Pansies - beautifully blooming, cultivated plants... In another way, they are called tricolor violets or viols. These beautiful plants have been known to everyone since childhood. They occupy one of the main places in the world of floriculture lovers.
Have a variety of varieties (up to 400) and color shades... Bloom profusely from spring to frost. Many gardeners make sure to set aside an area in the garden for these beautiful flowers.
Why was Pansies called that?
The true origin of the flower's name is not known. There are only legends and myths. One of these legends tells that once upon a time there lived a girl named Anyuta. One day she met young man and loved him very much. After some time, the young man decided to leave, but he made an oath that he would return to his chosen one.
Anyuta many times went out on the road along which her beloved left. She peered into the distance, hoping to see him. She waited a long time, but the young man never returned. Gradually fading away from loneliness and melancholy, Anyuta died.
After the burial, flowers grew on her grave, resembling eyes that tirelessly looked somewhere into the distance. And so it appeared popular name pansies.
Pansies varieties photos and names
- the variety has pure white flowers with wavy edges. The size of the opened bud varies from six to eight centimeters. The total height of the shrub reaches thirty-five centimeters.
- This variety has white flowers with yellow blotches. The size of the opened buds reaches seven centimeters. The length of the pedicel varies from eight to twelve centimeters.
- The flowers of this variety are colored blue and purple. The petals have straight edges and a smooth surface. The size of the flowers varies from six to seven centimeters in diameter. Shoot length is about eleven centimeters.
- flowers of this variety have a cherry and red tint with brown splashes. The petals are smooth with ribbed edges. The size of the flowers is eight centimeters in diameter.
- from the name of the variety it is clear that the flowers have a golden hue. The size of the opened buds reaches seven centimeters in diameter. The shoot length does not exceed ten centimeters.
Varieties with large flowers
- flowers of this variety are brown and red. The lower petals have brown spots. The size of the flowers varies from five to six centimeters.
- flowers have a bluish tint. The size of the opened buds is no more than five centimeters in diameter. The total height of the shrub reaches thirty centimeters.
- flowers of this variety at the base have a purple and violet tint, and closer to the edges acquire white tone... The lower petals are completely white. The size of the opened buds reaches five centimeters. Shoot length is small, about seven centimeters.
- flowers are bright yellowish with purple blotches. All petals have ribbed edges. The length of the stems reaches nine centimeters, and the diameter of the flowers is five centimeters.
- This variety has flowers that appear with a dark purple color, but after two days they acquire a black tone. The petals have a velvety surface and smooth edges. The flowers grow up to five centimeters in diameter. The length of the shoots is ten centimeters.
- flowers of this variety appear with in blue, but after two days, the petals begin to brighten, acquiring a light bluish tint. The size of the flowers reaches five centimeters in diameter. Shoots are about nine centimeters long.
- the flowers of this plant have White color with long, purple blotches. There are varieties with petals that have white, yellow, purple and green hues. The height of the bush reaches twenty centimeters, and the diameter of the flowers is five centimeters.
Varieties with small flowers
- flowers with a dark red shade with a black base. The lower petals are yellow. The flowers are four centimeters in diameter. The total height of the shrub is twenty centimeters.
- the variety was named after a girl from folk tale, which had a red cap. Likewise, the flowers of the plant at the edges have a light or dark shade of red, and in the center of the petals there is a black color. The size of the flowers is small, only three centimeters.
- flowers with velvet petals in a pure white tone. The size of the flowers can be up to four centimeters in diameter.
- this variety has delicate petals with blue and light blue tint... The flowers grow up to four centimeters in diameter.
Pansies growing from seeds
To please yourself with flowers in the first year, you need to know how to plant this plant correctly. It all starts with sowing seeds at the end of February. To do this, use any plastic boxes filled with slightly acidic soil.
Seeds should be placed 5 mm deep. Then place the drawers in a dark and warm place. The seedlings will sprout in five days. Having noticed the first shoots, transfer the seedlings to a bright place where the temperature does not exceed + 17 ° C. Watch for moderate soil moisture, feed the seedlings with a soluble fertilizer containing potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.
When the seedlings germinate well and two leaves appear on each stem, proceed with planting in cassettes. After completing the transplant, put the boxes in a cool place, where it is not more than + 13 ° C. During this period, continue to monitor the soil moisture and fertilize.
Violet very beautiful flower, which can also be grown when nursing at home, the main thing is to follow the rules of care and you will not have any problems with it. Everything necessary recommendations You can find it in this article.
Viola primer
For tricolor violets, you must choose a nutritious soil. In poor soils, such as sandy or clayey, flowers do not grow well, becoming nondescript dwarfs.
To improve bad soil, you need to mix it with fertilizer. For one square meter apply 5 kg of plant compost or last year's manure.
Pansy landing
Violet tricolor is not whimsical when grown outdoors. The only thing she needs is a spacious place and warmth. Choose an open, sunny area for planting. When you start planting seedlings, observe the distance between the seedlings (15-20 cm). Plants will take root in 3-4 days.
Important! Plant seedlings in open land two months after the dive. The number of leaves of a seedling must be at least 4 pieces.
Watering the viola
You need to water the flowers three times a week, and if the weather is hot, then every day. Try not to overfill the seedlings, but keep the soil moisture at a moderate level. Pour water at the very root.
Important! Do not allow stagnation of water in the ground, this can cause rotting flowers. Loosen the soil after watering.
Fertilizer for tricolor violets
The first feeding of flowers should be done two weeks after transplanting in open ground... Any complexes of minerals (phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium) are suitable as fertilizers. The next feeding should be done during bud emergence and before flowering.
Important! You cannot fertilize this plant with fresh manure.
Pansy trimming
Violets multiply rapidly by throwing seeds into the soil. If you do not want the flowers to grow strongly in one place, then you need to remove the seed pods on time. You need to cut flowers at a distance of five centimeters from the ground.
After three weeks, you will have new inflorescences. The same pruning is done if the bushes begin to turn yellow and dry, and the flowers fade and shrink. After two weeks, the shrub will give new shoots.
Important! Leave two leaves on each stem with a cut field.
Pansy flowering period
Violets bloom profusely from May until frost, that is, 4-5 months a year. Such long flowering occurs due to the constant change of flowers, which occurs imperceptibly.
Old flowers fall off after 3-4 days, and new ones appear in their places. If you want flowers to begin to appear in early spring, then sow seeds outdoors in the second half of summer.
Tricolor violet in winter
Violets tricolor easily survive the cold season. But they need help to prepare for wintering.
After the onset of stable frost, prune the bushes. Then cover the plants with dry leaves. Remove the leaves in early spring to keep the flowers from getting stuck.
Pansies growing from seeds when to plant
This is the main breeding method for violets. The seeds can be purchased at a flower shop or harvested from bushes that have faded. They are planted in seedling boxes or directly into open ground.
The timing of sowing seeds for seedlings may be different. To get early flowering specimens, you can sow in January and February. But for this you will have to provide the seedlings with additional lighting. The first flower buds will appear in late spring and early summer.
Sowing seeds in open ground is carried out in early summer and autumn. In the first case, the plants will show abundant flowering in August and September. And in the second case, sowing will ensure flowering in early spring next year.
Pansies propagation by cuttings
For example, large-flowered varieties degenerate over time and begin to produce small flowers. The cuttings method can save and reproduce such a rare specimen.
To do this, cut off a small shoot with two leaves from the plant and plant it in a glass with soil. Such a stalk will sprout roots by itself without additional stimulants.
Important! Use soil from the area where you plan to plant flowers. This will help the plant adapt immediately to the characteristics of your soil.
Reproduction of a tricolor violet by dividing a bush
This method is used for reproduction perennial varieties... Violets should not grow in one place for more than four years. They degenerate and disappear.
To prevent this, a large shrub is divided into small parts. You need to divide the plant in early spring before flowering.
Diseases and pests
Powdery mildew - this is fungal disease which appears on leaves and stems as white bloom... If the plant has small spots, you need to treat the surface of the leaves with fungicides, such as "Pure" or "Topaz". With a stronger spread of the fungus, the plant must be pulled out of the garden so as not to infect the rest of the flowers.
Gray rot Is a fungal disease. It manifests itself as a grayish mold that covers the affected areas of leaves and stems. To stop the spread of the infection, you need to remove the leaves. Sprinkle the remaining affected areas wood ash or chalk. If the fungus has spread strongly over the flower, you need to spray it with a fungicidal preparation (fundozol, pure flowers, rak, fast).
Bacterial spot - the cause of this disease is phytopathogenic bacteria. It manifests itself as brown or black spots that affect the leaves. To stop the spread of the disease, you need to pull out the affected plant, and spray the adjacent shrubs with a fungicide of moderate toxicity, for example, copper oxychloride.
Pansies medicinal properties
Violet tricolor - unique treatment plant, which contains many useful substances: vitamin "C", carotenoids, rutin, salicylic acid, trace elements, etc. Due to its chemicals the plant helps to cope with coughs, bronchitis, stomach and intestinal diseases, bladder infections, neuroses and insomnia.
There are contraindications in the use of viola. Do not use the plant for liver inflammation (hepatitis) and kidney disease (glomerulonephritis). Frequent use decoction of tricolor violets can irritate the stomach.
Influenza decoction : pour one glass into the container hot water... Add one tablespoon of dried, ground herb. Put the container on fire and boil for 15 minutes. Wait for the broth to cool and strain. Take one teaspoonful three times daily after meals.
Cough syrup : Add five tablespoons of dried, chopped herbs to a container. Pour in five cups of boiling water. Let the solution sit for twelve hours and then strain. Add five tablespoons of sugar and heat. Boil the composition until the syrup is thick. Five minutes before the end of cooking, add lemon juice... Drink hot tea syrup - one tablespoon of syrup per glass of tea.
Pansies (botanical name viola) are rightfully considered universal, they can be grown both in the country and on the balcony. They won the hearts of many flower lovers with their beauty, ease of planting and unpretentious care. They can be transplanted even during the flowering period, from early spring (April) to autumn, with a short break.
Pansies are a low-growing perennial up to 30 cm in height from the violet family, although they can also be grown as an annual by self-seeding. They are planted in the foreground of the bed, borders, in and on. Its colors are iridescent and variegated. Viola Tricolor (for the southern regions), Altai (for middle lane), Wittrock.
Place and soil
Landing site pansies choose sunny, with variable shade. In a shady garden, flowering is weak. The soil is fertile, loose with good air aeration. Severe and clay soil fill with peat, sand and a full range of mineral fertilizers at the rate of 30-40 g per 1 square meter for digging. On sandstone and poor soil, flowering is scarce.
Landing
You can grow pansies both by seeds, planting in open ground, and seedlings grown at home.
In May, after the end of the period of return frosts, flower seeds can be planted for planting sow directly into open ground, having previously processed the solution (soak for a day). Pansies are planted in the grooves - at the rate of 50-60 seeds per 1 m, or in holes at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other, 2-3 seeds in each. Seeds are laid to a depth of 1 cm, covered with loose earth, moistened and mulched with sawdust to retain moisture for more long time... After a week, young shoots will appear, which need to be shaded for 2-3 weeks. When 2 true leaves appear, make a pick, remove weak seedlings. Flowering will begin in the same year, but wintering can be extremely difficult. If you plant pansies in July, then flowering will come only next spring, but wintering will be painless. It is impractical to plant flowers later in July, since they will not have time to get stronger and will most likely die in winter.
Planting pansy seeds for seedlings takes place in the first ten days of March. It is better to use the soil for sowing ready-made, from the store, adding a little sand. If this option does not suit you, then you can prepare the substrate yourself using equal amounts of garden, turf soil, sand, peat and humus. Before laying out in seedling boxes, it is better to sift the substrate and steam it to disinfect pathogens. Spread the seeds over the soil surface, moisten with a spray bottle and cover with foil. Place for germination in a dark and warm place where the temperature is kept within 20-22 ° C. After 7-10 days, when sprouts appear, the crops must be transferred to a bright place, regularly moisten the soil and remove the film or glass.
When 2 true leaves appear, the seedlings are picked into separate pots or according to the 5x5 cm scheme, removing the weak ones. Seedlings are planted in the holes so that the roots feel free at the bottom. If they are long, then they need to be pinched. If the seedlings are too elongated, then they need to be buried in the hole until the cotyledon leaves. After picking, the soil around each seedling is slightly compacted and watered.
With further watering, the soil may sink, add the missing one without affecting the cotyledon leaves. Seedlings of pansies are grown in a bright place at a temperature of 15-17 ° C. 2 weeks before transplanting seedlings to permanent place in open ground, start hardening.
Pansy seedlings are transplanted at the end of May-June according to the scheme 15x15 cm or 20x20 cm. Please note that during transplantation, the root collar of flowers should be slightly deepened (by 1 cm). Then pour and mulch with a layer of peat (up to 5 cm).
The seedling method of growing pansies is good because the percentage of flower loss is less than planting in open ground.
Pansy Care
For abundant and long-term flowering, one condition is required - regular watering. Flowers cannot stand drought.
Top dressing is applied every 10 days, starting from the 10th day after planting. Fertilizers "Kemira" or nitrophoska are used, alternating with a solution of bird droppings or mullein. Fresh manure must not be used!
The faded pansies are cut off, leaving shoots up to 5 cm long above the ground, so that in 2-3 weeks new shoots will form, and the next wave of flowering begins.
Pansies give self-seeding, therefore, if the set seed pods are not removed in a timely manner, they can crack, crumble and even shoot when they dry, finding themselves in an unexpected and possibly unnecessary place.
For the winter, pansies must be covered with mulch. It protects the roots from temperature variability in early spring. The layer of mulch should not completely cover the flowers, so that they do not "suffocate" in the spring. For frost protection, make snow retention.
Collect the seeds of the pansies when the seed pods turn pale. Seed germination lasts 3 years.
How to breed pansies
Propagated by seed (self-sowing or organized, collecting seeds) or cuttings. For the second method of reproduction, the tops of green cuttings are taken, they are cut off by 2-3 nodes. They are planted immediately in open ground in June to a depth of 0.5 cm in a shaded place (under the trees) very tightly to each other, they should touch. Then compact the soil a little, water and spray on top. Rooting occurs after about a month. Up to 10 green cuttings can be obtained from one bush. In the early days, it is necessary to regularly water and spray with water so that they do not wilt. The flowering of young plants will begin at this year... Later cuttings will allow flowering only in the spring of next year. It is better to replant the cuttings to a permanent place in the spring.
Scientifically, this plant is divided into two types: Viola Vitrokka and Violet tricolor. Last view has small flowers and reproduces well by self-seeding: give them free rein - they will disperse throughout the site. But Viola Vitrokka is best grown from seeds to maintain decorative look, bright colors and good flowering... It is she who today flaunts in modern front gardens, pots and boxes on the balconies. Sprawling bushes grow in height no more than 25-30 cm.
Viola flowers have large, corrugated or smooth petals along the edges, which are distinguished by a variety of juicy colors. In addition, flowers can be monochromatic, with original strokes and spots of all kinds of colors: white, red, yellow, dark purple, sky blue, burgundy, etc. The most impressive group of varieties Rococo, characterized by very strong flowering and corrugated petals with a border. No less delightful Swiss giants with a flower diameter of up to 10 cm.
We grow viola at home
For abundant flowering, place the viola on fertile, moist soils in sunny places. On poor soil in the shade, the shoots will stretch out and form small flowers that will quickly fade.
Raising these gentle creatures at home is not at all problematic: they have an agreeable and not capricious character. Usually seeds are used for propagation. To determine the time for planting, it is worth deciding on your desire to see the first flowers. Experts advise growing viola as an annual or biennial, because it is then that it has the most attractive appearance and is distinguished by the splendor of flowering.
If you want flowering in the same year - sow in the last days January or February for seedlings. Planting seeds in the ground in June will help to achieve early spring flowering in the second year. If sown earlier - in May, then the bushes can outgrow and bloom in autumn, which will have a bad effect on spring flowering. That is, in the first case, you will get an annual plant, and in the second, a biennial plant.
How to grow viola seedlings
Not everyone can and knows how to grow pansies at home, and therefore buy expensive seedlings in pots in the market or in stores. But why spend money if viola of any variety you like can be grown independently as an annual.
- Used containers for seedlings are thoroughly washed, remove plaque on the walls and scald with boiling water and soda;
- The land is preferable light, but fertile. It is best to purchase soil from a store and mix it with sand and garden soil (1: 1: 2). Be sure to spill it with a fungicide for disinfection;
- As soon as the earth dries up, we make grooves no more than a centimeter deep, and do not lay out the seeds thickly, sprinkle them;
- We cover the container with glass, you can put on a plastic bag or wrap it with cling film. We keep in a warm, dark place until shoots appear, ventilate regularly;
- When sprouts appear, for 5-7 days, we take them out into the light and slightly open them, giving access to fresh air;
- Every week we feed the seedlings with a weak solution of any flower fertilizer. We periodically water the dried earth, but remember that when waterlogged, the viola is prone to a black leg;
- We carry out a pick with two real leaves, moving the seedlings into individual cups;
- At the end of April, we harden the seedlings - "walk" on the street or balcony;
- After hardening, you can send seedlings to the flower bed at any time. The multicolored "eyes" perfectly tolerate the transplant even when they bloom. It can be planted in single bushes or at a distance of at least 30 cm from the bush.
Planting seeds in the ground
To achieve abundant and long flowering in the spring in the second year, you can sow seeds in the previous summer: the plant will have time to accumulate enough strength for this. By the way, quite often, violas are grown in both cases through seedlings, because then the risk that the seeds will dry out and not germinate is almost halved. However, if the soil in the flowerbed is loose, then you can sow without fear in June-July directly into the open ground:
- we make grooves of small depth (0.5 cm), spill and spread the seeds sparsely. We crush it on top with the earth, tamping it slightly with the palm of our hand. We maintain a distance of 10 cm between the grooves;
- it is better to shade the bed so that the soil does not dry out (you can build some kind of canopy or just stick branches with leaves next to it);
- after regrowth of a pair of real leaves, the seedlings dive, not forgetting to reduce central root by a third. Planting flowers in a permanent place is carried out according to the scheme 25 × 25 cm.
Remember that the plant should not bloom, so when buds appear, they need to be cut off.
Seedling care
We figured out how and when to plant pansies, and now a few words about leaving. Viola is quite unpretentious, but it will fully show its charm only under optimal conditions. For example, under the scorching sun, a bush can burn out, and in partial shade the flowers lose their brightness and become smaller. Before planting seedlings, it is advisable to fertilize the soil with compost, rotted manure at the rate of 5 kg per "square". Please note the flower cannot stand fresh manure.
In the future, pansies, the care of which also consists in loosening the soil and watering, can be periodically fed. For example, before budding, it is poured with water with nitroammophos dissolved in it (a tablespoon of fertilizer is taken into a bucket). Before flowering, art is added to the bucket in the same way. spoon of superphosphate and watered. We are not lazy to remove weeds so that they do not drown out the plantings.
Viola is prone to over-pollination, so unexpectedly for yourself, you can suddenly become the only owner of a specimen with an unusual pattern or color. In this case, you can collect the seeds and sow them in next year... You need to collect seeds when the box turns white or yellow. It is important not to miss the moment before it opens and the seeds do not wake up to the ground. The plant is quite winter-hardy, but it still hibernates better under a layer of spruce needles. You cannot cover the bushes with leaves or sawdust - with frequent thaws, they will simply get wet.
Pansies are one of the first flowers that appear in a country flower bed. Already in the spring, tender bright flowers delight the gardener's eye with a riotous variety of colors: from pure white to deep black with various shades of red, yellow and blue. In the center of pansies there is always an unusual spot with a unique shape and color.
Since ancient times, they have been associated with pansies various myths and legends. This flower is considered a symbol of love, fidelity and renewal of nature. However, gardeners love pansies not for beautiful stories, but for an unusual combination of colors and unpretentiousness. However, even such an undemanding flower has its own characteristics and secrets of cultivation.
First, let's figure out what we are going to grow: garden pansies, Wittrock's viola or garden violet?
Choosing between Viola and Violet to suit your needs
The affectionate name for pansies belongs to the flower viola, or, as it is also called, the tricolor violet, herbaceous perennial plant from the violet family. There are 300 different varieties of garden violets, which are combined into 15 groups.
Groups differ in color and flower size, flowering time, bush height and other characteristics. Such a variety of varieties will allow you to choose suitable view for planting even the most demanding and sophisticated gardeners!
The choice of a variety depends not only on your color preferences but also from the region in which you plan to grow and care for the viola. In areas with a warm climate, violets can begin to bloom as early as early April, for cold regions this period is shifted to early summer.
Most pansies are heat-loving plants that like scattered sunny color therefore, if you live in cooler regions, be careful when choosing a variety.
There are two of the most famous varieties of Viola:
- - annual or biennial plant with small flowers. The tricolor violet reaches a height of 30 - 45 cm. This type of plant is excellently self-sowing. Thanks to its renowned proven medicinal properties so tricolor violet often finds its application in traditional medicine.
- Violet Wittrock Is a long-term herbaceous plant... It is this variety that can often be found not only in garden beds, but also on summer balconies in flower pots and pots. The flowers of the Vittrok violet can grow up to 10 cm, the height of this plant is 40 cm.
Flowers can be smooth or corrugated at the edges, monochromatic or mix the most different colors... The Wittrock violet has many varieties, among the most popular are the Alpensee with large flowers saturated purple, Bambini with small yellow flowers separated at the spot by dark stripes similar to cilia, pure white pure white, orange SkylineOrange and many others.
Preparing seeds for planting
After you have chosen the variety that suits you, you need to think about planting. Pansies are planted on a flower bed with seeds or seedlings. If you want to see early bright flowers in the flowerbed in the first year of planting, then grow viola using seedlings. In the second year, planting seeds in the ground in June of the previous year will help to achieve early flowering.
In the first year, viola is usually planted in early - mid-May. To do this, make small holes no deeper than 1 cm, at a distance of 5-7 cm, put 2-3 seeds in each. After that, lightly sprinkle the pansy seeds with earth, be sure to water, and mulch the surface on top to retain moisture.
You will see the first flowers 20 days after planting, that is, at the beginning of summer. If you choose to grow viola seedlings, you will be able to see the first flowers earlier.
Growing seedlings without mistakes
Novice gardeners are sometimes afraid to grow pansies on their own at home and buy ready-made seedlings in the store. You should not buy unknown expensive seedlings, when you can grow your own without any problems. It is worth doing this already at the beginning of February.
To do this, you need:
- Prepare seedling containers with a fertile, moist substrate, which should be half turf or leafy soil and half rotted compost.
- Before planting pansies, it is imperative to disinfect the ground, for example, using a fungicide.
- After the earth dries up, make shallow grooves in it, put seeds there and sprinkle with soil. Place the seedling containers in a dark but warm place.
- The first shoots can be seen in a couple of weeks. When they appear, you need to expose the pansies to the warm sun. In this place, the air temperature should not be colder than 10 degrees.
- When more than two leaves appear on the plant, you need to transplant the plants into separate containers. After that, you can briefly expose and temper the pansies on the balcony.
- Feed the plant with any flower fertilizer once a week, but choose one that is suitable for violets.
- In early May, seedlings can be planted in a flower bed.
When growing seedlings indoors, you need to pick the pansies twice. It is best to do this the first time when more than two leaves appear on the plant about 14 days after planting.
After that, it is better to place the viola on individual containers... The second time the seedlings dive in two weeks - 20 days according to the 6 by 6 cm scheme.
Planting and care in the ground in the country and at home
We described planting seeds of pansies in open ground above. Seedlings of pansies are planted on a flower bed at a distance of 20-30 cm. This distance is enough for the full growth and development of plants.
Violets grow well on soil, which consists of sod land, manure, peat and sand in a proportion where the sand will be half the size of the other components.
Pansies are very unpretentious plant, however, it requires care. It is necessary to systematically loosen the soil, remove wilted flowers, fertilize the plant mineral fertilizers and water often.
But first, it is important to choose the right place for the plant on the site. Viola can die under the bright scorching rays of the sun, but in the shade its flowers will be small and faded, so choose a place with diffused light.
Leaving the viola in the garden for the winter, do not forget to cover the plant with spruce branches, and in the spring, to avoid damping off, open it.
The same rules for caring for the plant will apply if you decide to grow viola on the balcony at home. If you have a southern balcony, then in order to avoid fading flowers in the bright sun, try to slightly shade the place where the container with pansies will be located.
Pansies, which are known under the elegant name viola or under the academic name - violet Vitrokka, will help to create a multi-colored velvet carpet in your corner of paradise. The traditional colors of this culture are purple and yellow. Over time, breeders have developed about 200 varieties with stunning shades. So garden violet has become a lush blooming and beautiful garden decoration.
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 rich that even in the photo the pansies look incomparable. You can see this beauty in early spring, when it gets warmer. Some varieties are pleasing to 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 variety 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 their country cottage area winter-hardy specimens. These varieties mainly include:
All winter-hardy varieties are characterized by a compact size of the shrub (flower diameter reaches 6 cm). Some varieties of this viola are thrown away abundant flowering... It is they who delight the owners with their charm for a long time.
Flower size and shape
They come in small caliber: 3-5 cm (Snow Maiden, blue boy and little red riding hood). The buds bloom from small bosoms. Pansy flowers are solitary, but together they make up a gorgeous 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 monochromatic, 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 a tricolor violet have both smooth edges and wavy (jagged) edges. 
The crimped petals of the Flamenco, Chalon Supreme and Rococo varieties have an exotic look, as well as an unusual variegated color (shaded color in the center). 
Color spectrum
The palette of Vitrokka violets is striking in its variety. On the flower bed, tricolor specimens look unusually in dark shades of blue, purple and red. 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, edging and incomparable eyes look in a special way near the house. Such colorful description pansies are endless, because it is difficult to see all 250 varieties at once.
Bush height
Low-growing crops 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 perfectly tolerates shaded areas, 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 the wilting flowers, preventing them from turning into seed bolls.
Flowering period
As already noted, pansies are able to delight with their stunning flowering in the season of the year that the owners want. So it can:
- March or April;
- summer months (withstand heat and drought);
- autumn period (snowfalls and a drop in temperature are calmly tolerated).
Therefore, the garden can be transplanted into pots ( plastic boxes) and decorate them with balconies, facades of houses, loggias, as well as windows. To do this, you need to periodically loosen the ground and water the plants.
It is important to ensure that the soil is not wet for a long time, because the roots can begin to rot.
Planting 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 the violas with small petals that are the most hardy. 
Such crops survive both 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 is true for giant varieties if they grow for a long time in hot and dry climates.
It is better to plant a crop on 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. Depending on the weather, you can do it twice.
Pick-up location
It is important to consider that pansies are perennials and annuals. This means that they are bred for both one year and two or three. The period of growth largely depends on the labor that the gardener is willing to invest in these garden exhibits, and processing technologies. It was noticed that if you feed the soil with fertilizers, at least once a week, the stem grows faster, and the inflorescences become more luxuriant. 
The following parameters will be favorable conditions for planting and caring for pansies:
- Soil type. Dry soil mixed with sand or stones is not suitable for viola. The soil must be fertilized in order to saturate the young roots with nutrients. It must contain enough moisture.
- Shading degree... It is important to find a middle ground here. A thick shadow will lead to the degeneration of the plant, and the scorching sun will destroy it.
- Good care. Takes care of the regular watering of the sprouts. Around the rhizome (at a distance of 2-3 cm) should be made from leaves or dried grass. From time to time you need to pluck spoiled stems or petals.
When an amateur gardener decided on a place and chose suitable grade, then you can start the sowing process. There are several ways to do this.
Boarding time
The first option is self-cultivation pansies from seeds. When to plant depends on the period in which the grower wants to get a thriving crop. These varieties germinate well at a temperature of 16-18 ° C. So, if you sow seeds in a container in winter (at the end of January), then after 2-3 months the seedlings can be transplanted into the soil. At the same time, 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 the dive into the open ground, 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 to be transplanted into the ground.
Perennial crops can be sown directly outdoors in mid-summer. However, the sun can scorch tender sprouts, so they should be covered with greenery, but so that there is no greenhouse. By the end of August, the seedlings should get stronger in order to successfully survive the winter. To do this, they need to be watered every 7 days and fertilized by alternating mineral and organic fertilizing. 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 pansy flowers and enjoy their delicate fragrance.
Landing nuances
Garden viols, although not very picky flowers, still require special treatment. When sowing seeds, you must follow a number of simple rules:
- loosen and slightly moisten the soil;
- mix seeds with sand so as not to sow too thick;
- it is not recommended to bury the seeds deeply in the ground;
- they need to be watered with a watering can with a fine strainer so as not to wash off 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 illuminated room;
- periodically a box with seedlings, which are already 25 days old, are 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. It is advisable to transplant tubers 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 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 the flower bed with viola.
Care and protection against pests
Pansies will bloom violently when proper care and favorable conditions... A winter without snow is a destructive factor for plants. Therefore, it is advisable to cover the beds with mulch and a special tarpaulin. Among other things, it is important to keep an eye on 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 should be well ventilated.
- Make a box hut to protect from direct rays.
- Defective shoots should be pinched off immediately.
- Remove dried leaves.
These simple rules contribute to lush bloom viola. Yet pests are a danger to her. These can be such manifestations:
This plant is actually not whimsical. Therefore, pests and diseases almost in rare cases interfere with the growing season, 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