Home » Psychology » Terry viola. Viola flowers growing from seeds - important rules for planting and care

Terry viola. Viola flowers growing from seeds - important rules for planting and care

The viola flower (lat. Viola) belongs to the genus of the Violet family. Representatives of this family primarily grow in temperate climates and mountainous regions of the northern hemisphere, numbering, according to various estimates, from 400 to 800 different species. Some of the plants are endemic to the South American Andes, sometimes growing in the subtropical climate of Brazil, the tropical climate of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the Sandwich Islands.

The plant is popularly known as pansies.

Since time immemorial viola violet was very popular- almost two and a half millennia ago, the ancient peoples who inhabited the territory of Europe wove this flower into wreaths, festive garlands, and decorated rooms for festive celebrations with them. The fragrant violet was the first to be introduced into cultivation, and the second was the mountain violet.

The earliest mention of breeding work with violet hybrids dates back to 1683. Europeans first became acquainted with the Wittrock viola species, which is a hybrid of tricolor, Altai and yellow viola, in early XIX centuries. Today, garden viola is one of the most popular plants, which has hundreds of varieties and varieties.

Growing conditions

Viola introduces herself an annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plant that reaches a height of 15-30 cm. The root system of the flower is fibrous, and its main shoot is erect. It has pinnately dissected or simple leaves, which are equipped with stipules or collected in a special basal rosette, or generally grow alternately.

Viola Wittrock boasts single axillary flowers located on long peduncles, reaching 7 cm in diameter, on the upper petals there are “marigolds”, and on the lower ones, which are larger in size, there are sac-like formations at the very base - spurs.

Shapes and colors various types viol(horned viola, Wittrock viola, fragrant viola, etc.) amaze with their diversity: simple or double, with smooth or wavy edges of the petals, striped, spotted, with one spot, plain, two- and three-colored. The plant blooms very profusely. The flowering period depends on the time of planting - it can be from August until frost or from mid-March to the end of May, but there are hybrids that bloom twice per season or throughout the whole summer. The viola fruit is a small capsule containing its seed, which remains viable for about two years.

Varieties and types

As mentioned earlier, the flower has from 400 to 800 different varieties and species. The most popular of them are listed below, planting, caring for and growing them are not too complicated:

In addition to the above varieties , V open ground The following varieties of viola could grow well:

Growing from seeds

The seed can be planted directly in open ground, but the seedling method of propagation will be much more effective, so let's talk about how to grow viola seedlings from seeds. If you want to see a plant in bloom already in the year of planting, then it is best to start growing seedlings from the end of February.

Before starting work, you need to purchase a special soil substrate from the flower shop, which is used when planting violets, as well as seed material. The seed is first soaked in a solution of Zircon or Epin. Then we lay out the planting material in small grooves previously made in the soil, and sprinkle the seeds on top with ground substrate between our palms. We water the seedlings and cover the containers with transparent film or glass. We leave the greenhouse in a room with a temperature of at least 15°C.

Viola seedlings will begin to hatch in about 1.5 weeks, and as soon as this happens, it is necessary to remove the film or glass and leave the containers in a cool room where the air temperature is about 10°C. Be sure to place the seedlings under diffused bright light with some protection from direct sunlight. Plant care at this stage consists of timely moistening of the substrate and comprehensive feeding. Can be used as fertilizer mineral compounds, which must be paid no more than twice a month.

Dive

About that when and how many times should you pick a flower?, there are two opinions. Some flower growers categorically insist that viola seedlings must be pricked twice. The first time is carried out at the time when the young seedlings acquire a pair of true leaves, and the second time - 2-3 weeks after germination according to the 6x6 pattern. However, other, no less experienced flower growers argue that the second picking of a flower, in fact, is planting it in open ground. In the end, you will have to decide whether to pick the plant a second time. You can plant a viola on the site when it is already in bloom - the flower will take root perfectly.

An ornamental plant that was planted from seeds blooms in early summer or late spring.

Landing

It is necessary to plant viola in open ground depending on the climate of the area: in May or April. You should choose the sunniest area for the flower, with the optimal soil composition. It would also be a good idea to add 0.2 parts of crushed coal (not too fine) to one part of the soil to the soil, so that its fractions perform, among other things, a drainage function. The same amount of dry bird droppings or humus will be required.

Viola will grow best in soil that has the following composition: sand, peat, turf soil, humus in a ratio of 1:2:2:2. You should not plant viola in lowlands where groundwater is close. Otherwise, stagnation of water may occur in the roots of the plant, which will lead to rotting.

If you are tormented by the question of how to plant a viola correctly, then let me console you: landing viola does not carry any secrets. The seedlings are placed in pre-prepared holes at a distance of about 10-15 cm from each other, sprinkled with earth, then the soil around the bushes is slightly compacted and watered thoroughly after planting. It is worth considering that growing flowers requires replanting them every 3 years. This process should be combined with dividing the bushes, otherwise the perennial viola will grow very much, and its flowers will become quite small, causing the plant to lose its decorative effect. The best varieties of viola can be easily propagated by cuttings.

Care

Proper cultivation of viola First of all, it means that the site will constantly maintain a loose and moist state of the soil, because the plant has a superficial root system, which is located at approximately a depth of 15-20 cm.

The area with decorative viola should be watered as needed, however, in a normal summer, natural moisture will be sufficient (fog, dew in the morning, rain, etc.), but if the summer turns out to be hot, you will have to tinker with watering. You also need to pay special attention to removing weeds from areas where viola grows as they appear, and also promptly pick off wilted flowers along with seed pods so that the flowering process does not lose its intensity.

In addition, good flower care includes timely feeding which must be carried out every month using superphosphate or ammonium nitrate at the rate of 25-30 g of fertilizer per 1 square meter of area.

Diseases and pests

As you can easily see, caring for and planting violas is quite simple; most importantly, do not neglect the mandatory growing rules, follow them pedantically, otherwise you will have to face serious problems that can be easily avoided by proper care. It's about about pests and diseases that arise when the rules of agricultural technology are violated.

A flower is rarely affected by spider mites, but this can happen when air humidity is low, so on hot summer days, do not forget to spray the plant with a spray bottle.

Viola ) It is considered one of the oldest plants known to science back in the 16th century. You can find references to this flower in ancient Greek and Roman documents; they were used to decorate rooms during holidays.

However, viola cultivation began only in the eighteenth century, and the first to do so was the famous florist from England F. Miller. Viola came to Russia at the end of the 18th century, brought by the botanist P.S. Pallos, and by the beginning of the 19th century, hybrid varieties of this plant began to appear in European countries.

There is often real confusion with the name of the viola. In some sources it is called violet, in others pansies, and in others - viola. The fact is that violet belongs to the violet family, and viola is its Latin name. Pansies, otherwise called tricolor violet, are one of the varieties of this plant.

Description of the flower and use in landscape design

Viola is a shrub with a height of 15 to 30 cm, and is most often one-, two-, or perennial. The root system of this plant is fibrous, and the central shoot is erect.

The leaves are collected in a basal rosette or grow alternately, and they also have stipules. The inflorescences of the crop are solitary, up to 7 cm in diameter, attached to long stems.

Thanks to the variety of species, the colors and shapes of different varieties of viola are amazing.

They are:

plain;
two-color;
striped;
spotted.

The structure of the petals also differs depending on the variety; they can be simple or double, with smooth or wavy edges.

Exists huge amount different varieties of the Viola plant.

Viola blooms throughout the spring, or from late summer until frost, while there are hybrids in which this process occurs twice a year. Inflorescences appear abundantly, after which the turn of fruits comes in the form of a box with seeds, which can be suitable for planting within 2 years.

FYI. Violas are cold-resistant and can grow out of direct sunlight, although in this case their flowers will be small. Planting a crop in dry sandy soil can lead to a similar result.

As a rule, violas are planted along borders or next to small bushes. If the varieties are low-growing, it will look great in rock gardens and rock gardens, and will also decorate a terrace or balcony if planted in flowerpots.

Popular varieties of viola: description and photographs

The varieties and varieties of viola are amazing in their diversity. There are many subspecies of this flower, each of which, in turn, is divided into many groups. Thus, it is not so easy to understand this diversity, and you should pay attention to the varieties that are most common.

These include:

Advice. Choosing plants for cultivation garden plot It is important to pay attention to their life expectancy. As mentioned above, plants in this group are annuals, biennials and perennials.

When and how to plant viola seeds in open ground

Viola seeds can be planted immediately in open ground, and they will take root well. However, you should know how to do it correctly. When to sow viola seeds? This can be done in summer or autumn.

In the first case, planting material is laid in the ground in June, and if weather conditions permit, then at the end of May. Flowering will begin in August or September and will continue until the first snow, and will resume the following spring.

If the seeds are planted in the fall, the flowers will appear only the next year. It is worth laying the material in the ground at the beginning of September, and if this is an area with a harsh climate and early winters, then at the end of August. Before frost appears, the plants will have time to sprout and take root well, and their flowering in the spring will begin in April and last until the cold weather.

Viola seeds can be planted directly in open ground.

How to plant and care for viola in open ground?

To do this you will need to follow a number of rules:

When planting, add crushed coal to the soil at the rate of 0.2 parts of this substance per 1 part of soil, diluted with 0.2 parts of bird droppings or manure. Another option is to lay turf soil, manure, peat and sand at the planting site in proportions of 2:2:2:1.
Place planting material at the rate of 50-60 seeds per meter of furrow. If holes are made, then the distance between them should be 5-6 cm, and 2 or 3 seeds are placed in each.
Bury the seeds 5 mm and sprinkle with soil, rubbed by hand, and then mulch the surface with sawdust. This will help retain moisture.
After the first shoots appear, namely after 5-7 days, you will need to cover the future flowerbed with a dark film and remove it after 14-20 days.

During the period of active growth, violas need regular and moderate watering, without excessive soil moisture.

Growing viola from seeds to seedlings

When growing viola from seeds for seedlings, it is important to choose the right necessary materials. This will require special small containers, as well as suitable soil, loose and without lumps.

Work to obtain seedlings is carried out according to the following rules:

Advice. To plant viola in the “right” place, you will need to familiarize yourself with weather forecasts for the summer. If it is hot, it is better to place the flower bed in the shade. In cases where the warm months promise to be rainy, you can plant the crop in an open area. If you plan to grow viola on a terrace or balcony, the east or west side is best suited for this.

Viola care

Properly growing seedlings or seeds is only half the battle. In order for viola to enjoy active growth and lush flowering, you will need to follow the principles of crop care.

The soil around the viola is moistened and loosened in a timely manner.

When watering, it is important to find a “golden mean”. If the soil is too dry, the plant will suffer, and excessive moisture is dangerous because the roots will begin to rot and rot, which will lead to the inevitable death of the viola.

To root system received enough oxygen, you need to regularly loosen the soil. In addition, it will be necessary to remove weeds immediately after they appear, since, as they grow, they begin to take away nutrients, moisture and sunlight from their “cultivated” counterparts.

It is also necessary to fertilize the viola using mineral or organic compounds, and do this at least once a month.

In order for the flowering period to last as long as possible, you will need to promptly remove dried and wilted flowers.

Diseases and pests

Like any plant, viola is predisposed to a number of diseases that can lead to the death of the flower if measures are not taken in time.

These include:

In addition to diseases, insect pests also pose a danger to viola, which can take a liking to the garden bed and cause significant damage to the plantings.

It is important to realize that action will need to be taken as soon as a problem is noticed. Delay in this case threatens that the plants will be significantly damaged or even die.

Viola after flowering: how and when to collect seeds

At the end of the warm season, when the viola has already faded, small boxes will appear on it. These will contain the seeds.

You need to collect them before they open, otherwise the flower will independently spread throughout the entire area. The direction of the boxes indicates that they are ready for picking; if they are turned up, then they can be picked.

After this, the seeds are removed and laid out in a dry place to dry, and then placed in a refrigerator or cool basement. By spring, the planting material will be suitable for use.

Seeds from the plant are collected at the end of the warm season.

Viola in winter

After the seeds are collected, it is worth thinking about wintering the viola. This flower is frost-resistant, but when the thermometer drops well below zero and approaches -20, the plant may die if it is not protected.

To do this, you will need to cover the crop with spruce branches or fallen leaves, and you can also use sawdust. With the coming early spring The “blanket” is removed so that the soil dries out after the snow melts and moisture stagnation does not form.

Viola propagation by cuttings

There is another way to propagate violas - cuttings. Flower growers rarely use it because it is more labor-intensive, and it is much easier to use seeds for this purpose.

You will need to select parts of an adult plant that already have 2-3 nodes and plant them in a shaded place. It is worth remembering that there is no need to deepen the seedlings too much; if you dig them to a depth of 0.5 cm, this will be quite enough.

In addition, viola cuttings must be planted close to each other so that they can touch, and then after 20-25 days the plants will take root.

If the seedlings were planted early, then flowers will appear at the end of August or beginning of September. Most likely, there will not be so many of them, and the viola will delight you with abundant flowering only next year.

In this video, the florist shares his experience of growing Viola flowers in his garden.

Viola, Wittrock violet or Pansy are already popular among gardeners for many years. Our grandmothers planted them in their gardens and summer cottages. And this is not surprising, because the bright colors of flowers can decorate any flower bed. Viola is grown as a biennial plant, which can be planted in the spring as seedlings or directly in open ground, or can be sown in the garden at the end of summer. You can learn about the timing and rules for planting and caring for pansies in our article. If the question is relevant to you - how and when to plant and, follow the highlighted links.

Pansy seeds should be sown for seedlings already in late February or early March.

In 2020 Lunar calendar considered favorable for this next days: February 2, 3, 6, 7, 24 and 25.

If the viola was not planted at the end of February, sowing can be done until mid-March on the 2nd and 3rd. A viola planted in February - March will bloom in the summer of the same year, and next year it will begin to bloom in early spring.

Only in August will flowers appear on the viola if you sow the seeds immediately in open ground in May or June. Flowering will be late, and the fallen snow will cover the pansies along with the flowers. When the snow melts in the spring, you can see viola flowers.

In May, the following days are considered favorable for planting flowers: from 3 to 6, 25, 26, 30. In June, seeds can be planted from 1 to 4, 22, 28-30.

You can plant pansies directly in open soil in August or September, then the Wittrock violet can bloom next year in the spring. In August, days favorable for sowing are: 1, from 20 to 25, 28, 20.

However, the seedling method is more reliable than the non-seedling method, which is why many gardeners sow pansy seeds in February.

Growing viola from seeds

Sowing viola for seedlings

At the end of February or beginning of March, when according to the Lunar calendar there will be favorable days, pansy seeds are sown for seedlings. You can choose any containers for this, and soil for viola can be bought at a specialized store. The best soil for violets. But if you are used to preparing the substrate yourself, then mix the following ingredients:

sand – 1;
humus – part 2;
peat – part 2;
garden soil - 2 parts.

Seedling containers should be filled with a moist substrate, in which grooves no more than 0.5 cm deep are made. The distance between them should be about one centimeter. Seeds are placed in the grooves at a distance of 1-2 cm and sprinkled with soil sifted through a sieve. The crops are sprayed from above with warm water from a spray bottle and covered with glass or cling film. The resulting greenhouse is placed in a warm place with an air temperature within +20...+25 degrees. You can place containers under the battery, since the crops do not need lighting before germination.

To prevent the soil from becoming moldy, the cover from the containers should be removed for a few minutes every day and at the same time checked the degree of soil moisture. If it starts to dry out, you need to spray it with water from a spray bottle.

Caring for viola seedlings

After about 7-10 days, shoots will appear, and the seedling containers will need to be placed in a well-lit place with bright, diffused light. Tender plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight. To prevent the seedlings from stretching, they are placed in a cool room with an air temperature of about +10 degrees. To do this, you can place the seedlings on a glassed-in loggia.

If it is not possible to provide the plants with cool conditions, you can place the viola on the windowsill. There is no need to remove the cover immediately. First, seedlings should be accustomed to the open air of a room. This should be done gradually, ventilating the seedlings every day for an increasingly longer period of time.

Watering and fertilizing seedlings

Young seedlings that have not yet become strong need moisture, so it is necessary to ensure that the soil in the containers does not dry out. When the top layer of soil begins to dry out, it should be moistened. Violas love moisture, but at the same time they cannot tolerate stagnation of water in the soil, which causes them to rot.

In order for the seedlings to grow strong and not stretch out, it is recommended to feed them twice a month with mineral fertilizers for seedlings or for violets.

Picking and pinching

Grown seedlings with one or two of us

Drying leaves are transplanted into separate pots. If the seedlings have stretched out, then when planting the bushes should be buried down to the cotyledon leaves. As a result of such planting, additional roots are formed on the buried stem, due to which the bushes will develop better.

Transplantation of pansies is tolerated well, so there is no need to be afraid to pick them. Even a flowering viola will quickly acclimatize after transplantation and begin to grow further.

Viola: planting and care in the garden and on the balcony

When warm weather sets in and the temperature remains above zero even at night, garden pansy seedlings can be planted in open ground or in flowerpots on the balcony. Therefore, planting dates depend on the climate in the region.

For the viola, a sunny area is selected, on which there will be shade in the afternoon. Holes for planting are dug at a distance of 10-15 centimeters from each other. The soil removed from the hole is mixed with crushed charcoal and humus (1: 0.2: 0.2). The bottom of the hole is covered with a small layer of nutritious soil, on which the plant removed along with a lump of earth is placed. The roots of the bush are sprinkled with a nutrient mixture and watered well.

When growing violas on the balcony, they are planted in boxes or flowerpots with the same distance of 10-15 cm. Containers for growing pansies are filled with soil for violets or a mixture, the recipe for which is given above. You can plant pansies in boxes, flowerpots and flower pots immediately when picking them, and when it gets warmer outside, they can be taken out to the open balcony. During the first days, the plants should be kept in the fresh air for several hours, gradually increasing the time spent on the balcony. When warm weather sets in, containers with viola, which may already be blooming, are placed on the balcony without fear, because the plants have already hardened.

Features of caring for viola include:

Regular watering . The soil under pansies should always be moist and loose. Therefore, after watering, the soil around the bushes is loosened every week. If the summer is hot and without rain, then the plantings should be watered daily. Pansies growing in boxes and flowerpots are watered in the morning and evening.
Plants should be fed every month superphosphate or ammonium nitrate, using 25 grams of fertilizer per square meter. For plants growing on balconies or verandas in containers, fertilizers for violets or ordinary complex mineral fertilizers are suitable.
Wilted flowers should be picked off immediatelyb so that the viola blooms abundantly. Otherwise, all the plant’s energy will be spent on producing seeds and not on forming buds.

As you can see, caring for pansies is quite simple and will not cause much difficulty even for those who have decided to take up gardening for the first time.

Collecting seeds

If you want to collect seeds from your violas, there is no need to pick off the wilted flowers. Seeds are collected in August or September from faded pansies. Bolls turned upside down mean that the seeds are ripe. The boxes need to be picked, the seeds poured out of them, dried and stored in the refrigerator.

Sowing viola in open ground

In order not to bother with growing seedlings, pansies can be sown in the spring or at the end of summer directly into the flowerbed. To do this, dig up the bed and make grooves 0.3-0.6 mm deep in it. The distance between the grooves and the seeds should be 10-15 cm. Since not all seeds can sprout, they can be sown more crowded. If all the planting material has sprouted, weaker seedlings can be removed or the bushes can be planted more freely.

Crops should be well watered and can be covered with polyethylene. The seedlings are watered regularly and fed every month. When 2-3 true leaves appear on them, pinch out the bushes.

Violas planted in late May or early June will bloom in August.

Viola flower - types and varieties

Viola Wittrock

The most common type of viola, which has a second name, is pansy. In culture, Wittrock violet is grown as a biennial plant. It has many varieties that differ in shape, color and size of flowers. The color of the buds can be one-color, two-color or spotted.

Popular varieties of single-color Wittrock violas:

Wittrock's red violet - a plant up to 20 cm high blooms with red flowers with a dark eye. The buds reach 7 cm in diameter.
Rua de Negri - the variety is distinguished by bluish leaves, up to 23 cm high and flowering from early spring until frost. Up to 15 buds with double black petals and a bright yellow eye can bloom simultaneously on one bush.
Blue Boy is a large-flowered plant, the diameter of the flowers is about 6 cm. A bush with bluish leaves reaches a height of 20 cm. Up to 20 flowers with corrugated lilac-blue petals can bloom on it at once. There are lilac strokes at the base of the petals.
Viola white - the variety is distinguished by long peduncles on which fragrant white flowers with a yellow or green tint bloom. The bush is about 20 cm high and wide and can grow up to 25 cm.

Bicolor varieties:

Saint Knud is a compact plant up to 20 cm high, blooms profusely and is covered with green leaves. The buds have two types of petal colors: the bright orange lower ones have a red base, and the upper ones have an orange-yellow tint.
Lord Beaconsfield - the variety is distinguished by flowers with a diameter of 5.5 cm, bluish leaves and a height of up to 25 cm. Up to 30 buds can bloom on the plant at the same time, the lower petals are purple with lilac edges, and the upper ones are white and blue. The upper petals seem to have ink strokes on them.
Jupiter - a small bush up to 16 cm high blooms with white-violet flowers, the lower petals of which have a dark purple hue and a velvety structure.

Spotted violas:

Cassis is a profusely flowering hybrid variety with buds with purple petals, the edges of which are white.
Tiger Eyes is a hybrid with small flowers up to 3 cm in diameter. Brown streaks are scattered on their yellow petals.
Shalom Purim is a large-flowered plant with ruffled petals. The variety is sold as a mixture of seeds from which violas of various colors grow.

Viola horned

Perennial horned violet is hanging plant with creeping shoots from 15 to 25 cm long. It can be grown in flowerpots or flower beds, where with the help of hanging viola you can create a continuous carpet. Popular varieties:

Purple Duet - this variety is distinguished by multi-colored flowers, which have dark pink strokes on the lower pink petals, and the upper petals are simply burgundy.
Balmont Blue - a plant with climbing shoots blooms with blue flowers. Can be grown in hanging pots.
Arkwright Ruby is a large-flowered variety with bright flowers that have a yellow eye and red petals.

In addition to the described species, the following are also in demand in culture:

Viola fragrant– a perennial plant distinguished by almost round leaves up to 8 cm wide and large purple fragrant flowers. The flowers bloom in May and bloom for about three weeks.

Viola moth- a bush up to 20 cm high with large kidney-shaped or heart-shaped leaves and beautiful multi-colored flowers that begin to bloom in April and bloom until June.

There are many more types of viola that are used by breeders to breed new, even more interesting and beautiful hybrid species of garden violas.

Specialized stores and online stores offer a large selection of viola seeds, from which you can easily choose the option suitable for decorating a flowerbed or balcony. And after the purchase, the main thing is to choose the day suitable for sowing viola according to the Lunar calendar, plant and care for the viola correctly, after which a beautiful flower bed will decorate the garden throughout the summer.

Viola Vitrocca or Pansy - this name unites many varieties and hybrids of complex origin. According to biological characteristics, it is a perennial herbaceous plant. In this article we will tell you about growing viola wittrock from seeds and give recommendations for planting and care.

Sowing seeds in open ground, the influence of planting timing on flowering time

Biologically, viola is a perennial herbaceous plant that can grow in one place for several years. Gardeners have noticed that the most spectacular flowering occurs in the first year. Subsequently, the size of the flowers decreases noticeably, the bushes grow larger and acquire a loose shape, losing their decorative effect. That's why we decided to use the culture as a biennial. In nature, such a category does not exist.

Use this method:

August, early September - sow seeds in open ground. Form grooves with a depth of 0.5 cm. The interval between the rows and the distance in the row depends on the plant variety, on average it is 10 -15 cm. The sowing is sprinkled with a thin layer of soil 0.1 cm. Watered using a fine sprayer.
Seedlings appear in 7 – 10 days.
In autumn, at the stage of two true leaves, the viola is pinched, this ensures the strengthening of the planting material.
Grown seedlings endure winter like a perennial.
In spring they bloom.
Autumn flowering is achieved by summer planting. If viola seeds are sown at the end of May, beginning of June, the buds will open by September.

Tip #1. Viola rises in the dark. Cover the crops with black spunbond.

Preparing seedlings: lighting, watering, fertilizers

Most flower growers know that viola sown in spring blooms the next year. You can achieve summer flowering this year if you prepare the seedlings. It can be grown in planting boxes, pots, cassettes, peat tablets.

In order for the viola to bloom in the summer, sowing in a greenhouse or at home is carried out at the end of February, beginning of March.

Stages	Description of steps
Step 1	Preparation of nutrient mixture. Mix turf soil, peat, sand, humus in a ratio of 2:2:1:1.
Step 2	Fill the boxes with the mixture. Moisten the soil. Form strips 0.5 cm deep at a distance of 3 – 5 cm.
Step 3	Sow seeds at intervals of 3-5 cm. Sprinkle with soil. Cover with dark film. Place it in an unlit place. The sowing must be opened daily for ventilation, otherwise the seeds will become moldy.
Step 4	With the emergence of seedlings, the darkening is removed, the boxes are moved to the light and covered with a transparent film.
Step 5	Planting into separate pots is carried out when 2 true leaves grow. Elongated seedlings are buried when transplanted.
Step 6	After rooting in pots, when the next leaf appears, the top of the shoot is pinched to strengthen the bush.

It is important to remember that the temperature for seed germination is + 20 – 25 0. The light regime for seed germination changes. Before germination, viola needs darkening. When the first shoots appear, the seedlings are illuminated. The total time of natural and additional lighting is 14 hours. The soil in the crops is kept moist, but not wet. From excess water, seedlings rot.

Growing in pots and cassettes

A 0.5 cm depression is formed in the center of each cylinder. Place one seed and squeeze with two fingers. There is no need to water after sowing.

The advantage of sowing in these containers is that the seedlings do not require picking. Initially, one viola seed is sown in each pot or cell of a cassette with a diameter of 5 cm. The soil mixture, temperature, lighting, watering are similar to the same conditions that are created for seedlings in planting boxes.

Features of sowing in peat tablets

Recently, the method of preparing seedlings using a dry nutrient mixture has become popular. Pressed peat is sold in the form of cylinders of different diameters. Read also the article: → “”. Sowing sequence:

Place the tablets in the germination box. Special forms are sold, but if they are not available, any plastic box will do.
Fill with water until completely swollen. The tablets grow several times in size without changing diameter. Excess water that appears in the pan is drained.
Cover with dark film. Ventilate daily. When seedlings appear, transfer the tablets to a well-lit place with a temperature of + 20 0 – +25.

Pros and cons of different sowing methods

Flower growers successfully regulate the flowering time of viola by sowing seeds using different methods. Each of them has its positive and negative sides.

Seeds sown in open ground do not require picking and hardening, like the seedling method. But with such a planting scheme it is impossible to achieve uniform planting density. Even the best seeds do not germinate 100%, so some gardeners sow viola thicker than normal and thin out the seedlings. This method is not suitable for high-value varieties.
The seedling method provides the desired density in flower beds, since planting material can be placed at the desired distance. But growing viola seedlings is a troublesome process. Firstly, you need a place first in the dark, then in the light. Secondly, seeds sown in February need to be illuminated with artificial light lamps. Thirdly, seedlings need to be picked, pinched, and hardened.
Growing viola in pots, cassettes, peat tablets eliminates picking. But not everyone can afford to spend money on modern planting materials. Read also the article: → “”.

Terms and conditions of planting in flower beds, care in open ground

The most traditional way to plant viola as a biennial is in autumn. Seedlings sown in August are transferred to a permanent place at the end of September, beginning of October. Before the cold weather sets in, it should take root.

Planting material grown in February is brought into open ground after the threat of return frosts has passed, in late May or early June.
Choose a place for planting that is well lit, but not in the scorching sun. It’s good if diffused light falls on the flowers in the afternoon, for example, through the openwork crowns of trees. Due to an excess of sunlight, the flowering time is significantly shortened.
The soil for viola is prepared with sandy loam, fertile, neutral or slightly acidic reaction.

Tip #2. When planting, seedlings are buried to a stable position so that the fragile stems do not break.

Care of plantings in open ground

Viola, a not capricious plant, planted in a good place, does not require much attention. The main work is watering and loosening weeds. The soil is kept moist. Even short-term drought affects the quality of flowering. If the intervals between irrigation are significant, then the viola does not produce flowers at all. If there is excess moisture, the roots rot and the plant dies.

To ensure long flowering, faded petals must be removed. Only those from which it is planned to collect seeds are left. The duration of flowering, size and brightness of color are positively influenced by bait.

Comparative analysis of fertilizers and baits

Viola is responsive to fertilization and the use of growth stimulants. Good results gives the use of preparations for flowering garden plants. 5 best brands for viola:

Product type	Name	Action	Payment deadline
Rooter	Agrecol	Ensures plant survival	During planting of seedlings.
Mineral fertilizer	Yara Vila Nordic Supreme	Accelerates plant growth and prolongs flowering.	After the seedlings take root, when a new true leaf grows.
Mineral fertilizer	Hylea for open ground flowers	Ensures stable development of the above-ground parts of the plant, uniform flowering, and resistance to adverse environmental factors.	During the growing season, every 3 weeks.
Biofertilizer	Novofert	Improves the quality of flowering, increases resistance to diseases and pests.	The frequency of application is 2 weeks.
Biofertilizer	Biochelate Boron	Promotes the absorption of nutrients necessary for abundant and colorful flowering.	The first treatment, when the buds appear, each subsequent one after 10 - 15 days.

The advantage of mineral substances is their rapid action; the result appears soon after applying fertilizers. The disadvantage is that an overdose can lead to the death of plants, so the norms specified in the instructions must be followed exactly. The drugs should not be used in extreme heat or before rain, this is their disadvantage.

Tip #3. Biofertilizers act more slowly, but do not harm plants and environment. It is important to remember that biological agents are used at temperatures from +12 0.

Prevention from diseases and pests

Viola ampelous Vodopad Lilovy is responsive to fertilizing

The causative agents of diseases that threaten viola are spotting and powdery mildew. Healthy, strong plants can resist infection. Balanced nutrition is ensured by systematic feeding with mineral and biological fertilizers. If the damage cannot be avoided, fungicidal agents are used:

copper sulfate;
Bordeaux mixture;
BMK foundationol;
topsin M;
seas.

Treatment is carried out after 1-12 days, changing drugs to avoid resistance. The most dangerous pests for violets are clover and pearl caterpillars, which eat the leaves of plants. Infusion of tobacco dust and chlorophos help well against them.

Viola flower care plan by day:

Type of work	Product name	Application (processing) period by day
Planting seedlings in open ground	Rooter Agrecol	During landing:
Feeding + prevention	Yara Vila Nordic Supreme + foundation The fertilizer is used for root feeding; the foundation is sprayed on the leaves before the buds open.	From June 5 to June 30. 2 - 3 weeks after rooting of the viola.
Repeated feeding + disease control	Novofert + Mikosan Replace mineral fertilizers. Biological fertilizers are combined only with organic means of protection; combining them with chemicals is dangerous.	From June 5 to June 30. In the future, every 2 weeks.
Repeated feeding + pest protection	Biochelate Boron + Actofit Biochelate improves flowering, actofite stimulates the plant’s synthesis of protective substances. Apply in early summer and throughout vegetative growth.	From June 1 to August 15

Advantages and disadvantages of different varieties

Experts divided the varieties into three groups based on flowering color, size and shape of petals:

Group	Variety name	Height(cm)	Flower color
Single color	Asa Kaempre Orange	18 – 25	Yellowish-apricot. The edges of the petals are sinuous.
	Blance	15 – 20	Creamy white.
	Apricot Orange	18 – 22	Bright yellow. Petals are corrugated.
	Blue Boy	20 – 25	Lilac-blue, bent inward.
Bicolor	Lord Beasconfield	20 -25	Upper petals are pale blue, lower petals are blue-violet
	White and Blue Markings	14 -15	The upper petals are bluish-white, the lower ones are dark lilac with a white border along the edge.
	Jupiter	15	The upper petals are pale lilac, the lower ones are purple-violet, velvety.
Spotted	Abendglut	20 – 25	Red-brown spots are visible on the cherry-red petals at the base.
	Wintersonne	25 – 28	Lemon yellow, with dark brown stripes on the lower petals.
	Mars	14 – 15	Bright blue. The lower petals have dark purple spots.
	Ruby	20 -25	Dark cherry with purple spots at the base.

All varieties differ in the duration of flowering from April to August. The buds bloom again in September - October. The size of the flowers ranges from 4 cm to 10 cm. The disadvantage is that as they grow, some varieties produce flowers much smaller than the first buds. The last flowers are three times smaller than the initial ones.

Use in landscape design

Violas with corrugated edges of the petals are very popular.

Numerous varieties of Viola Vitrocca are used in flower beds as an independent crop, planted in borders, borders, and modules. During flowering, the low-growing viola serves as a background for tall tulips. To ensure that flower beds intended for annuals are not empty in the spring, they are planted with biennials in the fall (of the previous year). In April, viola blooms when seedlings of heat-loving summer plants are just growing in greenhouses.

Viola Vitrocca harmoniously coexists with other early flowering plants:

bulbous - crocuses, muscari, daffodils, scillas, white flowers;
biennials - daisy, lacfiol, Turkish clove, bluebell, digitalis officinalis;
perennials - forget-me-not, arabis, tomentosa.

In landscape design, seasonal dynamics of composition are practiced, achieved by replacing crops. For example, biennials bloom in the spring, then they are replaced by annuals, and biennials are planted again in the fall. Thus, decorativeness is achieved from early spring to late autumn.

Growing in winter in greenhouses, at home

Viola is one of the most popular plants for balconies. Those who do not have a summer cottage successfully grow it in pots. In late autumn, in October, seeds are sown for forcing by the beginning of March, for example, for the International women's day. Sowing is carried out in the same way as for seedlings.

There are differences:

Before sowing, the prepared substrate is sprayed with a rooting agent; you can use Cultimar at the rate of 2 ml per 1 liter of water.
place the seeds, sprinkle them with soil and vermiculite and spray Cultimar on top;
sowing is covered with film and kept at a temperature of + 22 0 – + 25 0.
shoots appear after 10 - 14 days, they are treated with Foliquino growth stimulator and transferred to a cool place;
the seedlings do not grow together, those that sprouted later should be carefully transferred to another container, otherwise the neighbors will “crush” them;
at stage 2 - 3 leaves are picked into pots with a diameter of 10 cm;
in January the viola goes through formative pruning. The central stem is removed to the stump, the side stems are shortened. The resulting bushes are treated with Foliton 3 ml per 1 liter of water;
Later, when watering, add “Universal Nutrivant” to the water, 1 g per 1 liter of water.
At the end of February, beginning of March, the first buds appear.

The exception is watering, which will have to be done more often. For fertilizing, you can use fertilizers for flowering plants. indoor plants, for example, the universal fertilizer “Clean Leaf”.

Category: “Questions and answers”

Growing in balcony boxes and pots is no different from the garden method.

Question No. 1. What varieties of viola are best to plant on the balcony?

Any that you like or hanging (hanging) - “Pearl Falls” or “Sapphire Falls”.

Question No. 2. I heard that pansies can be grown in flowering lawns. Is this true?

That's right. Viola seeds can be added to the lawn grass mixture, just remember that they should not exceed 20%. If there are more flowers, it seems that this is a neglected flower garden. It is better to sow such a lawn in August, then next spring it will bloom in April.

Question #3. Viola constantly needs to be loosened. Maybe there is another way?

Yes, it exists, this is mulching and the use of EM preparations (effective microorganisms), which accelerate soil fertility and make the soil airy.

Mistakes gardeners make when growing viola

Planting in an insufficiently lit place causes the viola to stretch, the flowers become smaller, and the color paler.
Excessive moisture causes root rot and death of the viola. Pansies require moderate watering, without stagnation of water.
Some gardeners, in the hope of improving flowering, exceed the fertilizer application rate. A high concentration of the drug causes burns to the plant and can destroy it.

Where do landscape designers use these garden flowers? Viola is excellent for framing ridges and borders, and lining small bushes. Low-growing varieties look very organic in rock gardens and rockeries. Mixes of violas give the landscape a unique flavor and create a 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, has been known to botanists since the 16th century. Back 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, the easiest and cheapest way to grow from seeds, can also be planted by sowing in open ground or by cuttings.

Growing from seeds - this way 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 in a solution for a day before planting. special drugs(for example, zircon).

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, seeds should be sown earlier - 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 spring are then planted in open soil or on a 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 delayed 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 must 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 earth. 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. The top layer of 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 the future, plant care 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, whose planting and care in open ground are discussed above, prefers well-moistened, drained and fertile soils.

Propagation by cuttings

Cuttings can be carried out at different times. 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 viola in a row common features conditionally 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, viola, the planting and care of which are discussed above, inspires the creativity of breeders, landscape designers, flower growers, and artists.