Pansies are native to temperate climates and are therefore usually frost-resistant. They bloom in late fall or early spring, depending on the variety and when they are sown. They close their flowers when there is frost and open them again when the temperatures are milder.
Can pansies tolerate frost?
Pansies are frost-resistant and can even bloom in winter if the weather is mild. However, they should be protected from severe frost, for example by covering them with brushwood, leaves, straw or fleece. Make sure the soil is not too wet to avoid root rot.
Both pansies and horned violets are biennials. This means that plants sown in summer will bear flowers the following year. If sowed early (until July), the first flowers can appear as early as October/November. If the weather is mild, the pansies will bloom throughout the winter months.
Pansies are frost resistant
Since the beginning of the 19th century, the breeding goals for pansies have been not only large flowers and early flowering, but also winter hardiness. When buying seeds and plants, you should pay attention to which varieties have good winter hardiness. Horned violets (Viola cornuta) and wild pansies (Viola tricolor) are characterized by their particular frost hardiness.
What are the dangers in winter?
The pansies that you have sown outdoors are quite robust. They tolerate changes in freezing and thawing weather as well as a blanket of snow without any problems. On the other hand, overwintering pansies in balcony boxes and other small plant containers without protection is practically impossible.
- Pansies don't like a cold winter without snow,
- Danger of drying out in locations in full sun,
- A soil that is too wet causes the root ball to freeze so that no more water can be absorbed.
Remedy
The experts also recommend winter protection for plantings outdoors. In rough locations, the beds can be covered with brushwood, a layer of leaves or straw or fleece. Care should also be taken to choose a place protected from the rain for the pansies that overwinter outdoors. However, watering should be done if necessary.
Tips & Tricks
Home-grown plants are less sensitive to frost than ready-made ones. The pansies offered in spring in particular are grown in frost-free greenhouses and are sensitive to cold.