial violas can be grown according to one of 3 schemes:

Sowing seeds in open ground in autumn - flowering next year. In August-September, seeds are sown in the ground. Before snow, the plants have time to sprout and develop powerful roots. Viola, planting and caring for which is very simple, blooms the next year after sowing. Flowering lasts from April until frost.
Sowing seeds in early spring for seedlings - flowering in the year of planting. It is believed that with this method, the viola begins to bloom in the second year. In fact, flowering can begin as early as the first summer after planting. For this, seeds should be sown in more early period- from the end of February to the beginning of March. It is advisable to use additional light. The resulting seedlings bloom in May-June. If you create suitable conditions for the viola (she does not like direct sun and heat), then she will bloom all summer, and will bloom again next spring. Seedlings grown in spring are then planted in open soil or on a balcony.
Sowing seeds in summer. From late May to early June, seeds can be sown directly into the ground. Viola begins to bloom in August-September. Snow covers the plants already with flowers. Violas bloom again in early spring.

seed germination

The period of seed germination depends on the variety. Usually sprouts appear on the fifth or tenth day. Reasons for delayed germination:

old seeds;
a thick layer of soil over the seeds;
heavy and dense soil, which is sprinkled with seeds.

The emerging shoots are exposed to light. Moreover, even direct sunlight in the spring is not dangerous for plants.

Sowing and growing seedlings

Any suitable containers are selected for sowing: special cassettes for seedlings, small flower pots, food containers, etc. It is very important to choose suitable soil- it should be loose. You can buy special soil for violets or cook it yourself.

Fill the containers with soil and start sowing. It can be produced in different ways:

The seeds are buried in the ground. Deepenings (up to 0.6 cm) are formed in the soil 1 cm apart. The seeds are laid out in the resulting grooves after 1-2 cm. Sprinkle the seeds with earth. Landings are shed or sprayed with water. To create a humid microclimate in seedlings, they are covered with a film or glass. To prevent mold from appearing, the film is slightly opened twice a day for about 10 minutes. They put a "greenhouse" with seeds in a warm place (20-25 ° C). Illumination does not play a role.
Seeds in the ground are sown superficially. The soil is abundantly shed or sprayed with water, preferably warm (30-35 ° C). The seeds are laid out in recesses after 1-2 cm. The container with the seeds is covered with a film or glass. The soil is regularly ventilated. Place a container with seeds in a warm place and cover with some material (for example, a sheet of cardboard) on top.
The seeds are lightly sprinkled. First, the seeds are sown superficially (as in the second variant). Then lightly sprinkle (1-2 mm) earth or sand on top. Spill or spray plantings with warm water. The containers are covered with a film or glass, regularly ventilated. Put the seedling container in a warm place. Illumination doesn't matter.

Proper care of viola seedlings

After the emergence of seedlings, it is not recommended to immediately remove the film from the container - you need to let the seedlings get stronger. It is best to gradually increase the ventilation time during the week.

Viola seedlings are quite resistant to temperatures of 5-10 ° C, therefore, before the appearance of real leaves of the container (already without a film), they can be taken out to the balcony for hardening.

Seedlings need proper and regular watering. Upper layer soil should never be dry, but seedlings do not need to be flooded.

When the sprouts have 1-2 true leaves, they dive into separate containers. Usually, by this time, the central stem of the sprouts is strongly extended to the cotyledons. When picking, the sprouts can be deepened into the ground up to the cotyledons - they will be more stable, with powerful roots.

In order for the seedlings to bush better, at the stage of two or three pairs of true leaves, sprouts are pinched.

When warm weather sets in and the threat of frost passes, they begin to plant seedlings in a permanent place - on a balcony (March) or in open ground (May-June).

When planting seedlings in the ground, an interval of 10-15 cm is maintained. If seedlings are planted in boxes or pots, then the following ratio is observed: 1-2 liters of soil per plant.

Viola: planting and care in the open field

Many consider growing seedlings a rather troublesome business, so they prefer to sow seeds immediately in open ground. When sown in late May - early June, the viola will begin to bloom in August-September. If you sow the viola in August, flowering will begin in early spring the next year.

When sowing, seeds are laid out in small depressions (up to 0.6 mm), observing an interval of 10-15 cm. After that, the soil is shed abundantly and waiting for seedlings to appear.

Pinching is done at the stage of two or three true leaves. In the future, plant care consists in regular and sufficient watering, top dressing.

When planting seedlings or sowing seeds great importance has a choice of location. Violas grow and bloom best on light sunny places, but with shading from the bright midday sun. In the garden, this can be a place under trees with a not very dense crown, and on a balcony - the western or eastern side.

The type of soil is equally important. Viola, planting and care in the open field for which are discussed above, prefers well-moistened, drained and fertile soils.

Reproduction by cuttings

Cuttings can be carried out in different time. With early cuttings in the period from May to July, the tops of green shoots are taken, on which there are 2-3 nodes. Most cuttings root in 3-4 weeks. Plants from such cuttings begin to bloom in summer or early autumn. If cuttings were made later than July, then the viola begins to bloom in the spring of next year.

This method is more suitable for greenhouses, not gardens. It is usually used to propagate elite varieties.

Care

In order for the viola, the planting and care of which the schoolboy will master, to grow normally and bloom profusely, the soil must be constantly moist and loose. Therefore, regular watering and loosening the soil is so important. Removing wilted flowers promotes long flowering.

Viola requires regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers with an NPK complex. Seedlings are fertilized every 10 days, and adult plants - once a month.

Harmful weeds should be removed regularly. For the winter, plants are covered with spruce branches, fallen leaves or straw.

Viola types

There are currently about 500 species of viola. A flower, the varieties of which are so diverse, strikes the imagination of even connoisseurs.

There are several types that are considered the most popular among gardeners:

Viola tricolor (V. tricolor). Biennial or annual plant. Height 10-20 cm. In the open field, this viola blooms from May to September, and it looks most decorative in the second year of flowering.
Viola Wittroka (V. wittrokiana). It is usually considered a biennial or annual, but it can also be grown as a perennial when divided annually. Height 15-30 cm. This is a highly branched plant. Large flowers have a diameter of 4-10 cm. Flowers of the most diverse colors, while it can be plain or spotted. Depending on the time of sowing seeds and planting seedlings in the ground, viola can bloom in summer or autumn. Wittrock's viola varieties are conditionally divided into several groups according to a number of common characteristics: “trimardo”, “hemalis-winter”, “Schweitzer Risen”, “Swiss large-flowered”, etc. For example, varieties from the “Pirnaer” group are distinguished by early flowering.
Viola Altai (V. altaica). Ornamental perennial plant. Height up to 20 cm. Frost-resistant. It can bloom twice a season: from mid-spring to mid-summer and from August to the first frost.
yellow viola (V. lutea). The most unpretentious of all violets. Height 8-15 cm. Viola got its name for the bright lemon-yellow color of the flowers. Blooms from May to July.
Fragrant Viola (V. odorata). Herbaceous perennial plant with small flowers (diameter about 2 cm). From the second half of summer, the viola grows a large number of easily rooted shoots that form a dense cover on the soil. The flowers are dark blue in color and have a pleasant, delicate fragrance. Fragrant Viola can bloom for a whole month.

With its incredible beauty and variety of shapes and colors, the viola, planting and caring for which are discussed above, inspires the creativity of breeders, landscape designers, flower growers, and artists.

Many experienced gardeners plant pansies immediately in open ground, but the seedling method of growing viola at home is no less common, making 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.

Popular types and varieties of viola

When and how to plant pansies for seedlings: timing and methods

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 in 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

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 2019 according to the lunar calendar are:

in January - 17-19, 23-27;
in February - 6-8, 11-17, 21-25;
in March - 12-17, 19-20;
in April - 6-8, 11-13, 15-17; 29-30;
in May - 8-17, 21-23, 26-28;
in June - 1, 2, 5, 6, 9-13, 16-20;
in July - 8-10;
in November - 6-8, 13-18, 24-25.

Auspicious days for sowing perennial (biennial) viola in 2019 according to the lunar calendar are:

in January - 14-19, 23-27;
in February - 11-13, 20-25;
in March - 12-17, 19, 20, 27-30;
in April - 6-8, 11-13, 15-17, 24-26, 29, 30;
in May - 6-8, 10-17, 21-23, 26-28, 31;
in June - 1, 2, 5, 6, 9-13, 16-20, 27-30;
in July - 8-12, 25-31;
in August - 2-6, 17, 18, 21-23, 26-28;
in September - 1-5, 7-10, 17-24;
in October - 4-7, 9-12, 19-21, 23-25, 27;
in November - 13-18.

Unfavorable days according to the lunar calendar for 2019 for sowing annual and perennial pansies, the following dates are:

in January - 5, 6, 21;
in February - 4, 5, 19;
in March - 6, 7, 21;
in April - 5, 19;
in May - 5, 19;
in June - 3, 4, 17;
in July - 2, 3, 17;
in August - 15, 16, 30, 31;
in September - 14, 15, 28, 29;
in October - 14, 28;
in November - 12, 13, 26, 27.

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

Video: incremental sowing viola for seedlings - all about growing pansies

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 or cover 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.

Video: sowing and picking viola

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 with a black leg.

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, young seedlings are recommended to be illuminated 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, whose 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 landing tanks(pots, cups), or in a common container according to the scheme 5 by 5 centimeters.

The requirements for the soil do not change, except that this time no steaming is required. However, it is recommended to add to the soil mixture mineral fertilizer, 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 seedlings violas

How to plant viola seedlings in open ground: timing and methodology

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. root collar, 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.

Video: planting a viola in open ground

Further care for viola in the open field

Caring for pansies consists of the following main points:

top dressing;
loosening;
watering.

most suitable fertilizers for pansies are complex mineral supplements containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, that is, it can be ammonium nitrate or superphosphate.

Worth knowing! Viola can't be fed 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.

Video: growing and caring for pansies

home > healthcare