Viola Cornuta 'Large Flower Mix' Seeds

Viola cornuta is technically a Hardy Perennial, though it is often grown as a Biennial or Annual.

The Cycle: They are incredibly flexible. Sow them in spring for summer flowers, or (best of all) sow them in late summer/autumn for flowers that bloom through mild winters and explode into colour the following spring.

Top Tip: These are "cut-and-come-again" flowers. The more you pick them for tiny posies (or to eat!), the more they bloom. They are much tougher in wind and rain than large-flowered Pansies.

Violas are easy to grow, but they have one specific requirement for germination.

Germination:
Sow indoors from February to April (for summer) or June to September (for spring). Sow seeds on moist compost and cover them completely to exclude light. They need darkness to germinate. Keep cool (15-18°C). Germination takes 10-14 days.

Where to Sow:
They flourish in sun or partial shade. They prefer cool, moist, rich soil. They dislike the intense heat of mid-summer, so a spot with afternoon shade is ideal.

Care While Growing:
Deadhead: This is the secret to non-stop flowers. Pinch off the faded blooms (and the seed pod behind them) to stop the plant exhausting itself.

Violas are the ultimate "understory" plant. Use them to carpet the ground beneath taller spring flowers:

• 🌷 Wallflower 'Cloth of Gold': The Spring Bedding Classic. The bright yellow of the wallflower picks up the yellow eyes of the Violas. Plant the wallflowers in the middle and ring them with mixed Violas for a traditional park display.
• ☁️ Forget-me-not 'Blue': The Blue Carpet. For a cool, calming spring container, mix blue Forget-me-nots with the 'Large Flower Mix' Violas. The difference in flower size adds great texture.

Sow in summer for winter/spring flowers, or spring for summer flowers.