How to Grow & Sell Chianti Mix Pansies
Pansies, known botanically as viola x wittrockiana, are short-lived, evergreen perennial flowering plants that are cultivated as annuals in most parts of the United States. Viola x wittrockiana "Chianti mix," more commonly known as chianti mix pansy, is a pansy cultivar with large, semi-ruffled blossoms that bloom in attractive shades of red, orange, rose and magenta; the blossoms are often streaked with darker shades of the same color, giving them an even more appealing appearance. Chianti mix pansies can be grown from seed and sold locally. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 4-inch planting containers
- Peat moss
- Humus
- Leaf mold
- Perlite
- Chianti mix pansy seeds
- Aluminum foil
Instructions
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Select 4-inch planting containers for your chianti mix pansies. Choose containers with at least two 1/4 holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain.
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Combine four parts peat moss, three parts humus, two parts leaf mold and one part perlite to make a nutrient-rich, well-draining growing medium for your chianti mix pansies. Fill the planting containers with the growing medium to within 1 inch of the rim.
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Moisten the growing medium thoroughly before sowing the pansy seed. Hold the planting containers under room temperature running water until water flows from the drainage holes. Wait for the excess water to drain from the containers.
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4
Sow four to five chianti mix pansy seeds on the surface of the growing medium in each of the planting containers. Cover the seeds with 1/8 inch of growing medium and water them lightly to encourage germination.
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Cover the planting containers with aluminum foil for five to eight days while you wait for the seeds to sprout. Provide temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees F to facilitate healthy germination. Remove and discard the aluminum foil when the seeds begin to grow.
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Place the planting containers in a shaded location that receives no direct sunlight until seedlings develop their first leaves. Move the leafed seedlings to a spot that gets four hours of direct sunlight per day, preferably in the morning.
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Water the chianti mix pansy seedlings as often as necessary to keep the growing medium lightly moistened. For best results, water seedlings in the morning to ensure that the foliage is dry before nightfall.
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Sell the chianti mix pansy seedlings at your local farmers market or in your local grocery or specialty stores when they reach 6 to 8 inches in height. Perform market research to determine the average selling price of pansies in your area. Price your chianti mix pansy seedlings competitively.
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Tips & Warnings
When cultivating full-grown chianti mix pansies, feed the plants with a water-soluble 5-10-5 fertilizer every four weeks to promote healthy growth and bountiful blossoms.
Never allow the growing medium to become soggy or your chianti mix pansies will rot.
