Pansies and Violas

Edible Pansies!

**In Victorian times, pansies were supposed to be the flowers of lovers. The word pansy is derived from the French, "pensee," which means "thought." When near pansies, it was believed that one could hear their lover's thoughts. They were a popular ingredient in "love potions". Hmmm, that's a thought!


Need a fun, after the holidays, project??  You can start your pansies and violas from seed now.    I love having a little spring inside my house in January. 

 

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                                              For organic seeds, go here: Johnnys Seeds


For pansies, I suggest growing organic, the flowers are edible!  Perfect for salads or to decorate cakes.  Recepies to follow! 

                                                                       


 You will need

.Seeds
.Seed starting Pots
.Sunny window
.Organic potting soil

Pansies are a cool weather flower. They make a great contaner companion to spring bulbs.  They can withstand cold nights and some of the newer varieties can even withstand snow.

These seeds need to germinate in the dark.
Start seed about 6-8 weeks before transplanting. Violas can withstand some freezing temperatures, so cold climate gardeners can pick a transplant date that is about 4 weeks before your last expected frost date.  .

1. Use an organic potting mix.
   
2. Moisten the mix and fill your flats or pots to about 1/4 inch below the top edge.
   
3. Sprinkle 2-3 seeds in each cell or pot and cover lightly with more moistened potting mix. Note: Violas need darkness to germinate, so cover the seeds completely.
   
4. Set in a warm (65 -70 degrees F. / 18 - 21 degrees C.) location and keep moist. Seeds should begin to germinate in 10 - 14 days.
   
5. Once the seeds sprout, move them to a sunny window or place under plant lights.
   
6. When the first true leaves appear, thin the pot or cell to the strongest looking seeding by pinching or cutting the others at the soil line.
   
7. At this point, a temperature of 55 - 60 degrees F. / 13 - 15 degrees C. is fine. You can also begin feeding your seedlings with an organic water soluble fertilizer.

Moving Your Viola Seedling Outdoors - When temperatures and weather permit transplanting outdoors, let the seedlings get adjusted to the change by hardening them off.

1. Move the seedling to a shaded or protected location outdoors.
   
2. Leave them outdoors for about 4 hours the first day and increase the time outside by 1-2 hours each day, slowly moving them into brighter light. The seedlings will tell you if they are unhappy by their appearance.
   
3. Make sure the soil stays moist. Outdoor winds can dry pots quickly.
   
4. Seedlings can be transplanted into the garden or containers after about 10 - 14 days of hardening. Just be sure the weather isn’t taking a down turn. Violas can withstand some frost.

Also, for your enjoyment...

A chart of edible flowers and their taste.  Edible Flower Chart