Pansies make a colorful planting in autumn and spring. Here you can find out what to consider when growing pansies.
From the wild pansy (Viola tricolor), after years of breeding, the cultivated forms known to us, the garden pansy (Viola × wittrockiana ). These cultivars impress with large flowers that not only shine in typical colors such as yellow, blue-violet or white, but also in orange and red. New varieties also show spotted, flamed and striped flowers. So-called miniature pansies were created from crossings with horned violets. They have smaller flowers that can even be double.
Pansy flowering period: autumn and spring bloomers
As the heralds of the new gardening season, you can watch the first pansies bloom as early as March. But for friends of the robust long-flowering plants with the catchy name, spring doesn't have to end there. Depending on when you plant young plants or sow seeds, you can also enjoy the colorful flowers of pansies in autumn.
where:
- Spring flowering (March - July): Plant out in spring (until March); Sowing in February
- Autumn flowering (October/November): transplant in late summer/autumn; Sow early summer (until July)
Pansies planted in early summer can flower all winter long in mild weather or on the windowsill.
Planting pansies: in pots and beds
Pansies feel at home in Europe and the temperate zones of Asia. Native to our climate zone, the pansy is very well accustomed to our weather. This is why pansies can be planted out very early in the year. Because even night frost doesn't bother them. Pansies aren't picky about soil and location either.
- Soil: permeable to water, rich in nutrients, humic, low in lime Soil pH: 6.5 - 8
- Location: sun to partial shade
The colorful garden dwellers are not only suitable for planting out in beds, but also as underplanting for deciduous hedges and perennials or in pots as a touch of color for the house and balcony. As a symbol of remembrance and remembrance, pansies are often found planted on graves.
Planting time for pansies
Forced plants are quite insensitive to cold. Depending on the availability of time and motivation, the plants can therefore be planted out from March to October. You should always keep in mind that the planting time affects the flowering time of your pansies. When planted in autumn, the flowers are presented with a short winter break until late spring. Pansies planted in spring flower from March into summer. Planting in spring offers the advantage of a particularly large supply of young plants in garden centers or specialist shops. If you plant your pansies in summer, you should choose a partially shaded location. Otherwise, the plants that are not yet rooted in the ground could have problems in the midday sun.
Procedure for planting pansies
There is not much to consider when planting pansies. In the right location with the right soil, the early bloomers are extremely robust and thrive without much effort. Therefore, they are also wonderfully suitable for garden novices. After buying the plants, all you have to do is grab your garden tools and get in the bed.
- Rake the soil thoroughly and remove weeds and stones
- Planting hole: twice as big as the root ball
- Planting distance: 20 cm
- Lightly loosen the root balls with your hands
- Planting pansies; Tamp the ground
- Water well; Irrigation water with liquid fertilizer
In the pot, pansies are well cared for with pre-fertilized organic soil such as our Plantura organic potting soil. It is best to protect the planted pot from rain so that the substrate does not get too wet and the flowers do not stick together. Good water drainage and a drainage layer made of potsherds, perlite or gravel are a must for the plants, as they are very sensitive to waterlogging.
Socializing: good neighbors for pansies
Due to the long flowering period alone, pansies can be combined in an incredible number of ways. Just make sure that the small plants are not overgrown by their green neighbors. During the spring bloom it can be combined with other early bloomers such as horned violets, daffodils, snowdrops and primroses. Autumn blooming perennials such as cranesbill (Geranium), spurge (Euphorbia) or hosta (Hosta) provide a floral accompaniment during the autumn bloom.
Sow your own pansy seeds
More and more people are tending to meet some of their vegetable needs by growing their own plants from seed. However, there is no need to draw a line when it comes to supplying vegetables. Why not treat your eyes to pansies grown from seeds instead of your stomach? To do this, simply proceed as follows:
- Fill the seed tray with potting soil
- Sow seeds on the ground; press lightly (light germinates!)
- Germination temperature: 15 - 18°C
- Location: light
- Germination time: about 10 days
The sowing time has a decisive influence on the later flowering time of the plants. If the flowering period is in the spring, the seeds are sown in February and raised indoors. If you sow seeds in July, you can already enjoy the colorful flowers in the following autumn. The seeds can also be sown directly into the bed. When sowing directly into the bed, a distance of 20 cm is maintained between the seeds. Make sure that the bed is not in the midday sun. Otherwise the seedlings will most likely dry up. In addition, mixing humus into the garden soil ensures a good start.
Note: The seeds can also be harvested from your own plants. Simply refrain from cleaning out the withered inflorescences in late summer. After a bit of waiting, three-lobed capsule fruits form. Simply harvest the still light brown capsules, dry them until they are ripe and then simply collect the seeds.
Buying pansies: what to look out for
In the spring, the range of colorful flowering plants for your home garden is almost endless. Pansies are also part of the regular range of supermarkets and hardware stores and can also be found in abundance in specialist shops. With their large, overlapping petals, the robust plants have crept into the hearts of so many hobby botanists that they are among the best-selling ornamental plants in Germany. ButBefore you decide on one of these heartbreakers, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the plant look he althy and is it a stocky habit?
- Is the root ball well developed?
- How hardy is the variety?
- Is the plant coming out of the greenhouse?
Plants grown in frost free greenhouses are not hardy. Therefore, these pansies should not be planted in pots or in the flower bed until mid-March.
Note: Even if your purchased young plants are brimming with vitality, they are rarely as hardy as plants that you have lovingly raised yourself.
Successfully wintering pansies
The garden pansy has its roots in Central European meadows and paths. The one- to two-year-old pansy owes its winter hardiness to this origin. In the bed, the plants not only withstand a good load of snow, but even enjoy the cool white. The layer of snow has an insulating effect and protects plants from frost. Since a white winter wonderland has become rather rare in the cold season, it is your responsibility to ensure that your plants get through the winter unscathed. Everything about wintering in brief:
- October: Cut back to just above ground
- Cover plants with conifer branches, fleece, brushwood, leaves, moss or bark mulch
- Water lightly only on frost-free days
- Do not fertilize
- End of February/beginning of March: Removal of winter protection
Potted pansies are more sensitive because the soil can freeze much faster there. They are also cut back and covered. Fleece is best suited for this. In addition, the entire pot is wrapped with fleece or newspaper. The carefully wrapped plant spends the winter in a sheltered, cool spot and only needs light watering. It doesn't need fertilizer. In March it's time to get some fresh air again.
Note: Leaves that curl up in severe frost will flatten out in milder weather.
Pansies and Horned Violets: Differences and Similarities
Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana) as well as horned violets (Viola cornuta) belong to the genus of violets (Viola ). The two species can even be crossed with each other. ButEven if the many similarities cannot be dismissed out of hand, there are enormous differences. Pansies have a higher demand on the nutrient supply, as well as larger flowers. Horned violets are smaller and more delicate than pansies, but have a longer flowering period and are more persistent and hardy. You can find out more about the comparison between pansies and horned violets here.
Although pansies are quite frugal, they do appreciate a little care. In our special article you will learn how to properly care for pansies so that you can enjoy the beautiful, colorful flowers.