We sow viola seedlings - one, two and done, the main thing is to stick to the deadlines

Lunar sowing calendar for gardeners and vegetable growers for 2025

Flowers are the love of every gardener, whether male or female. To achieve a beautiful, blooming flowerbed in the spring, you'll have to start preparing almost from winter onward. Today, we'll discuss viola, specifically when and how to sow seeds to produce seedlings and transplant them into the ground. It's important to consider several factors—the lunar calendar, the region, and the variety—and to do everything correctly to ensure the plants grow strong and as decorative as possible.

When

Gardeners recommend starting sowing in late February or early March. At this time, natural light is sufficient for plants to thrive.

Please note!

You can plant the crop in several stages. Even sowing in May won't hurt. As a result, the flowers will delight you until the end of summer, decorating your flowerbed with vibrant colors.

Across the Moon and regions

It's simple. In the case of viola, what's important is what's outside, not in the ground, so the waxing moon is favorable. The most unfavorable dates, however, are the New Moon, the Full Moon, and the days before and after them. The rest of the time is relatively neutral, so working with seeds isn't strictly prohibited, but it's also not strongly recommended.

Month	Favorable days	Unfavorable days
January	13-23	10-12, 24-26
February	12-22	9-11, 23-25
March	12-23	9-11, 24-26
April	10-22	7-9, 23-25
May	10-21	7-9, 22-24

To get flowering bushes in May, you need to start work in March. This is the average time for most regions of Russia, including the Moscow region. In the northwest, the timing shifts slightly, from mid-March to early April. In the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East, it shifts even further, from late March to mid-April. In the south, conversely, work can begin as early as mid-February.

It is important to understand that flowering will also shift proportionally to the original timing.

Seed preparation

First, soak them in warm water. Then treat them with growth stimulants. Products such as Epin and Zircon have proven effective. These treatments will increase the seedlings' resilience to adverse weather conditions.

Preparing containers

You can use any container: boxes, cups, cassettes, cut-off bottles. The best option is peat pellets.

Soil

Viola prefers fertile, permeable soil. Therefore, it's essential to prepare the soil in advance. It can be purchased at a specialty store, but experienced gardeners prepare their own. To do this, they mix fertile soil, peat moss, and humus.

Advice!

You can also use pure peat. This will also help you get strong seedlings.

Before planting, disinfect the soil and treat it with Fundazol. Immediately before sowing, water the soil with a potassium permanganate solution.

Sowing

Once all preparatory activities are completed, planting work can begin.

There are three ways to sow:

Complete immersion. Make furrows approximately 5 mm deep in the soil containers, place the seeds in the holes, and cover with soil. Next, place the seeds in a warm place until germination occurs.
Partial immersion. Firm the soil firmly in the containers, sprinkle the seeds on top, and spray them with Epin. Then cover them with calcined sand, put the lid on, and store the containers in a warm place.
Surface method. Spread the seeds on the surface and water them. Cover the boxes with plastic and store them in a dark place.

Important!

Before planting, it's important to read the information on the seed packaging. Manufacturers specify the appropriate sowing method for each plant species.

Care

If all the steps were taken correctly, the first shoots will appear within 5-10 days. However, some plants may germinate slowly.

Most often this happens for the following reasons:

old seeds were used;
They were covered with a thick layer of earth.

Further care of seedlings:

Light modeAs soon as the first shoots appear, the containers should be moved to a well-lit area. They don't tolerate direct sunlight, so they can even be placed on a south-facing window.
VentilationThe plants are quite robust, but the covering must be removed gradually. The soil should be aerated twice a day, for 10-15 minutes each time. Increase the duration of the procedure daily, and after a week, the film can be removed.
WateringIt's important to water the seedlings regularly. Don't allow the top layer of soil to dry out. However, don't overwater the viola, as this will cause its root system to rot.
PickingAfter two true leaves appear, transplanting is necessary. First, prepare individual containers and soil. Since the seedlings are tall, transplanting them requires care. It's best to plant the plants in pots up to the cotyledons. This will enhance the decorative appearance of the flowers and promote strong roots. Transplanting will accelerate growth. In just 20 days, they will be ready for planting in a flowerbed.
PinchingAfter two pairs of true leaves appear, pinch the plants. This will improve tillering.

Viola does not require special care, but all procedures must be carried out on time and efficiently.

Transfer to a flower garden

Transplanting seedlings into the flowerbed is permitted once warm weather sets in and the threat of frost has passed. Calendar-wise, this typically occurs in May or June.

The bed should be dug over and holes made. Plants should be spaced 15 cm apart. Next, water, plant, and firm the soil.