Viola are a beautiful, nostalgic flower that are having a real in moment. Viola 'Arkwright Ruby' is one of the first Viola varieties I grew from seed 4 years ago and she's been with me ever since. Dainty flowers come in striking deep ruby to burnt orange shades. While not a variety that has been bred for cut flower production, if grown using a few tricks, you can get extremely long (by Viola and Pansy standards!) scrambling stems to over 40 cm. Arkwright Ruby will happily self seed and wander around your garden similar to Johnny Jump Ups (see last image for a beautiful baby of Arkwright Ruby). Highly recommend!
COOL SEASON HARDY ANNUAL TO SHORT LIVED PERENNIAL
WHEN TO SOW: Sow Viola and Pansies from late summer right through to very early spring. Ideally autumn sown for spring flowers.
HOW TO GROW: Pansies and violas can be direct or cell sown. Sow seeds directly into a prepared garden bed in autumn to very early spring. Lightly cover with 1-2mm soil - they will germinate in both darkness or light, but a light covering of soil or vermiculite helps maintain humidity around the seed for optimal conditions. Keep soil moist, but not wet, while waiting for seeds to germinate. Do not allow germinants to get leggy, prick out and pot up as soon as possible.
You can also sow indoors in pots/cells and plant out into the garden any time betweeelate summer to early spring.
Pansy and Viola seeds are not grown on our farm. This is from my own planting stock and is surplus to my needs.
We grow flowers in Wingello, a small rural village in the NSW Southern Highlands. We acknowledge that we farm on unceded Gundungarra Country, and pay respect to Elders, past and present of the Gundungarra people, and extend this respect to all First Nations and Torres Strait Islands people.
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