Pansy & Viola

Renee's Garden - Also known as Heart’s Ease, these dainty little flowers look like jaunty miniature pansies with pretty flower faces of deep violet, mauve, yellow and white. Johnny Jump Ups are both weather tolerant and long blooming and are good container and edging plants and are lovely planted in spring bulb beds. Johnny Jump Ups blossoms are edible with a mild wintergreen flavor and make tasty garnishes and decorations. These sweet flowers self sow readily and will enhance every garden. (Viola tricolor)  Characteristics:  Heirloom Selective  Great in containers  Perennial grown as annual  Spring bloom  Can handle frost  750 mg, ~1300 Seeds per packet   Instructions - In Mild Winter Climates, start seeds in late summer to have plants large enough to successfully overwinter and bloom in early spring. In Cold Winter Climates, start early indoors about 2 1/2 months before the last spring frost. Sow seeds in a container of seed starting mix 1 inch apart and cover very lightly. Keep evenly moist and cool at 55-60°, providing a strong light source. When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them 2 inches apart into a deeper container(s) and grow to 2 to 3 inches tall. Gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting 4 to 5 inches apart in a sunny spot. Space seedlings are 4 to 5 inches apart. Pansies will bloom longest and make the largest flowers when the weather is cool. In mild winter areas, late summer sowings will begin to bloom in very early spring or even late winter. Keep faded blossoms removed to prolong flowering.  Plant in: January-March/ July-August  Full sun  Plant 1/4" deep  Space seeds 1" apart  Days to germinate: 10-14 days  Days to harvest: 4-6"  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Seed Exchange - Native to Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains. Truly a classic garden flower that never goes out of fashion. Like all violas, can be used as an edible garnish with cheeses or salads. Plants are exceedingly free-blooming from spring through late autumn. Self-seeding biennial, 5-6" tall,  (Viola x williamsiana) (aka Heartsease). Characteristics:  Open-Pollinated Self-seeding biennial plants grow to 5-6 inches Purple and yellow blossoms Good for container growing Flower heads are edible Instructions - Sow seeds indoors 1/4" deep. Transplant outdoors when the spring temperatures are still cool and a light frost is possible. Plants enjoy cool rich soil. Start indoors8-10 weeks before the last frost Germination 10-14 days Plant 6-9" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

Renee's Garden - These entrancing nostalgic flowers are especially beautiful, with ruffled blossoms and luscious velvety petals. They bloom in unusually deep rich shades of mahogany, ivory, gold, purple, and lilac, many with intricate markings and color patterns. Victorian Posy plants are taller than modern pansy varieties and their romantic flowers are perfect to dance and glow in window boxes and containers or cast their special allure at the front of garden borders. (Viola x wittrockiana)  Characteristics:  Heirloom Selective  Great in containers  Perennial grown as annual  Spring bloom  Can handle frost  Approx 90 Seeds per packet   Instructions - In Mild Winter Climates, start seeds in late summer to have plants large enough to successfully overwinter and bloom in early spring. In Cold Winter Climates, start early indoors about 2 1/2 months before the last spring frost. Sow seeds in a container of seed starting mix 1 inch apart and cover very lightly. Keep evenly moist and cool at 55-60°, providing a strong light source. When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them 2 inches apart into a deeper container(s) and grow to 2 to 3 inches tall. Gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting 4 to 5 inches apart in a sunny spot. Space seedlings are 4 to 5 inches apart. Pansies will bloom longest and make the largest flowers when the weather is cool. In mild winter areas, late summer sowings will begin to bloom in very early spring or even late winter. Keep faded blossoms removed to prolong flowering.    Plant in: January-March/ July-August  Full sun  Plant 1/4" deep  Space seeds 1" apart  Days to germinate: 10-14 days  Days to harvest: 4-6"  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.