Planting and Caring for Violas

Please take time to read the following cultural advice and although the information may seem detailed and may appear somewhat demanding, I can assure you that once you are familiar with the procedures of growing Violas, the tasks recommended for their well-being become enjoyable and rewarding to yourself as well as to your plants.

PREPARATION & PLANTING.

Violas enjoy growing in an airy mostly sunny position. Wherever planted they prefer a soil-based root medium with some additives. You can utilise either John Innes No.1 or 2 which will be available from your local Garden Centre or alternatively some tilthy topsoil from your garden, or if you have a local mole, 2 or 3 carefully scooped molehills is usually a good source of healthy topsoil.

The recommended planting mixture for your new Violas is as follows:-

Using a clean 2gallon (10litre) bucket/pail, half fill with John Innes No.1 or 2 or your topsoil.

Add horticultural perlite.

Top up the bucket/pail with some All-Purpose potting compost, garden peat or well-matured leaf-mould. Tip out the ingredients, sprinkle over the fertiliser supplied and thoroughly mix altogether. The planting mixture is now ready. The quantity prepared is sufficient for 6-8 plantings. If planting into pots we recommend 1 plant per 5 inch diam. (13cm.) pot. If planting directly into the garden, excavate the planting hole, loosen the soil in the bottom and pour in a level 5 inch diam. (13cm) pot full of planting mixture. Although you will be reluctant to do so, remove all existing flowers and buds showing colour from your plant, this will encourage rapid establishment. Now gently plant your Viola and water carefully.

Cultivation

Your plants will quickly establish and very soon be forming new buds and flowers. This is the most exciting time of the season as the first blooms reach for the spring sunshine. It is unlikely that your plants will be without flowers for the entire summer. Nevertheless your Violas will require some essential attention (T.L.C.) throughout the growing period. Although these vital tasks are not particularly time consuming, it is the regularity of which they are carried out that assures a healthy plant producing quantity and continuity of flowers. Also the hidden benefit of care and attention is a strong and vigorous root system that will, at the end of the summer have stored sufficient perennial reserves for a safe survival through the oncoming winter.

Essential tasks for Healthy and Free-flowering Violas are:-

1.  Water regularly as required, keeping the compost moist at all times, never allow to completely dry out. Use water from your rainwater butt whenever possible.

2. About six weeks after planting begin a regular feeding regime. Violas have a healthy appetite; apply liquid feed every7-10 days alternating between a general balanced feed (e.g. Phostrogen or Miracle-Grow) and a high potash feed (e.g. Tomorite or Chempak) all usually available in most garden stores. Always take care not to exceed the Products dilution recommendations.

3.  Watering and Feeding is preferred during early morning or evening.

4.  Regularly remove all spent flowers as they fade. Try very hard to keep on top of this very important task, nip off a few each time you visit or pass-by your plant. The purpose of doing this is to prevent the plant from setting seed, thereby encouraging continuity of flowering.

5.  Regrettably this is a nasty!!! It is a warning I have to include, WATCH OUT, there are slugs about! Unless you are very fortunate, particularly during the spring your plants could be targeted by the evil little grey "field slug". This is not the voracious giant black and orange brutes that devour all edible foliage in their path, these little terrors have a 'sweet tooth'. Being only 3-4mm. in size they'll set up home amongst the foliage of your plant to await the emergence of the innocent virgin flower buds. These rascals are not easy to locate, so if you spot one at anytime remove at once with fingers or tweezers. If your flowers continually open with chunks gouged from the petals purchase SCOTTS LIQUID SLUG CLEAR and apply as instructed. This is the most effective treatment.

6. Violas have few other natural enemies. As with many plants Aphid attack can distort leaves.  Mildew can sometimes appear in late summer.  Take steps to combat these should they occur.

AFTERCARE

As October approaches, your plants, whether planted in the garden or in pots will have flowered tirelessly for up to 6 months, the time has come for them to rest and conserve energy for winter. Flowering can no longer be permitted. Remove all flowering stems and buds and cut back all straggly and untidy foliage just leaving the late summer growth in the crown of the plant, top up around the plant with fresh compost, your Viola will now be ready for its winter slumber. Violas are winter-hardy, always leave your plants outside exposed to normal weather conditions, do not attempt to protect them either in greenhouses, frames or cloches, it is not necessary. Check periodically for over wintering aphids. Growth will resume naturally in Spring, so that is the time to apply a general balanced fertiliser in preparation for another wonderful flowering summer.

N.B. One year old plants grown in and over wintered in 5 inch diam. (13cm.pots) can be potted-on in early Spring upgrading to a 6-7 inch diam. (15-17cm.) size pot. If plants are over wintered in pots, place them on gravel or bricks to avoid water logging.

EXTRA HINTS FOR THE VERY BEST VIOLAS

(a) If planted in a plastic pot, insert into slightly larger terracotta clay, ceramic or stone container and fill the cavity with tiny chippings, you could then put decorative pea size pebble on the top. This creates a more pleasing effect with the added benefit of keeping roots cool and conserving moisture. Ensure that this outer container is bottom drilled for drainage.

(b) For pots and containers sited near walls or fences, periodically turn the pot to balance all-round growth.

(c) During periods of extreme baking sunshine or heat wave temperatures, allow your plants some respite by moving to, or providing some dappled shading.

(d) As July approaches your plant will have been flowering for somelO-12 weeks, if you allow it your plant will enjoy a well-deserved mid-summer siesta, just a short break from the exertion of continued flower production. Carefully cut back all flowering stems, maturing buds and straggly wayward foliage growth. Water well and apply a balanced liquid feed. Within two weeks or so new buds will once again be forming, apply high potash liquid feed and continue plant care as described and flowering will continue freely until October.

(e) If you are cutting bloom for small vases, always take the receptacle of water to the chosen plant. Cut only one stem at a time with sharp scissors or knife and immerse immediately into the water. Proprietary sachets of' longer-life crystals can be added by choice.

We wish you every success with your new Violas. Please remember they love care and attention and will repay you generously with a harvest of scent and bloom throughout the summer. If you require any further information please telephone (01522) 686343.

Thank you.

"The Pretty Viola, she pleaseth the eye and gladdens the heart"

Inserted with permission of http://victorian violas.co.uk

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