Moxie Gardener

Pansies come in a wide range of colors, but varieties with blue, purple, and/or yellow flowers are the most fragrant.

It’s time to start pansy seeds so they’ll be ready to set out when the weather breaks.  It seems early, but it takes twelve weeks from the time they’re sown for pansies to be ready to plant out in the spring flower garden.

Pansies love cool weather and are one of the first annual flowers to bloom in spring.  Known by the Latin name Viola x wittrockiana, pansies were developed in nineteenth century England by crossing several different varieties of violas.

Pansy seeds need cool soil temperatures and complete darkness in order to germinate.  Cover soil with black plastic and remove as soon as plants emerge.  Grow under lights with nighttime temperatures in the forties and daytime temperatures in the sixties.

Whether you grow your own or purchase plants at the nursery, plant pansy transplants about eight to twelve inches apart in rich, loose soil.  Fertilize well.

Here in Minneapolis we can start planting pansies outside in about the middle of April.  As long as the weather doesn’t drop into the mid twenties or lower, pansies can handle a little frost.

Pansies aren’t really bothered by pests or diseases.  They grow about nine inches high and spread out the same width, and are available in a wide variety of colors, including two and three color combinations.

Unfortunately, pansies fade out and die off when hot summer weather arrives.  I’ve kept a container of pansies from fading in the heat by keeping it in partial shade.  It only lasted through June, though.  Once July and the really hot summer weather arrived they faded fast, despite my vigilant deadheading and copious watering.

Their flowers are edible and are often tossed into salads along with tender spring greens.  Another culinary use for pansy flowers is as cake decorations.  Just brush with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle thoroughly with superfine granulated sugar.  Set on a rack and allow to air dry for a few hours.  Store in cookie tins with wax paper between layers.

Plant a mass of pansies near your home’s entrance or patio.  They emit a perfume-like aroma which is most noticeable at dawn and dusk.