For many home gardeners, the first sign of spring is a mad dash to the local garden center or big-box store. It’s so easy to grab a few flats of pansies and call it a day, right? Well, hold your horses! While buying pre-grown plants is convenient, there are some really compelling reasons why you should try starting your pansies from seed instead.
Stronger, Healthier Plants
The biggest “pro” for DIY pansies is that they are usually way more resilient than the ones you find at the store. When you grow them yourself, they tend to be much hardier and produce a way more impressive display of flowers. Plus, you’ll find that their blooming season lasts significantly longer than their store-bought cousins.
Timing Your Planting
When should you get those seeds in the dirt? It all depends on when you want that pop of color in your garden. If you’re dreaming of early spring blooms, you actually want to start your seeds in the late summer of the previous year. If you’re looking for a lush summer display, it’s best to start your seeds indoors during the spring. And if you want a second round of color for the fall, aim to sow your seeds in June.
Stick to Store-Bought Seeds
You might be tempted to save seeds from your own plants, but I’d recommend skipping that headache. Not only is harvesting those tiny seeds a total pain, but it’s often a lost cause. Most modern pansies are “F1 hybrids,” which means their seeds either won’t grow at all or won’t look anything like the parent plant. Your best bet is to take advantage of the huge variety of seed packets available online or at your local nursery.
Pansies Love the Dark
When you’re ready to plant, find a nice shady spot. Pansies are “dark germinators,” meaning they need total darkness to sprout. Make sure to cover the seeds lightly with soil and keep that soil consistently moist. Be patient—you should see those first little sprouts popping up in about four to six weeks.
If you’re thinking about growing your own pansies this year, just remember these key takeaways:
- Home-grown plants are heartier and produce more flowers than store-bought ones.
- Your sowing schedule depends entirely on when you want them to bloom.
- Always use high-quality, store-bought seeds for the best results.
