How to Grow Pansies From Seeds

Delicate-looking pansies are surprisingly hardy flowers.

Pansies are perennials that grow to about 8 inches in height and are commonly used in flower gardens and window planters. The flowers produced come in a wide variety of colors, and each flower can have up to three different colors. Pansies can bloom throughout the winter in mild climates and are winter-hardy throughout most temperate regions. Pansies grown from seed must receive special care to survive the winter and bloom in the spring.

Things You'll Need

• Tiller
• Peat moss
• Flat board
• Straw mulch

Instructions

1. Find a planting location that receives six to eight hours of full sunlight each day to encourage flower formation. Use a tiller to incorporate peat moss with the soil at the planting location to increase fertility and drainage.

2. Plant pansy seeds in July or August, so they can become established before the onset of winter. Spread them out evenly across the planting area, and cover them with about 1/8 inch of soil.

3. Use a large, flat board to press down and compact the soil over the entire planting area. Water the bed lightly, just enough to moisten the soil without displacing the pansy seeds.

4. Apply water every one to two days, early in the morning, to allow the sun to evaporate any extra moisture. Keep the soil consistently moist at all times. Reduce watering when winter arrives to once per week.

5. Spread a layer of straw mulch 1 to 2 inches thick over the pansy seeds after the ground freezes to help insulate the soil and conserve moisture. Remove the mulch after the final frost of spring, to allow the pansies to grow uninhibited.

Tips & Warnings

• Pansy seeds can be planted in a greenhouse in January. Keep the temperature at 55 degrees at night and between 60 and 65 degrees during the day.

• Do not plant pansies in the same location more than three years in a row, as a fungal disease called pythium may accumulate in the soil. If the seeds dry out completely before they begin to sprout, they will die. Water often until the first growth emerges from the soil.

References

• West Virginia University, County Cooperative Extension: Pansies
• Pennsylvania State University, Berks County Cooperative Extension: Grow Your Gardening Knowledge
• The Garden Primer; Barbara Damrosch; 2003