Is it Pansy time of year?

hwalkerh

I started growing a few bedding plants from seed this year. They are all now reaching good size. I have petunias, busy lizzie and pansies but i haven't seen any panies in shops and am wondering if it is the wrong time of the year for them?

elsien

I think the nurseries sell the summer pansies a bit earlier in the year - I was after some the other day and they'd been and gone. Should be fine to plant them though I would have thought - some of my winter ones are still going strong, just getting a bit leggy.

psso

Pansies are great summer bedding. I had about 600 in my front garden last year and they gave a beautiful show for months. (They`re my favourite flowers, I love their little `faces`) Got some for this year as well although not quite as many. When they start to get leggy I just nip them back a bit and they usually come away again. Last for ages if you dead head them. Collect the seed for next year as well for loads of free plants.

jaxx46

Hi, I have just started to collect seed pods from my pansies that were planted last year, and was wondering when do i start the seeds off for new plants?

Kay_Peel

Right now. The fresher the seed, the better.

I let the seed pods open on the plant and then pick them off. I place them on some kitchen paper in a cool porch to let them dry and separate, for a few days. Then I sow them into pots or in the open ground. They'll put on some nice growth before Autumn and will flower in Spring, usually.

You can keep them in a twist of paper in the salad drawer of the fridge. otherwise