Violets ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips

Planting violets properly

The best time to plant Viola is in autumn. This applies to both pre-grown and pre-purchased flowers. In the sun-warm soil, the biennial plants will take root in good time before winter so that they can bloom the following year. Here are the steps to do it right:

• The planting pit corresponds to 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
• Optimize the excavation with compost and Horn meal or guano
• Plant the viola exactly as deep as in the nursery pot
• Press the soil and water it

Depending on the type of flowers planted, a planting distance of 10 to 25 cm is considered appropriate. Plant viola in a tub or Flower box,(€ 149.00 at Amazon *) A drainage made of inorganic material prevents harmful waterlogging.
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Care tips

violet are a welcome guest in the ornamental and kitchen garden, as their care is limited to the following aspects:

• Water regularly when it is dry
• From March to October repeated with compost and Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) fertilize
• Immediately clean off what has faded to attract more flowers
• Do not cover hardy species and varieties with foil due to the risk of rot
• Viola in the bucket receive light winter protection so that the root ball does not freeze through

After the first bloom, cut the flowers back in half and drive them out again. Violas prove to be susceptible to in too humid locations or in warm and humid weather mildew. Avoid overhead irrigation and ensure that the planting distance is airy. Since the flowers are at the top of the menu for snails, the bed should be surrounded by a walking barrier or a snail fence.

Which location is suitable?

The frugality of Viola is already evident in the choice of the location, because here the flowers demonstrate a sympathetic flexibility. It depends on these criteria:

• Sunny to partially shaded location
• Gladly in the protection of tall deciduous trees or shrubs to provide shade
• Nutrient-rich, humus-rich, fresh-moist to moderately dry soil

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When is the flowering time?

who the Violet species and varieties cleverly combined, will be smiled at by the lovely beautiful faces all year round. The main flowering times of the dominant species at a glance:

• Wild Pansy: March to October
• Horned violets: April to August / September
• Fragrant violets: March to June
• Peony Violets: April to June / July
• Winter violets: December to May

Consistent cleaning of withered parts of the plant and pruning after the first flowering have a beneficial effect on the duration of the flowering period.
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Propagate violets

Viola provide plenty of offspring on their own by diligently sowing themselves and sending out runners. In addition, ants carry the seeds with them. In order to multiply the flowers in a targeted manner, these methods are available:

• Division of the root ball in autumn or spring
• Cut off head cuttings in summer and plant in poor substrate
• Cut off runners as they grow and let them take root in the pot
• After flowering, harvest and sow the ripe seed heads

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Is violet poisonous?

Violets do not pose a health risk to humans or animals. On the contrary, the scented violet in particular serves as a medicinal and kitchen plant. The colorful petals can be eaten without hesitation. The roots, on the other hand, should be consumed with caution, because in popular medicine they were used as emetics.
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The violet: a wanted poster

With a look at the profile, hobby gardeners will find out useful details for a successful cultivation of violets and their multifaceted uses. Interesting attributes include:

• Mostly biennial flowers
• Formation of underground rhizomes as a permanent organ
• Growth height of 10 to 30 cm
• There are species suitable for all locations
• Deciduous and evergreen flowers
• Some species can be used as medicinal and kitchen plants

Thanks to the rhizomes, most violets have sufficient winter hardiness. Since aboveground runners thrive at the same time, the flowers even conquer large areas within a short time.
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Pansies and Violets: What's the Difference?

Pansies and violets look very similar at first glance. In truth, every pansy is a violet, while not every violet is a pansy. Violets represent the plant genus Viola with more than 500 species. In the course of repeated crossings within these species, the pansy with its innumerable color variations emerged.
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The violet as a houseplant

Viola are not considered to be the classic houseplant. Regardless of this, nothing speaks against cultivation on the windowsill. Primarily during the cold season, the distinctive flowers adorn the house with their colorful blossoms. How to care for viola in the pot:

• Place on the bright south, east or west window
• Commercially available Potting soil as a substrate
• Water regularly
• Apply liquid fertilizer every 14 days during the growing season

An ideal candidate is the non-hardy Australian violet, which blooms from April to September. In addition, there is the Parma violet, which presents its porcelain-delicate flowers behind glass from November to April. Popular as houseplants African violets belong to a different genus, by the way, as well as Cyclamen.
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Are violets edible?

Primarily the petals of fragrant violets, horned violets and pansies are edible. The flowers serve as an aromatic decoration on salads or candied as a sweet temptation. In addition, Viola make refreshing drinks and rich syrup. If you like, you can prepare healthy honey or delicious jam with violets. The list of tempting recipes is endless and offers plenty of scope for your own creations.
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The medicinal properties of violets

The violet viola odorata, also called fragrant violet or march violet, has been used in popular medicine for generations. In 2007 these flowers were even named Medicinal Plant of the Year. This honor is based on the following healing effects:

• Lowering of high blood lipid levels
• Relief from hypertension
• Antibacterial effect
• Healing for coughs and angina

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Sow violet seeds

The seeds of violets are cold germs. Therefore, a cold stimulus is required for the cotyledons to show. Sow the seeds in seed trays or the cold box between October and January. Alternatively, fill the seeds with moist sand in a plastic bag and deposit it in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks. The germinating seeds are then treated further as light germs in the known process.
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Are violets hardy?

The majority of violets are hardy. Viola freeze back in severe frost, but sprout again in spring. It is important to note that the flowers are watered on frost-free days if there is no snow. In order for Viola to get through the cold season in a planter, the bucket should be wrapped in bubble wrap and placed on wood or styrofoam.
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Fighting violets in the lawn

Violas are not always welcome in the garden. Due to their natural urge to spread, the flowers turn out to be troublemakers. If violets appear in the lawn, we strive to get rid of them again. How to solve the problem:

• Individual specimens before the seeding with the Weed cutter pull out of the lawn
• Do not leave any roots or runners in the green area
• Larger growth areas with the spade dig to repair the gaps with turf or overseed
• If the lawn is spread over a large area, mow it briefly and scarify it

If Viola proves to be particularly stubborn in the lawn, lawn weed killers will solve the problem. Proven preparations are: Banval M from Compo or Anicel Ultra from Celaflor.
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Violets bloom in these colors

The violet was the inspiration for the classification of colors in the RGB color space. If violet is spoken of, the designers of media of all imprints are guided by the specifications given by these flowers. However, this does not mean that viola is restricted to the color purple. In fact, the color spectrum extends over all imaginable tones and nuances.
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Violet species

The richly populated genus of plants presents us with more than 500 types of violets, which have captured the hearts of hobby gardeners around the world. The most beautiful representatives of these cheerful, colorful and frugal cosmopolitans are known by these names:

• Wild pansy (Viola tricolor): the robust wild species blooms in yellow, violet-blue and white
• Horn violets (Viola cornuta): many-flowered flowers with a height of 10-25 cm
• Scented violets (Viola odorata): bloom predominantly in violet and give off a sweet scent
• Whitsun violets (Viola sororia): the porcelain-blue flowers are excellent as ground cover
• Parma violets (Viola suavis): flowers under glass all winter long and has a pleasant smell
• Stone violets (Viola rupestris): the ideal type of violet for barren soils such as rock gardens or gravel beds

The ever-popular garden pansy (Viola × wittrockiana), on the other hand, is not a pure species. The colorful flowers result from countless crossings of the wild pansy with other violets. In the robust field pansy (Viola arvensis) or the slender long-tailed pansy (Viola calcarata) we encounter one of the diverse species.
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The most beautiful varieties

• Etain: charming horned violet in light yellow with violet flower edges; ideal for the rock garden
• Rebecca: a marbled horn violet in cream and purple with a delicate 10 cm growth height
• Baronne Alice de Rothschild: the historical fragrant violet from 1894 captivates with purple-violet flowers
• Albiflora: the white Pentecostal violet impresses with its vital vigor and serves as a magnificent ground cover
• Comte de Brazza: the lush, double Parma violet blooms continuously from March to May
• Queen Charlotte: the fragrant variety delights us with two blooms in March / April and September / October
• Ice babies: as winter violets, the small family of varieties blooms in many colors from October until well into May
• Grandessa: distinctive pansies with large flowers in bright blue, red, purple or yellow and dark eyes
• Orchid flowers: gorgeous pansies with frilled flowers from September to December