Growing violas (pansies) from seedlings is an ideal method for creating spectacular flowerbeds with early, lush blooms. To ensure flowers appear in May, carefully time the sowing and create favorable conditions for the plant. For the fastest growth, experts recommend following the lunar calendar, which can help you determine: When to plant viola for seedlings in 2021.
Growing conditions
To ensure that the flower crop begins blooming at the right time, the timing is carefully chosen. These plants are cultivated using two methods: from seeds and from seedlings. The first method is quite suitable for the south, but in the north, spring blooms are best achieved by planting. viola seedlings at home.
Recommendations:
- To ensure your violets bloom in their first year, it's best to plant new violets in late February to early March.
- To ensure flowering throughout the season, seeds are sown in stages.
- In order for the viola tricolor to bloom in April, very early sowing is required, even in January.
Pansies can be grown as a perennial plant, but the flower will quickly lose its decorative qualities.
Varieties for seedling cultivation
There are several varieties available for seedling cultivation. Each has its own distinctive characteristics. To choose a specific variety, study the characteristics of each. They differ in appearance and require different growing approaches. The planting time for viola depends largely on the variety and flowering time.
Popular varieties:
- Viola wittrockiana is the most common species of pansy flower. It is cultivated as a biennial. It has many cultivars, varying in flower color and size. The flower buds can be a single color, two-toned, or spotted.
- Of the single-color varieties, the most popular are the Red Pansies. This flower grows up to 200 mm tall and produces scarlet flowers with a dark eye. The buds are approximately 70 mm in size.
- Rua de Negri is a single-flowered cultivar. It is distinguished by glaucous leaves, grows up to 230 mm tall, and blooms from April until late autumn. A single plant produces up to 15 buds with double black flowers and a yellow eye.
- The bicolor cultivar Saint Knud is a neat bush up to 200 mm tall, blooming profusely, with green foliage. The buds can be orange with a red base underneath, while the top buds are bright yellow.
- Lord Beaconsfield is a cultivar of two-colored viola, with 55 mm flowers and glaucous leaves, growing to 250 mm tall. Up to 30 buds can bloom at a time, with petals that are violet with a lilac edge at the bottom and whitish-blue at the top. The petals appear to have blue brushstrokes on the top.
- The spotted Cassis variety blooms profusely. This hybrid produces buds with purple flowers edged with whitish flowers.
- Another spotted hybrid variety is Tiger's Eyes. It has miniature flowers up to 30 mm in size. Their yellow petals are streaked with chocolate.
- Pansy (Viola odorata) is a perennial plant distinguished by its rounded leaves, up to 80 mm wide, and voluminous, fragrant purple flowers. Flowering begins in May and lasts for approximately 21 days.
The selection is vast, and each variety is sure to enhance your garden.
Favorable days
The phases of the moon influence planting times. When the moon is waxing, you can transplant crops, but monitor the process, cultivate and loosen the soil, and apply mineral fertilizers, as flowers require regular nourishment.
The waxing moon requires a lot of water. This is the ideal time to remove side shoots, which slow down the violet's full development. The next phase is the waning moon. During this time, the plant's activity and moisture are directed from the periphery to the center, from the green mass to the rhizome. Root pressure increases. During this period, foliage development slows, while roots, on the contrary, actively grow.
Favorable days for planting viola according to the lunar calendar:
| Month | Favorable days to sow seeds |
| January | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 26, 27, 30, 31 |
| February | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24, 28 |
| March | 3, 4, 17, 18, 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31 |
| April | 8, 9, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 |
| May | 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 |
| June | 2, 3, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 29, 30 |
The planting time is influenced by the climate in a particular region of the country. Depending on the region, violet planting times are as follows:
- Ural, Siberia - from March 25.
- Regions of the Central Belt and Moscow Region – March 20–25.
- South of Russia - from February 20 to March 15.
| Month | Unfavorable days |
| January | 12, 13, 14, 28 |
| February | 10, 11, 12, 27 |
| March | 12, 13, 14, 28 |
| April | 11, 12, 13, 27 |
| May | 10, 11, 12, 26 |
| June | 9, 10, 11, 24 |
The lunar planting calendar for 2020 can also be used to determine favorable and unfavorable dates.
Features of cultivation
https://youtu.be/PweElrM9B_E
If you understand the subtleties of cultivating and planting violas, the final result will not disappoint. It's important to choose not only the sowing time but also create comfortable conditions, prepare the substrate, and provide high-quality care. For seedlings, prepare loose, water-permeable soil. You can purchase violet soil or make your own at home. To make a suitable soil mixture, combine:
- Turf – 2 parts.
- Peat – 2 parts.
- Humus – 2 parts.
- Sand – 1 part.
Before sowing, the soil must be disinfected (by heating it over steam or baking it in the oven). Then, water the soil with phytosporin. You can sow. There are no special rules for choosing a container. A shallow container works well. You can plant in individual pots (cups, tablets, and peat cups).
Seed preparation and sowing
It's best to buy seeds from flower shops that sell high-quality products with guarantees. The seed packet should include information about the sowing date, varietal differences, and expiration date. To increase germination rates, treat the seeds with growth-promoting agents:
- Baikal-Em1.
- Epin.
- Heteroauxin.
- Zircon.
Place the seeds in a gauze pad and dip them into the solution prepared according to the instructions. Once the seeds are prepared and the optimal planting day is chosen, they can be sown. The process is step-by-step:
- A 10 mm drainage layer, for example made of pieces of charcoal, is placed at the bottom of the container.
- Fill the container with substrate.
- Before sowing, water the soil with a spray bottle.
In the first case, rows are made with a stick to a depth of 3-4 mm. Leave 20-30 mm between furrows. Seeds are planted at intervals of 10-20 mm and covered with a thin layer of soil. For surface sowing, the seeds are distributed over the surface at a distance of 10-20 mm. Water the surface again with a sprayer. Cover the seedlings with plastic wrap. When planting in individual pots, place 2-3 seeds in each cup. No need to cover with soil.
Caring for seedlings
If all planting procedures are followed correctly, the first sprouts will emerge within 5-10 days. If old seeds were used or a thick layer of soil was placed on top of them, the time may be longer. Sometimes, sprouts may appear even after 20-30 days. Once sprouted, care for them as follows:
- Organize a full day of light. Place the seedling containers in a well-lit area. Pansies are not afraid of direct sunlight, and the containers can be placed on a south-facing side without any problem.
- Growing conditions. After removing the plastic from the containers, the flowers are placed in a room where a constant temperature of 12-18°C is maintained. OWITH.
- Ventilation. The film is removed from the containers gradually. Initially, they are opened to air them twice a day for 10 minutes. Gradually increase the time.
- Water as needed. Do not allow the topsoil to dry out. To prevent rhizome rot, avoid stagnant water and overwatering. Water carefully, avoiding water from coming into contact with the leaves and stems of the viola.
- Pricking out. Do this after two true leaves have grown. Since pansy seedlings are tall and fragile, prune them carefully. Root the seedlings in the soil up to the cotyledons. This will strengthen the rhizome and encourage more abundant blooms.
- Pinching. This is necessary to encourage tillering. Pinch when the plant has 4-6 leaves.
- Fertilizing. The first time, apply liquid fertilizers for flower crops (Nitroammophoska, Kemira) two weeks after transplanting. Fertilize every 14 days.
If the seedlings were grown with several seeds in separate pots, after two pairs of true leaves appear, I remove the sickly, weakened ones. Only one, healthier one, is left.
Read also
Flowering crops are planted after the weather has become consistently warm and sunny. By this time, the risk of night frosts returning is minimal. According to the 2021 lunar calendar, favorable dates for transplanting are:
| Month | Favorable days for transplantation |
| April | 8, 9, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 |
| May | 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 |
| June | 2, 3, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 29, 30 |
| July | 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 26, 27, 28 |
| August | 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24 |
It's important to choose the right location in the garden. Avoid planting flowers in full sun, as the foliage will fade and the flowers will become small. For wild pansies, choose a spot with a few hours of sun and mostly partial shade. It can be planted in permanent partial shade, for example, under bushes or trees. If planted in the dark, the flowers will lose their vibrancy.
Helpful tips
https://youtu.be/Z4Dr8_glnKQ
According to the rules, prepared viola seedlings take root more quickly in a new location. The preparatory stage necessarily includes fertilizing and hardening off. Fertilize again 14 days before planting. Apply liquid biological humus before transplanting. Harden off the plants one and a half to two weeks before the expected transplant date:
- For the first two days, you can simply open the window where the boxes with seedlings are located.
- Then the plants are taken to a glazed loggia for 3-4 days.
- During the first few days, keep plants on the balcony for no more than 2 hours. Gradually increase this to 5-6 hours.
- The second week is spent hardening off the plants in the garden. On the first day, the containers can be kept outside for 60 minutes. This time is gradually increased. The day before transplanting, the seedlings are left outside for 24 hours.
If the soil is heavy, mostly clay, then add the following when digging:
- Sand.
- Peat composition.
- Complex minerals.
In a properly prepared area, dig holes slightly larger than the root ball containing the pansy seedling. Leave 200-250 mm between the holes. Add organic humus to each hole. Mix it with the soil in the hole. The flower seedlings are transplanted using the transshipment method. Cover with soil, level, compact, and work carefully. Water and mulch are essential. When choosing a day to transplant pansy seedlings, consider the recommendations of astrologists and the 2021 lunar calendar.
Viola is a striking, low-maintenance plant that is widely used in garden landscaping and landscape design. This flower crop helps create unusual, lush arrangements in flower beds at your summer cottage. Growing these delicate flowers doesn't require much effort; just a little attention and care, following the Lunar Calendar and care guidelines, and your flowerbeds will be covered in a colorful "living" carpet.

