Pansy / viola

Flower · cool season · also called viola, violas, johnny jump up

A purple and blue pansy flower
Photo: Игоревич, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

When to plant

  • Start seeds indoors about 10 weeks before planting out.
  • Plant outdoors about 4 weeks before your average last spring frost.
  • It can also be grown as a fall crop, timed back from your first fall frost.
  • Ready to harvest about 45 days after planting out.

Edible flowers. Plant in early spring or fall; fall plantings often bloom again in spring.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Enter your ZIP code to get exact dates.

Growing basics

Sun
Part sun (4–6 hours)
Spacing
6 in
Soil temperature
At least 45°F
Time to harvest
About 45 days
Containers
At least 1 gallons
Plant family
Other
Seeds keep
About 2 years

Companions

Keep apart: Horseradish. Horseradish spreads aggressively. Give it its own spot.

Keep apart: Mint. Mint spreads aggressively into neighbors. Keep it in a pot.

Keep apart: Fennel (bulb). Fennel slows the growth of most garden plants. Grow it on its own.

Keep apart: Sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke). Sunchokes spread aggressively and shade neighbors.

Pests and problems

Grow it well

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