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How to grow Violas & pansies in the UK
Little smiling faces that flower in spring AND autumn - and you can eat them!
- DifficultyEasy peasy
- WhereBeds or Pots
- Sunfull sun or part shade
- Grows to15cm
- Spacing15cm
- Time to first pickabout 6 weeks
- Typeannual
When to sow, plant and harvest violas & pansies
| Plant | early March to mid May or early September to late October |
|---|---|
| In flower | early March to late June or early October to mid December |
Dates are for central England. Sow about two weeks later in the north and Scotland, and up to two weeks earlier in the south and south west. Get the dates for your postcode.
Planting it
- Water your new plants in their pots first
- Dig a hole a bit bigger than the pot
- Tip the plant out gently, holding the leaves, not the stem
- Pop it in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well
- Space the plants about 15cm apart each way
Top tips for growing violas & pansies
- Great along the front of a bed or in pots by the door.
Looking after violas & pansies
- Week 2: Pick off dead viola flowers so new ones keep coming
Soil and feeding
Poor soil - really!. Nasturtiums flower best in poor soil. Feed them and you get all leaves and no flowers.
Harvesting and eating violas & pansies
Pick the flowers to decorate cakes and salads.
How to eat them: Scatter the flowers on a cake, salad or in ice cubes - they're mild and sweet.
Saving your own violas & pansies seed
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- Not one to save from - buy new plants or seed.
Where to buy violas & pansies plants
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · Amazon
These are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Read more.
Violas & pansies questions
When do I plant out violas & pansies?
Plant violas & pansies out from early March to mid May or early September to late October.
When can I enjoy violas & pansies?
Violas & pansies is ready from early March to late June or early October to mid December. Pick the flowers to decorate cakes and salads.
How long do violas & pansies take to grow?
Roughly 6 weeks from sowing or planting until the first harvest.
Are violas & pansies easy to grow?
Violas & pansies are rated 'easy peasy' for beginners, and can be grown in the ground or a raised bed or in pots and containers.
Plan your own garden: it tells you what to do and when, for your postcode.
Start growing - it's free