The pansies delight us with their bright variety of colors in very early spring. The cheerful flowers decorate the balcony boxes and flower beds from March to October. Planted in larger groups, they offer a particularly lively sight.
How to plant pansies correctly?
Pansies thrive in low-lime, humus-rich, moist soil and can be sunny or partially shaded. Sowing takes place in summer, planting outdoors in March-April or in balcony boxes at the end of January/February. Suitable plant neighbors are tulips, daffodils and forget-me-nots.
The large-flowered garden pansy is the result of numerous crossings of several species of the violet genus (Viola) from the violet family (Violaceae). The small-flowered horned violet is closely related to it and comes from the same genus.
Are pansies annual or perennial plants?
The garden pansies are biennial, i.e. H. they bloom the following year after sowing. However, if you sow them by July, you may be able to expect flowering as early as October of the same year.
Which location is suitable for pansies?
The pansies thrive - depending on the variety - in both sunny and semi-shady places.
Do pansies need special soil?
Pansies prefer low-lime, humus-rich, moist but not too wet soil. A standard garden soil (€10.00 on Amazon) is ideal for planting in the balcony boxes.
When and how do you plant?
You can buy pansies and plant them in balcony boxes and pots as early as the end of January/beginning of February. For outdoor use, planting in March-April is recommended when permanent frost periods are no longer expected. For he althy growth, the following planting distance should be observed:
- for larger areas about 10 cm square
- for balcony box or pot planting approx. 5-10 cm
Can you propagate pansies yourself?
The pansies are propagated by seeds. Most varieties of this crop are F1 hybrids and are therefore hardly suitable for seed production. The plants created through self-sowing often do not have the same flower color, persistence and lushness as the parent plants. For a specific flower color, we recommend buying seeds from specialist retailers. If you don't decide on the color, self-sowing in suitable locations can ensure sufficient new plants.
When do the pansies bloom?
The approximately 5 cm large flowers open between February and October, depending on the sowing time and weather. The plants sown in autumn/winter are frost hardy and, with appropriate care, often bloom well into midsummer.
How do you prefer the plants?
For spring flowering, pansies are grown in a cool place in winter (up to a maximum of 10° C). For summer flowering, the seeds are sown outdoors in summer. Care should be taken not to sow too densely, otherwise the young plants will shoot up instead of growing bushy and compact, if necessary. So prick out in good time.
What else should you consider when sowing/transplanting?
The pansies sown outdoors in autumn (September) bloom more profusely, are more resistant and have a longer lifespan. The frugal plants can be easily transplanted at any time - even when they are flowering.
Tips & Tricks
Good companions for pansies are tulips and daffodils as well as forget-me-nots.
