20170807A Cool Wave Blueberry Swirl BallSeed.jpg
Pansy ‘Cool Wave Blueberry Swirl’. Photo:  BallSeed

Did you know you can sow your pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) for next year’s garden now, that is, at the end of July or in August?

Surprising, I know, but think of it this way. Pansies are not really annuals, but rather biennials or short-lived perennials (they rarely live more than 3 years) hardy to zone 4 or even 3. If sown in late summer, in the ground or in pots, that will give you seedlings you can transplant to their final location in October … and that will be ready to bloom as soon as the snow melts next spring.

One less task to carry out during the busy spring period!

Sowing pansies is simple enough. Just trace a furrow or drill small individual holes about ¼ inch (6 mm) deep in rich, moist soil in the sun or partial shade. Sow the seeds, cover them with soil and water well. That’s all!

Afterwards, just water when the soil is dry and keep weeds away. The tiny plants will do the rest!

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