Violets Whether the violet-blue scented violets, the lavender-colored forest violets, the colorful horned violets or other species - these plants are simply enchanting! Since they are extremely easy to care for, it is worth planting them yourself or sowing their seeds.
How do I propagate violets by seeds?
Violets can be propagated by sowing seeds: Fill a seed tray with nutrient-poor soil, spread and press the seeds, cover them very thinly with soil. Keep them moist and provide a germination temperature of 18°C. The germination time is 14 to 18 days. In the first year, flowering may occur later or not at all.
Characteristics of violet seeds
You can buy violet seeds in a specialist shop (€49.00 on Amazon) or harvest them yourself. Either way – the seeds of different types of violets have the following characteristics:
- round to egg-shaped
- light to dark colored
- smooth surface
- contain a lot of endosperm
- contain a straight embryo with two thick cotyledons
- Cold germination
- Light germinator
The seeds are in the capsule fruits. These have three flaps that open when ripe and reveal the seeds. Depending on the type and flowering time, violet fruits reach maturity between March and June.
How are the seeds sown?
The seeds can be sown directly outdoors or in the safety of your home, for example in a seed tray. The results are considered more robust and vigorous compared to the results of other propagation methods. The best period for sowing is between August and March.
To grow in a seed tray, you should first fill the container with a nutrient-poor substrate. Purchased seeds do not need to be stratified before sowing. Seeds from your own harvest should have been exposed to a temperature below 5 °C for at least 2 weeks.
The seeds are spread on the ground, pressed down or covered very thinly with soil. They are kept moist for the following weeks. The germination time is 14 to 18 days at an ideal germination temperature of 18 °C. Later the plants can be pricked out and placed in their final location.
Violets tend to self-sow
If you're too lazy to sow the seeds, you don't necessarily have to miss out on more violets. Viola seeds are often spread by ants. They like to self-seed even without ants. The ants find the fruiting bodies, carry them around and often develop an appetite for them along the way. They leave the seeds lying around.
Tips & Tricks
Don't be surprised: many violets bloom very late or not at all after sowing in the first year (only in the second year). Patience is required here.
