Viola flowerwhich is known by many under the name "pansies"grows most beautiful if it is grown from seeds. It is possible to decorate your balcony or a plot with minimal funds, because viola seeds are very cheap compared to grown seedlings. You can sow seeds both in special seedlings and in open ground.
Viola: Selection of Seeds for Planting
Some gardeners and gardeners complain that the viola harvest either did not meet expectations or did not grow 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 poorly acquired seeds. Next, we will share with you how to avoid buying low-quality planting material:
- Buy seeds in the store as early as possible. Do not delay until the moment when the assortment remains minimal.
- Plan in advance where you will sow your viol. This will help you in the calculations and save money. Of course, there is an option when the seeds can be purchased with a margin if they need to be harvested.
- Carefully look at the expiration date, which is listed on the pack. Take those who have remained at least a year's supply.
- Do not go on about the bright design. Beautiful design does not mean better quality, and the cost of such seeds is usually much more expensive.
Previously, you could find only a few colors of violets: blue, purple and yellow. Today, the breeders have brought many more different colors.
Now you can meet and buy viola from white to almost black. The most popular ornamental varieties that are most suitable for gardeners are the following:
- Varieties from the series "Wagon"start early and bloom profusely.
- Varieties from the series "Hemalis"well adapted for wintering and have a wide range of colors from white to magenta.
- SortRococo"with corrugated flower petals.
- SortSwiss giant"grows in low bushes with massive flowers.
Important! In order for the purchased seeds to match the characteristics stated on the packages, they should be bought only from trusted vendors and manufacturers. In this case, the entire season of the viola will give chic flowers.
When is it better to sow pansies?
Viola can be either a two-year or a perennial plant. Any of the types and varieties of viola can be grown using one of three schemes. How to plant the seeds of pansies, we will look further.
First method - It is sowing with the calculation of flowering next year in open soil. This is the traditional scheme, which is often recommended on packs of viola seeds. The essence of this method is as follows: seeds are sown in the ground in August or in September. For autumn, the flower springs up, grows stronger, and it has time to form a powerful root system.
Thus, young pansies are ready for wintering. Viola begins to bloom by mid-spring in April. Flowering lasts until frost.
Second method - This is planting viola seeds for seedlings with the calculation of its flowering in the same year. There is a mistaken opinion that the viola blooms only in the second year after planting the seeds. Its bloom can occur in the first summer. You just need to sow the seeds in advance - at the end of winter or early spring.
It is advisable to apply dosvetku. So pansies will bloom in the third month after sowing, that is, in May or June, at the same time as other flyers. Viola bloom can and throughout the summer period.
To do so, you need to choose the right place for landing: without direct sun and scorching heat. Then, with a green flower, she will go for wintering and next spring will bloom again. Grown from seed planted in spring, the viola is suitable for planting in open soil or balcony boxes.
Third method - sowing seeds of viola in the summer in the open ground with the purpose of its flowering in the same year. To sow seeds of pansies can be directly in the ground in May and June. Viola blooms in August and September. Viola leaves for wintering with flowers, and in early spring she starts blooming again.
Did you know? Breeders brought hybrid species of violets that can bloom from spring to autumn. For them, annual cultivation technologies were specially developed.
Preparing the soil for planting
Seeds of the future plant are sown in any suitable capacity for this: pots, food containers, cassettes. Prepare a loose soil with good drainage capacity - this is a very important feature for future viola seedlings, which are greatly affected by the lack of moisture in the soil.
In order for the viola to dissolve beautiful flowers in the future, it is necessary to grow it from seeds in such a soil. This mixture can be prepared independently according to the following scheme: you need to take the fertile land of the garden, peat, humus in a ratio of 2: 2: 1.
In the capacity for seedlings pour ground. It is very convenient to grow seedlings of pansies in peat tablets that are pre-placed in plastic cassettes.
Did you know? Fruits of violets are very original. The box with three leaves during the ripening period is tilted down on the pedicel until many seeds have ripened in it. Then it rises, bursts, and vomits out seeds more than five meters in diameter with great force.
Technology of planting viola (pansies)
First option Sowing is traditional with embedding in the ground. According to this scheme, it is assumed that the viola sprouts germinate in the dark. Therefore, again traditionally, the seeds of viola are buried in the soil. If you want to do everything according to this scheme, then proceed as follows:
- Prepare the soil with a finger to a depth of half a centimeter. The distance between them should be one centimeter.
- In the grooves put the seeds with an equal removal of two centimeters, sprinkle the grooves. Water the seeds with water.
- Cover the container with planting film in order to create a wet microclimate.
- Open the mini-greenhouse twice a day for ten minutes. So the ground will be aired. Otherwise, the upper soil layer may become moldy.
- Place the seedlings in a warm place with a temperature of about 25 ° C. Remember that the lighting is not important for the viola until its first shoots appear. You can even put the container in a dark pantry or on the windowsill on the sunny side.
Second option popular among gardeners and it does not involve embedding in the ground. In this case, the shoots appear much faster, because they do not need to expend energy on penetration through the soil layer. 
But there is one important moment: the viola, by its nature, germinates in dark time, therefore, after sowing, the seed containers should be carried to a dark place. Planting seeds of pansies is as follows:
- Moisten the soil well with warm water at about 35 ° C.
- On its surface, lay the seeds in increments of a couple of centimeters.
- Cover the container with transparent material and regularly air the soil.
- Put 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 two previous ones. How to plant viola seedlings with this "intermediate" option? This is done as follows:
- Sow the seeds, as in the first version.
- Sprinkle them on top of the soil or sand, literally one centimeter.
- Water all the warm water.
- Cover the container with transparent material and air regularly.
- Put in a warm place. Do not worry about lighting, it does not matter.
Did you know? Viols were the favorite flowers of the French Empress Josephine, who was married to Napoleon Bonaparte. Also, they loved the famous actress, and also from France, Sarah Bernard. They were admired by the German literary genius of Goethe and the Russian classic Turgenev.
How to create optimal conditions for successful growth
Viola - the flower is unpretentious in care, so the initial cultivation of it from seeds rests only on the question of when to plant. Viola seeds can be sown at various times to choose from. Everything will depend on exactly when you need it to bloom.
Earlier all can be planted in February. The first stage of growing seedlings is to provide them with comfortable conditions. In this case, sowing seeds is necessary only in closed ground. The selected container for planting must be filled with pre-fertilized and moistened soil.
Superphosphate or ammonium nitrate can be used as fertilizer.
Spread the seeds evenly in a container and moisten with a sprayer. After the landing, tightly close the 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? In ancient Rome, viols were present at every celebration. Latin saying "in viola esse", which literally means "to recline on violets", that is to bliss.
Rules for the care of seedlings
As we have said, the seeds of viola, by their nature, produce the best shoots in the dark. Watch the soil moisture level and gently 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, it is already possible to perform this procedure. It is absolutely not difficult, the main thing is to keep the distance between shoots of 5-6 centimeters. This is followed by a similar care: soil moistening, feeding with nitrogenous fertilizers, a cool and dark place.
Top dressing is best done on the seventh day after picking, and this should be done every ten days. "Organic" and "minerals" need to alternate between themselves. Always keep the soil loose.
Important! Avoid stagnant moisture, because the roots may start to rot. As a result of this, a “black leg” is formed, and all your labors will be in vain. This is the most dangerous seedling disease. If you notice the appearance of white spots that later turn brown and rot, then the plant must be removed from the others. You also need to reduce watering and dry the top soil layer.
When can I plant a viol in open ground and how to do it
After the seedlings of pansies have reached the required age and size, it is time to "let go into adult life." When to plant viola seedlings in open ground? Of course, it is better to do this at the end of spring, by the onset of summer.
Under the sky, flowers can be planted already in sunny places, so they will be more beautiful, richer and more. But nevertheless some varieties always prefer penumbra, and such preferences have their advantages. In such conditions, the viola blooms twice as long in time, only its flowers are inferior in size to those planted under the sun.
It is necessary to care for the viols planted in open ground as well as when forming seedlings from seeds. Feeding the viola should be ammonium nitrate with an interval of two weeks.
Important! Fresh manure can severely harm this plant.TOWhen the first frosts come, pansies can be covered with straw, sawdust or lapnik. If enough snow has fallen, then you can bury the plants in it.
In the case of severe frosts, it is better not to risk it, but immediately dig up the viol and cover it in a warmer place, for example, in a garage, shed or greenhouse. Subject to all the recommendations for care, the viola more than once will delight its owners with luxurious blooms.
