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Master Gardenersm Column for the Week of September 22, 2003
Charlie Spencer
Brunswick County Extension Master Gardenersm Volunteer

PLANT PANSIES FOR WINTER COLOR

Surprise! Looking out your window on a dark, dreary day in the middle of winter you see a vision of color in your garden. The happy colors of the pansies that you planted in October immediately brighten your outlook on life.

These wintertime beauties will still be blooming when the tulip and daffodils start blooming in the spring. October is the best time to plant pansies after the weather has cooled off.

Pansies may be planted in your garden or in containers. They like full sun and will do better if planted in rich soil. Ha! (About all we have here is sand; guess we better amend the soil with compost or other organic matter). Pansies need to be watered all winter long when it’s dry, but they do not like wet feet. Feed them on a regular basis and trim any leggy stems lightly to maintain maximum growth and blooms.

Pansies are available in small, medium, and large flower types. Viola-type pansies usually have small one-inch-type flowers. Viola Princess series have six-inch plants with one-inch blooms. Baby Bingo is a relatively new series that is available in six shades. Another variety is the Accord hybrid with 2 1/2- to 2-inch blooms on stocky stems. The Crystal Bowl hybrid is covered with 2 1/2-inch flowers that are resistant to heat, cold, rain, and disease.

Majestic Giants hybrid is a large 7-inch plant with blooms up to 4 inches across. The blooms have attractive faces. One unusual variety is the Springtime Black hybrid with 2-inch blooms is sure to be eye-catching. The Padpavodja is an AAS Award winner and was named after the famous orange sapphire. The 1 1/2- to 2-inch flowers are a clear, deep orange. Jolly Joker is another AAS winner; this is one of the most striking bi-color pansies. The large 3-inch blooms are orange and purple. Another unusual pansy is the Ghost variety. Long and ridged stems make this a good variety for cutting. The 2 1/2-inch blossoms have a unique bronzy color and are wonderfully fragrant.

There are many other varieties available, but these are proven performers. Don’t be afraid to try new varieties.

For more information on pansies contact the Cooperative Extension Service.

Send your gardening questions or comments to: Brunswick County Master Gardener Column, P.O. Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422, or call (910) 253-2610. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if requesting information or a reply. Answers may be printed in this column.

North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

For further information or assistance, please e-mail:
Charlie Spencer, Brunswick County Extension Master GardenersmVolunteer

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Date Created 9/16/2003