Beautiful garden flower Viola or pansy belongs to the violet family. Despite the fact that the tropical part of Africa and Australia is considered the birthplace of this crop, this plant also feels good in our country.
On this moment There are 400 varieties of garden violets known, but only a few of them have gained popularity among gardeners.
Viola wittrockiana
Vittorka is especially popular among domestic flower growers. This plant is considered a hybrid; it was obtained as a result of interspecific crossing of tricolor, horned, yellow and horned violets.
The culture in question differs from the rest in its branching low bush up to 30 centimeters in height. The leaves are round-oval in shape with serrated edges. The inflorescences are irregular up to 11 centimeters in diameter. The petals are often riddled with veins, and sometimes they may have spots or streaks.
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, gardeners were able to grow ampelous Vittorka with elongated vines up to 40 centimeters in length. The stems are dotted with many flowers up to 5 centimeters in diameter. Ampelous crops are grown mainly in hanging baskets or plastic pots. One such ground cover plant capable of intercepting a garden plot of about 60 centimeters in diameter.
Vittorka is a biennial plant, but if sown early, it can form inflorescences in the same year. If planted in autumn, it blooms in the second year.
Swiss giants
These are quite large plants with huge pansies flowers. Their diameter can reach up to 8 centimeters. The coloring of this variety is multi-colored and bright.
Rocco
It differs from its relatives in its unique corrugated petals; the diameter of the inflorescence is about 6 centimeters. Flower petals often have dark spots or streaks.
Vittorka Bambini
Another variety of violet, Vittorka Bambini, is capable of producing many flowers during the growing season. Inflorescences of the most varied colors: beige, purple and even blue. The diameter of an individual flower is up to 6 centimeters.
Majestic Jans
The Majestic Janse hybrid has gained popularity among gardeners due to its large flowers; their diameter can reach up to 9 centimeters. In the central part of such a plant there is usually dark spot, similar to a bow.
Horned viola (viola cornuta), or ampelous viola
This perennial crop does not lose its decorative effect, but its winter hardiness will depend on the variety used. Most plants overwinter without problems, but hybrids may die with prolonged exposure negative temperatures. The inflorescences of the horned viola are relatively small, their diameter does not exceed 5 centimeters. The petals are blue, violet or lilac in color; there is a yellow eye in the center of the flower.
Rich color scheme have horned viola hybrids. Flowers can be red, orange, yellow and even white.
The species in question can be used as an indoor crop or a plant for open ground. Pansies can often decorate flower beds or borders. When growing this flower, you need to take into account that it can cross-pollinate with its relatives and produce numerous hybrids that do not retain the qualities of the original plant.
Arkwright Ruby
Large-flowered variety differs from the rest in the bright red color of the petals, the central part of the inflorescence is standard yellow color. The spots on the petals add special beauty to this garden violet.
Belmond Blue
Viola with climbing bushes, has beautiful blue flowers. The crop in question can be grown in hanging baskets or containers on a balcony or loggia.
Purple duet
It is distinguished by the special structure of its inflorescences. Two of its petals are burgundy in color, located in the upper part, the other three are dark pink.
Hansa
A variety with low climbing bushes has small blue inflorescences with purple tint.
Horned viola is characterized by a long flowering period, inflorescences form from mid-spring until the first serious frost. Such plants are propagated by seeds, division of an adult bush or cuttings. It is better to grow this variety from seedlings.
Viola odorata
Fragrant violet differs from other varieties in its rich, pleasant aroma, so raw materials taken from this culture are used to make cosmetics and perfumes. The fragrant viola bush is small, up to 15 centimeters in height. The leaves of the plant are round with characteristic jagged edges. The inflorescences are small, up to 2 centimeters in diameter, located on thin and long stems.
This type of pansy blooms in spring or late summer. The petals of the inflorescences can be purple, red, pink, and in wild relatives - white, blue, violet. For its wonderful aroma and high decorative qualities, fragrant violets are grown in flower beds, alpine roller coaster, near borders, as well as in hanging baskets on balconies.
Caesar
The low variety has small, beautiful purple inflorescences. Produces an intense pleasant aroma.
Rosina
The Rosina variety has pink petals. There is a dark pink spot inside the inflorescence.
Red Charm
The Red Charm variety of fragrant viola delights gardeners with large red flowers.
La France
La France has simple flowers, small purple inflorescences.
Viola moth or capillary
The moth violet grows up to 22 centimeters in height. The plant has single large inflorescences with speckled petals. Cowl viola is considered a swamp crop; it has a fairly developed root that is not afraid of a humid environment.
The most popular varieties of cap viola are:
Freckles
The easy-to-care variety Freckles blooms in spring and has large white inflorescences. The petals of this crop are covered with numerous purple specks.
Royal Robe
It is considered a compact flower and has a pleasant scent. The color of the inflorescences of this crop can change from violet-blue to purple. The petals have black or yellow thin strokes.
Red Giant
The variety has large red inflorescences with a purple tint. The culture is characterized by a long flowering period. Its inflorescences are held by thin and long stems.
Ruba
The hooded viola of the Ruba variety differs from the others in the red-ruby color of its petals. The height of this plant does not exceed 15 centimeters.
Growing viola from seeds
In practice, two methods are used to grow violets from seeds: sowing the seeds directly into open ground or pre-growing seedlings. The latter method is considered more effective, because using it you can get flowering plants this year.
When to plant viola seedlings
To obtain quality planting material sowing of seedlings should be carried out from the last ten days of February or in March. It is not advisable to carry out such activities after mid-spring, because seeds are sown in open ground in the last ten days of April or early May.
Sowing viola for seedlings
Pre-prepared and calibrated grains can be sown in any container, for example, plastic cups, cassettes, cuts plastic bottles or food packaging. To prepare the nutrient mixture, components such as garden soil, humus and peat are used. All components are taken in equal proportions and mixed thoroughly.
When using the traditional sowing method, shallow furrows are made in the nutrient substrate using a pencil, approximately 3-5 millimeters, the distance between rows is about 1 centimeter. Next, the grains are placed in the depressions made every 2 centimeters and sprinkled with soil. Now you need to water the crops with water and cover the container with a transparent film. After this, the containers are installed in warm room with a temperature range of 20 - 25 degrees.
To prevent the appearance of mold in the soil, plantings must be ventilated at least twice a day.
Seedling care
The first sprouts of pansies usually appear 7-10 days after sowing. A later period of seed hatching occurs in the following cases:
- use of old planting material;
- in case of filling seeds with a thick layer of soil;
- when using a nutrient substrate of incorrect composition, for example, clay soil.
After germination, the plants should be placed on a well-lit windowsill. IN spring period pansies are not afraid of direct rays of the sun, so containers with seedlings can be placed even in the southern part of the apartment. After germination, the violet has fairly strong stems, but this does not mean that you need to immediately remove the film from the container. In the first days, the plants are ventilated at intervals of 2 times a day for 20-30 minutes. In the future, the duration of ventilation is increased, but the shelter is removed only after a week.
Garden violet has certain indicators of frost resistance. Its seedlings can withstand temperatures down to -10 degrees, and this applies to young shoots. In the presence of stable warm weather, strengthened seedlings must be taken out to the balcony or open air.
Viola needs good watering, but the soil must be moistened as the top layer dries out. For such events, it is worth using rain or melt water. It is advisable to leave ordinary tap liquid for 2-3 days. Plants are afraid of waterlogging, because a high concentration of water in the soil can cause rotting of the flower roots.
Viola pick
It is necessary to transplant young plants into new containers when the first two true leaves form. Pansies are not afraid of transplantation; they take root in the new nutrient substrate even with minor damage to the root system, which sometimes happens when the plant is removed from the container. Such violas are slightly slower in development, but this does not affect the overall performance.
If there is insufficient lighting or cramped space on the windowsill, violet seedlings may stretch out. To get quality healthy flower When planted in a new container, such crops are buried down to the cotyledons, which makes it possible to obtain additional roots on the underground part of the stem.
Young violas develop quickly after picking; within a month they are ready to be transplanted to permanent place into open ground.
Pinching
An event such as pinching the stem allows you to achieve better tillering of the crop. Similar events are held after the appearance of 5-6 true leaves.
When to plant viola seedlings
Planting garden violets in a permanent place depends on the climatic characteristics of a particular region. Similar actions should be carried out upon the onset of stable warm weather in the last ten days of April or early May. To plant a flower, select an area well lit by the sun.
After digging the soil, crushed charcoal of medium fraction 200 grams and the same amount of humus are added to each planting hole. Viola develops well in soils consisting of peat, humus and turf soil in equal proportions with the addition of half of the sand.
How to plant viola seedlings
During transplantation to a permanent place, prepared seedlings are placed on the site every 15-20 centimeters. The crops are buried in pre-dug holes and covered with soil. Next, compact the soil around the bushes and water the plants with warm water. When growing garden violets, it is necessary to divide the bushes in the plantings every three years. If such events are not carried out, the crop will grow rapidly, and its flowers will become small and lose their decorative value. To quickly propagate a flower, the cutting method is used.
Viola: growing from seeds in open ground
Not every gardener will want to grow pansy seedlings, as this is quite a troublesome task. In this regard, many gardeners sow seeds directly into the ground. Such operations should be carried out at the end of May or at the beginning of June. In this case, the violet will begin to bloom at the end of summer or in September. To get the crop to bloom next year, in early spring, sowing seeds must be done in August.
Flower seeds are sown in a pre-prepared area in shallow furrows, several at a time. The distance between the nests should correspond to the arrangement of plants in the flowerbed, this is 15-20 centimeters. When using old or damaged seed material sowing density is increased. With this method, excess crops can be transplanted to other places.
After sowing the seeds, it is necessary to shed the soil with warm water and wait for the seedlings to appear.
Proper care of viola
basis proper cultivation pansies on garden plot It is considered to maintain the soil in a loose and moist state, removing weeds. Another nuance of care is the removal of faded inflorescences or formed seed pods. Timely implementation of such actions allows you to prolong the flowering of the crop.
Watering and fertilizing
Periodic watering is considered the basis for the intensive growth of viola. This is due to the fact that the root system of the crop is superficial; it is located at a depth of up to 20 centimeters. The soil on the site is moistened as needed in case of persistent drought.
Watering should be done in the evening using water heated in the sun.
During its development, the flower sucks nutrients from the soil. To replenish useful components in the soil, it is necessary to fertilize every 3-4 weeks. For each square meter 25 grams of superphosphate are scattered over the usable area and the granules are buried in the ground. After this, the plants are watered.
Viola after flowering
If flowering deteriorates, as well as in cases where new buds are almost not formed or are formed weakly, it is necessary to prune the crops to a height of 9-12 centimeters from the surface of the ground. Violas are fed and watered with warm water, which will promote shoot growth and re-flowering.
Regularly pluck out dried inflorescences and trim shoots, this will help rejuvenate the bush.
If the pansies have bloomed and completely stopped developing, you need to collect the seeds and prepare the plant for wintering.
How and when to collect viola seeds
The period for collecting viola seed material begins in late summer or autumn. After the inflorescences wither, boxes with fruits form on the crops. The main sign of their maturity is the drying of the shells. After turning upwards, the boxes are cut off and the seeds are removed. Next, the grains are dried in a ventilated area, placed in a fabric bag and placed in the refrigerator.
If you do not collect seed material, the grains fall to the ground on their own and germinate when favorable conditions. In this case, violet seedlings can be seen in autumn or early spring.
Viola in winter
So that perennial was able to overwinter painlessly, it is covered with fallen leaves of fruit trees or spruce branches. With the arrival of spring, such a mound is raked a little, which will prevent the process of damping off the stems. An overwintered crop will be able to form the first inflorescences already in mid-spring, when crocuses bloom.
Garden violets that develop in a greenhouse overwinter differently:
Plants are removed from pots and transplanted into open ground at the end of summer. Before the first frost, the crop will be able to get used to new conditions. About 20 days before the expected cold snap, inflorescences and excess shoots are cut off from violas. After this, they are covered with fallen leaves or a thick layer of spruce branches.
Another option for wintering greenhouse plants involves moving the pots to a cool room with a temperature of 8-12 degrees, for example, to a veranda or insulated loggia. In such conditions, the bushes are preserved until spring. When warm weather arrives, the mother bush is divided into cuttings and new plants are obtained.
Pests and diseases of viola
The most common diseases of pansies are:
- rotting of the root system;
- late blight;
- powdery mildew.
Root rotting occurs as a result of excessive watering of the soil or when keeping the crop in a cold room. An urgent transplant of the flower into new loose soil will help prevent the further development of this disease. If this measure does not help, it is necessary to cut off the root of the viola and place the trunk in water, cover the upper part of the plant plastic bag. After the first roots appear, the crop is transplanted into new soil.
Fusarium wilt or late blight enters plant cells through damaged areas. This disease occurs when high humidity air, provokes browning and rotting of stems, falling leaves. The main control measure is to transplant the viola into a new pot, along with pruning the root system of the crop.
Another dangerous disease is powdery mildew. The disease occurs mainly in the spring under the influence of low temperatures and high humidity. Powdery mildew appears on violet leaves in the form white plaque. Next, shallow ulcers appear on the affected areas, the spread of which leads to the death of the plant. Spraying the flower with drugs such as Topaz or Bayleton will help defeat the disease.
As we can see, even an inexperienced gardener can grow viola at home. Learn to properly care for flowers, and they will delight you with lush blooms and a pleasant aroma.
- a great way to get a lot the most beautiful plants for your balcony or plot. Moreover, for almost nothing. Viola seeds are quite inexpensive, unlike already grown seedlings.
You can sow viola seeds in boxes for growing seedlings or directly into the ground.
– biennial (Wittrock viola, Williams viola, tricolor violet) or perennial plant (viola Sororia, horned viola, fragrant violet). You can grow any type of viola according to three schemes:
1. Autumn sowing for flowering next year (in open ground)
This pattern is considered traditional and is usually recommended in the instructions on the seed packets. The meaning of such cultivation of viola is as follows: the seeds are sown in the soil in August-September. During the fall, the plants have time to sprout, grow stronger and acquire a powerful root system. In this state, young violas go under the snow and overwinter. The next year, already in April, flowering begins, which lasts until frost.
2. Early spring sowing for flowering in the year of planting (for seedlings)
It is believed that viola blooms only in the second year after planting. But that's not true! It can bloom in the first summer. To do this, you need to sow its seeds early - at the end of February or beginning of March. It is advisable to use additional lighting. In this case, viola seedlings from seeds will bloom 2-3 months after sowing, that is, in May-June, simultaneously with other summer plants. Viola can bloom all summer (especially if you choose the right planting site - without direct sunlight and drying heat), become a green bush before winter and bloom again next spring.
Growing viola from seeds by spring sowing is suitable for subsequent planting of plants in open ground or in balcony boxes.
3. Summer sowing for flowering in the year of planting (in open ground)
You can sow viola seeds directly into the ground in May-early June. Flowering of such plants begins in August-September. Violas grown in this way leave under the snow with flowers. And in early spring they bloom again!
Growing viola seeds for seedlings
Let's consider the technology of growing viola seeds for seedlings for subsequent planting in the ground or in balcony boxes.
In order for viola from seeds to bloom at the beginning of summer (or even at the end of spring!), sowing must be timed for the end of February or the beginning of March.
Step 1. Sowing
Viola seeds are sown in any seedling containers: cassettes, pots, used containers from food products. Select loose and moisture-absorbing soil - this is very important for viola seedlings, which suffer greatly from a lack of moisture in the soil.
You can create a suitable soil mixture for viola yourself using the following scheme: fertile garden soil + peat + humus + humus in a ratio of 2:2:2:1.
Fill the seedling containers with soil.
It is convenient to grow viola seedlings in peat tablets, placed in plastic cassettes Sowing option No. 1 – traditional, with embedding in the ground
Now is the time to start planting. Classic scheme Growing viola requires that its sprouts sprout in the dark. Therefore, again traditionally, viola seeds are planted in the ground. Do you want to follow a generally accepted pattern? Then perform the landings as follows:
- In the prepared soil, form grooves (with your finger or pencil) 0.3-0.6 cm deep. The distance between the grooves is approximately 1 cm.
- Place viola seeds in the resulting depressions in increments of 1-2 cm.
- Cover the grooves with soil.
- Water the plantings with water (if you did not do this before sowing).
- Cover the seedling container with film to create a humid microclimate. Ventilate the soil 2 times a day for 10 minutes, opening the “greenhouse”. Otherwise, mold may appear on the ground.
- Place the container in a warm place with a temperature of 20-25°C; the degree of illumination before the first shoots of the viola does not matter - either place it in a dark closet or on a sunny windowsill.
Sowing option No. 2 - popular among gardeners, without embedding in the ground
Another, although not generally recognized, but very common among gardeners, method of growing viola seedlings involves sowing seeds without planting them in the ground. In this case, the sprouts appear faster, since they do not need to waste energy growing through the soil layer. But! Since the nature of viola requires germination in the dark, after sowing the seedling container is placed in a dark place. Planting viola seeds using this method can be done as follows:
- Sprinkle the soil generously with water (preferably warm, about 30-35°C).
- Spread the viola seeds superficially on the ground in increments of 1-2 cm (the greater the distance, the later it will be possible to pick).
- Place the container in a warm, dark place or cover with a sheet of cardboard.
Sowing option No. 3 – average alternative
Or you can do it according to the “neither yours nor ours” type. Like this:
- Sow the seeds superficially (as in option No. 2).
- Sprinkle a thin layer of soil (literally 1-2 mm) or sand on top.
- Spill the plantings warm water.
- Cover the container with film or glass and ventilate the soil regularly.
- Place in a warm place, lighting does not matter.
Step 2. Care of seedlings
The first shoots of viola seedlings from seeds should appear on the 5-10th day - depending on the variety. Although some “slow-witted” can take a very long time to emerge – up to a month. This delay is especially common if:
- old seeds;
- a thick layer of soil is sprinkled over the seeds;
- the seeds are sprinkled with dense, heavy soil.
Further development of the viola occurs in the light, therefore, if the container was in a dark place before germination, it needs to be moved to a light place, for example, on a windowsill. In spring straight Sun rays Violas are not terrible for seedlings, so even a south-facing window will do.
Sprouted viola sprouts Despite the fact that viola seedlings are initially quite strong, do not rush to remove the film from the container immediately. Ventilate the soil 2 times a day, starting from 10-20 minutes. Gradually increase the duration of ventilation. After about a week, the film can be removed completely.
Many garden flowers have some degree of frost resistance. These flowers include viola, the seedlings of which can withstand about 5-10 °C even in infancy, until the true leaves appear. Therefore, as soon as sunny spring weather arrives, you can safely take the baby violas out onto the balcony. Not only will they not freeze, but they will also get stronger faster in the fresh air.
Pansies (especially seedlings) really need good watering. Make sure that the soil in the seedling boxes does not dry out; water when the top layer of soil dries. But don’t go to the other extreme - there shouldn’t be a flood either. Flower growers often notice attacks on second-year violas during cold and rainy springs. This is because violas, despite their love of moisture, are prone to rapid rotting when there is an excess of it. This is the “duality” of viols!
Step 3. Picking
At the stage of 1-2 true leaves, viola sprouts can be planted in separate cups. If the roots are torn during transplantation, no worries. Viola tolerates transplantation very well, even during flowering. Sprouts with damaged roots may be slightly stunted in growth, but this will not affect their health.
Viola seedlings are often elongated by the time of picking. The central stem extends to the cotyledon leaves. Therefore, to prevent the sprouts from falling over and becoming more compact, when replanting, bury them in the soil up to the cotyledons. Such manipulation will not only improve appearance viols, but will also make the root system more powerful (additional roots will appear throughout the entire area of the buried part of the stem).
After picking, the viola seedlings begin to grow rapidly and in 3-4 weeks will be ready for planting in a permanent place Step 4. Pinching
As soon as the viola seedlings expel 2-3 pairs of true leaves, pinch the seedlings for better tillering.
Step 5. Planting the viola in a permanent place
Viola seedlings can be planted in a permanent place after stable warm weather has established, without night frosts. On the balcony this can happen as early as March, in open ground - in May-June.
Planting viola seedlings in open ground Plant viola bushes at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other; crowding has a bad effect on the condition of the plants and can lead to disease. When growing violas in boxes or pots, it is enough to allocate 1-2 liters of soil per specimen.
Blooming viola seedlings in a balcony box
Growing seedlings is a troublesome business. Therefore, many people decide to sow viola seeds directly into the ground. This can be done already in late spring or early summer - then the violas will bloom in August-September. If sowing work is timed for August, then flowering will be postponed until next year - in early spring.
Sow viola seeds in furrows 0.3-0.6 mm deep. The distance between the seeds should correspond to the distance between future plants - 10-15 cm. If there is a problem with seed germination, you can plant them more crowded, and after germination, plant the violas at the required interval.
After sowing, water the soil generously and wait for sprouts to appear. At the stage of 2-3 pairs of true leaves, pinch them off. Further care for violas consists of regular watering and fertilizing.
Flowering of violas, when sowing seeds in open ground in early June, begins in August and lasts throughout the fall, until frost Planting violas: where pansies grow and bloom best
It is important to choose the right place to plant violas. These flowers bloom best in cool conditions, but with plenty of light. That's why the best place for violas - bright sunny areas, but with obligatory shading from midday rays. For example, violas grow well under young fruit trees with a sparse crown that protects them from the drying summer heat. Or on bright western and eastern balconies. On southern balconies, the viola can also show itself in all its glory, but, unfortunately, only until June-July, that is, before the heat sets in.
Viola is popularly known as pansy or garden violet. Today there are many varieties of this plant, including perennial, biennial and annual flowers. They all differ in the structure of the inflorescence, the color of the petals and the timing of flowering.
You can grow amazing viola yourself, but beginners often have problems. We will try to describe in detail the entire process from sowing to wintering the plant.
Sowing viola seeds and growing seedlings
In regions with a mild climate, seeds are sown in the fall, directly into open ground. In spring, the seedlings are thinned out or transplanted to a permanent place. But residents of the central and northern parts are less fortunate; they have to grow seedlings. The whole process is simple, as it seems at first glance, but it has its secrets.
Instructions successful cultivation viola seedlings from seeds with photos:
1. Fill the containers with light soil, moisten it well and make grooves.
2. Place the seeds in the furrows and cover with a thin layer of soil.
3. Cover the plantings with glass and put them in a cool place for germination.
Choose a soil for seedlings that is light and moisture-permeable; make holes at the bottom of the containers to allow excess liquid to drain. The substrate for violets from the store is well suited; it has the desired composition and acidity. Choose fresher seeds, although they remain viable for two years, but old ones germinate slowly. It is best to soak the seeds in a solution of Epin or Zircon before planting. Dilute the preparation as stated in the instructions and place the seeds there for a day. To germinate, seeds require heat, optimally +15 °C.
If you did everything according to the instructions, the shoots will appear in 10 days. Gradually remove the glass so that the seedlings do not become trapped; transfer the container to a room where the temperature does not rise above +10 °C. Protect the seedlings from direct sunlight; it is better to place them on the east or west side.
Advice! If you want to see viola bloom this year, then start sowing seeds in February. But without additional lighting, the saplings will stretch out. The plant will bloom in the first summer months.
Timing for sowing viola seeds
The flowering period depends on the timing of sowing. If you sow seeds for seedlings from August to September, the bushes will bloom in early April. The seedlings overwinter at home. If the weather is favorable, then it can be planted in the garden for wintering.
To enjoy the autumn flowering of violets, the seeds are sown from May to June. You can immediately embed them in open ground. But this method is only suitable for regions with warm climates. If frosts start early, you may not wait for flowering.
Caring for viola seedlings: picking, feeding, watering requirements
Caring for garden violet seedlings consists of: proper watering, fertilizing and picking. Let's look at each point in detail.
Watering seedlings
Viola seedlings grown from seeds are very tender, as can be seen in the photo. Therefore, you need to water it extremely carefully. The soil is moistened using a syringe or syringe. You cannot pour water from above, as the seedlings will fall down and may not rise again.
The plant prefers moist soil, but you should not be overzealous with watering. In conditions of high soil and air humidity, an insidious disease develops - “blackleg”. It is almost impossible to save tender seedlings.
Feeding viola
Feed the seedlings twice a month. For this purpose, complex mineral fertilizers For flowering plants. Seedlings are fed for the first time at the age of 15 days.
Picking and its features
Gardeners have different opinions about picking, so the final decision is yours. According to the rules, seedlings are picked twice. Many people believe that there is no need to pick tender seedlings a second time. This injures the root system and the plant is stressed. It is enough to plant the seedlings in open ground. Even flowering seedlings take root well.
The third opinion is based on generally accepted rules:
The seedlings are picked for the first time at the age of the second true leaf;
The second time they dive into separate containers a month later.
By the time of the first picking, the seedlings stretch out and begin to curl. They need to be buried to form a compact rosette. The root system will be strong and will withstand subsequent picking. Plants are planted so that they have enough space to develop. During the second picking, the plants are planted in separate containers and the same soil is used.
Planting viola grown from seeds in open ground
Garden violet prefers bright but cool areas of the garden. It does not tolerate stagnation of water at the roots, so the place should be moderately dry. As a rule, the plant is planted in the shade of trees. In the spring, before the leaves bloom, viola has enough light. In summer, a thick crown will protect the flower from the bright sun.
The soil for planting must be fertile. It is fertilized with humus or dry bird droppings. This should be done two weeks before planting. There are no special secrets in planting seedlings. Prepare a hole of suitable size, install the plant and dig in. After planting, the viola is watered.
Important! The violet needs to be replanted every 3 years, otherwise the inflorescences will become smaller. Perennial varieties are easily propagated by dividing the bush.
Caring for viola in open ground and wintering the plant
Basic violet care comes down to watering, loosening the soil, and fertilizing. Even a novice gardener can do these standard procedures.
Water the violet as needed. Its root system is small, so natural precipitation is sufficient. If the summer turns out to be hot, then the soil is moistened regularly. The soil around the bushes is kept loose and weeds are removed.
Fertilizing for violets is done once a month. Ammonium nitrate and superphosphate are used. During flowering, monitor the seed pods and remove unnecessary ones in a timely manner. If this is not done, the decorative effect of the plant will suffer.
The perennial viola overwinters in open ground. It easily tolerates temperatures down to -30 °C with minimal shelter. In autumn, the bushes are sprinkled with dry leaves.
Annual bushes are removed after flowering. A two-year-old viola endures its first winter in the garden. Color for next year. In the second autumn, seeds are collected from it and removed.
Problems when growing viola from seeds
Beginners have problems even at the stage of growing seedlings. Let us describe some of them and solutions:
The seeds do not germinate or germinate rarely - the seeds are old, the temperature regime is disturbed, the seeds are sown too deep. Before planting, the seeds are treated, adhere to optimal temperature.
The seedlings are thin, fall down - the seedlings stretch out, they do not have enough lighting. Move the containers to a brighter place and provide additional lighting.
The seedlings withered as soon as the glass was removed due to insufficient air humidity. The glass is removed for several hours, the time is gradually increased, and then removed completely.
Excellent for framing ridges and borders, lining small bushes. Low growing varieties They look very organic in rock gardens and rockeries. Mixes of violas give the landscape a unique flavor and create bright accent. Today it is difficult to imagine a garden without this beautiful plant.
Viola is also a great container plant. It will perfectly decorate a terrace or balcony.
What is the correct name of the flower?
Very often there is confusion with the name of this plant. Some call it violet, others - viola, and still others - pansies.
Violet is a genus of plants from the violet family (Violaceae). Viola is the Latin name for violet. Perennial pansy (or tricolor violet) is a species of plant from the genus Violets.
Viola (or violet) is usually a one-, two-, or perennial herbaceous plant, less often a subshrub. Plant height is 15-30 cm.
A little history
Viola, whose flowers are one of the oldest garden plants, known to botanists since the 16th century. Also in ancient Greece and in Rome, people decorated their rooms with them during the holidays. But they began to cultivate it only two centuries later. The first to do this was F. Miller, the famous English florist.
The violet appeared in Russia at the end of the 18th century, thanks to the famous botanist P. S. Pallas, who studied the flora of Altai. It was he who brought the violet to St. Petersburg, which is now called Altai.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the well-known pansies appeared in Europe - Wittrock's hybrid violets. They combined the beauty of three types of violets: Altai, yellow and tricolor.
Planting by seeds
How is viola grown? Flowers, growing from seeds is the simplest and most cheap way, can also be planted by sowing in open ground or by cuttings.
Growing from seeds - using this method you can grow a sufficient number of plants for a garden or balcony. In addition, it is profitable - seeds are much cheaper than ready-made seedlings. To improve germination, it is advisable to soak viola seeds for a day in a solution of special preparations (for example, zircon) before planting.
Any variety of perennial and biennial violas can be grown according to one of 3 schemes:
- Sowing seeds in open ground in the fall - flowering next year. In August-September, the seeds are sown in the ground. Before the snow falls, the plants have time to sprout and develop powerful roots. Viola, planting and caring for which is very simple, blooms the next year after sowing. Flowering lasts from April until frost.
- Sowing seeds in early spring for seedlings - flowering in the year of planting. It is believed that with this method, the viola begins to bloom in the second year. In fact, flowering can begin as early as the first summer after planting. To do this, you should sow the seeds at an earlier period - from late February to early March. It is advisable to use additional light. The resulting seedlings bloom in May-June. If you create suitable conditions for the viola (it does not like direct sun and heat), it will bloom all summer, and will bloom again next spring. Seedlings grown in the spring are then planted in open ground or to the balcony.
- Sowing seeds in summer. From late May to early June, you can sow seeds directly into the ground. Viola begins to bloom in August-September. Snow covers the plants already with flowers. In early spring, violas bloom again.
Seed germination
The period of seed germination depends on the variety. Usually sprouts appear on the fifth to tenth day. Reasons for slow germination:
- old seeds;
- a thick layer of soil above the seeds;
- heavy and dense soil with which the seeds are sprinkled.
The emerging shoots are exposed to light. Moreover, even direct sunlight in spring is not dangerous for plants.
Sowing and growing seedlings
For sowing, select any suitable containers: special cassettes for seedlings, small flower pots, food containers, etc. It is very important to choose suitable soil- it should be loose. You can buy special soil for violets or prepare it yourself.
The containers are filled with soil and sowing begins. It can be produced in different ways:
- The seeds are planted in the ground. Depressions (up to 0.6 cm) are formed in the soil 1 cm apart. The seeds are placed in the resulting grooves every 1-2 cm. The seeds are sprinkled with soil. Plantings are spilled or sprayed with water. To create a humid microclimate in seedling containers, they are covered with film or glass. To prevent mold from appearing, open the film twice a day for about 10 minutes. Place the “greenhouse” with the seeds in a warm place (20-25°C). Lighting doesn't matter.
- Seeds are sown superficially in the ground. The soil is shed generously or sprayed with water, preferably warm (30-35° C). The seeds are placed in recesses every 1-2 cm. The container with the seeds is covered with film or glass. The soil is regularly ventilated. Place the container with the seeds in a warm place and cover the top with some material (for example, a sheet of cardboard).
- The seeds are lightly sprinkled. First, the seeds are sown superficially (as in the second option). Then the top is lightly sprinkled (1-2 mm) with earth or sand. Spill or spray the plantings with warm water. The containers are covered with film or glass and ventilated regularly. Place the seedling container in a warm place. Lighting doesn't matter.
Proper care of viola seedlings
After the emergence of seedlings, it is not recommended to immediately remove the film from the container - you need to let the seedlings get stronger. It is best to gradually increase the ventilation time over the course of a week.
Viola seedlings are quite resistant to temperatures of 5-10°C, so before the real leaves appear, the containers (without the film) can be taken out to the balcony for hardening.
Seedlings need proper and regular watering. Upper layer The soil should never be dry, but there is no need to flood the seedlings.
When the sprouts have 1-2 true leaves, they are picked into separate containers. Usually by this moment the central stem of the sprouts is strongly elongated to the cotyledons. When picking, the sprouts can be buried into the soil up to the cotyledons - they will be more stable, with powerful roots.
In order for the seedlings to bush better, at the stage of two or three pairs of true leaves, the sprouts are pinched.
When warm weather sets in and the threat of frost has passed, they begin to plant the seedlings in a permanent place - on the balcony (March) or in open ground (May-June).
When planting seedlings in the ground, maintain an interval of 10-15 cm. If seedlings are planted in boxes or pots, then maintain the following ratio: 1-2 liters of soil per plant.
Viola: planting and care in open ground
Many people consider growing seedlings to be quite a troublesome task, so they prefer to sow the seeds directly into open ground. When sown in late May - early June, viola will begin to bloom in August-September. If you sow viola in August, flowering will begin in early spring next year.
When sowing, seeds are placed in small depressions (up to 0.6 mm), maintaining an interval of 10-15 cm. After this, the soil is shed generously and wait for seedlings to appear.
Pinching is done at the stage of two or three true leaves. IN further care Maintenance of plants consists of regular and sufficient watering and fertilizing.
When planting seedlings or sowing seeds, the choice of location is of great importance. Violas grow and bloom best in bright sunny places, but with shade from the bright midday sun. In the garden, this can be a place under trees with a not very dense crown, and on the balcony - the western or eastern side.
The type of soil is no less important. Viola, planting and caring for in open ground are discussed above, prefers well-moistened, drained and fertile soils.
Propagation by cuttings
Cuttings can be carried out in different time. When cutting early, from May to July, take the tops of green shoots, which have 2-3 nodes. Most cuttings root in 3-4 weeks. Plants from such cuttings begin to bloom in summer or early autumn. If cuttings were carried out later than July, then the viola begins to bloom in the spring of next year.
This method is more suitable for greenhouses rather than gardens. It is usually used for propagation of elite varieties.
Care
In order for viola, the planting and care of which even a schoolchild can master, to grow normally and bloom profusely, the soil must be constantly moist and loose. That’s why regular watering and loosening the soil is so important. Removing spent flowers promotes long-lasting blooms.
Viola requires regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers with the NPK complex. Seedlings are fertilized once every 10 days, and adult plants - once a month.
Noxious weeds should be removed regularly. For the winter, plants are covered with spruce branches, fallen leaves or straw.
Types of viola
There are currently about 500 species of viola. The flower, the varieties of which are so diverse, amazes even connoisseurs.
There are several types that are considered the most popular among gardeners:
- Viola tricolor (V. tricolor). Biennial or annual plant. Height 10-20 cm. In open ground, this viola blooms from May to September, and it looks most decorative in the second year of flowering.
- Viola Wittroka (V. wittrokiana). Typically considered a biennial or annual, it can also be grown as a perennial when divided annually. Height 15-30 cm. This is a highly branched plant. Large flowers have a diameter of 4-10 cm. Flowers come in a wide variety of colors, and they can be plain or spotted. Depending on the time of sowing seeds and planting seedlings in the ground, viola can bloom in summer or autumn. Varieties of Wittrock's viola, based on a number of common characteristics, are conventionally divided into several groups: “trimardo”, “hemalis-winter”, “Schweitzer Risen”, “Swiss grandiflora”, etc. For example, varieties from the “Pirnaer” group are distinguished by early flowering.
- Altai viola (V. altaica).Ornamental perennial plant. Height up to 20 cm. Frost-resistant. It can bloom twice a season: from mid-spring to mid-summer and from August until the first frost.
- yellow viola (V. lutea). The most unpretentious of all violets. Height 8-15 cm. Viola received its name for the bright lemon-yellow color of the flowers. Blooms from May to July.
- Fragrant viola (V. odorata). Herbaceous perennial plant with small flowers(diameter about 2 cm). From the second half of summer, the viola grows a large number of easily rooted shoots that form a dense cover on the soil. The flowers are dark blue in color and have a pleasant, delicate aroma. Viola fragrant can bloom for a whole month.
With its incredible beauty and variety of shapes and colors, the viola, the planting and care of which is discussed above, inspires the creativity of breeders, landscape designers, flower growers, and artists.
Viola, better known as pansy, is hardy and completely easy to care for. Its bright color will decorate any flower garden, so flower growers are very willing to plant this flower. In sunny areas, viola blooms profusely; in partial shade its flowers become somewhat smaller. However, buy ready seedlings Every spring it is quite expensive, so many people grow viola seedlings on their own. It should be taken into account that this plant is biennial and, when sown with seeds, will bloom only in the second year.
When to plant viola seedlings?
Having bought several bags of bright viola, pay attention to the fact that this flower is sown in the summer. Many inexperienced gardeners make the mistake of sowing viola in the spring and expect to receive lush flowering her in the summer. This is a biennial crop, so it is important to know when to plant viola seedlings.
In June-July, a place is set aside in the flower garden for sowing pansy seeds. The seeds are pre-treated with a growth accelerator. The seeds are buried 0.5 cm into the groove, sprinkled with earth without lumps. The soil is carefully spilled with water, trying not to wash away the sowing area. It is useful to mulch the sowing area with fine sawdust, which will retain moisture in the soil.
After 2 weeks, shoots will appear; they must be shaded from the sun with a dark film, which is removed after two weeks. By August, the seedlings will have grown and can be transplanted to a permanent location. Such planting material produces plants with lush and long-lasting flowering, which is impossible to achieve from viola grown from seeds by seedlings.
Caring for viola seedlings grown in open ground involves insulating them with straw or spruce branches before winter. This “cover” will protect the plant’s root system from freezing.
In spring, young plants are fed with a solution complex fertilizer twice - before the formation of buds and at the beginning of flowering.
It is unacceptable to use fresh manure, as this provokes the disease “blackleg”.
Growing from seeds
In regions with harsh climates, planting viola seedlings from seeds becomes the only way to grow this flower.
The complexity of this method of growing viola lies in the need to create a number of conditions:
- Additional lighting;
- Compliance temperature regime;
- Selection of optimal soil.
At the end of February - beginning of March, you can sow viola for seedlings at home. The seeds must first be soaked in a solution of Zircon, Epin or EM-1. this will speed up seed germination and make seedlings more resistant to pathogens.
The optimal substrate for growing viola is made from, the pH of which is 5.5-5.8. There is no need to add fertilizers to such soil; viola seedlings need to be fed in the phase of formation of two true leaves.
To get good seedlings an important condition is to create drainage in the container. Sow viola seeds for seedlings on top of a moistened substrate, sprinkling them with a thin layer of vermiculite. Cover the container before emergence plastic film or a piece of glass. This will speed up seed germination. Periodically, the cover must be removed for ventilation, which will avoid the formation of fungus in the soil. If you use cups for growing, you need to sow 3-4 seeds in each of them. After germination, the strongest and most well-developed sprout is left in the glass, removing the rest.
When growing in containers, viola seedlings are planted twice:
- The plants are first planted when two true leaves have formed.
- The second picking is carried out at 5 weeks of age. For this, separate pots are used, the diameter of which does not exceed 10 cm.
If plants are planted in large seedling boxes, it is important to maintain a distance of about 6 cm between plants. Unheated greenhouses in a summer cottage are suitable for growing seedlings.
Since viola is sowed for seedlings with or without fertilizers, the first fertilizing is done after three weeks.
To do this, use any mineral fertilizer, pouring the solution under the root. Then fertilizing is repeated every month. You also need to be careful with watering. Water should be directed right to the root, avoiding dripping on the leaves.
Grown viola seedlings are planted in open ground in mid-May, when return frosts are not expected.
When transplanting to the bottom of a hole 5 cm deep, you need to pour a handful of sand as drainage and plant pansy seedlings with a lump of earth. The distance between plantings should be about 10-15 cm. For larger plants with large flowers, the distance between bushes is 20 cm. The seedlings are watered abundantly at the root and lightly shaded for several days. Sand will allow water to quickly go deep into the soil without forming stagnation. This reduces the risk of viola blackleg disease.
This is the basic scheme for growing pansies. But how to grow healthy viola seedlings so that they don’t stretch out in a container on the windowsill?
Since sowing is carried out in early dates, seedlings are needed, for which they use ordinary fluorescent lamps or phytolamps, which belong to the category of special lighting fixtures. Viola requires at least 14-16 hours of daylight. The growth regulator Alar somewhat limits the growth of seedlings, but subject to the use of additional lighting.
As for the temperature regime, 18-30 degrees of heat is required for seed germination. Deviation in any direction negatively affects the germination of viola seeds.
Even an increase in temperature to 23 degrees causes viola seedlings to be delayed for up to one month. As soon as sprouts appear above the soil, the temperature should be reduced to 12-15 degrees. Grown viola seedlings easily tolerate low temperatures, even at 5 degrees they feel good. In this case, development slows down somewhat, but in conditions of lack of light, the seedlings stretch less.
Video - growing viola from seeds
