Planting Time for Pansies

Spring Planting

• According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, pansies thrive in temperatures below 65 degrees F, and hybrid varieties such as the Icicle cultivars can bloom in temperatures down to 2 to 5 degrees F. In early spring, garden centers will begin to stock pansy seedlings when planting time is right in your area. Consider using pansies at the feet of your daffodils, tulips and other bulbs to provide a continuous amount of blooms into the summer season. Containers of pansies may need to be covered or moved into a sheltered area in the event of a prolonged cold spell, but generally they can survive some extreme temperatures.

Fall Planting

• Icicle varieties have gained popularity in the middle U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones, such as 5 and 6, in autumn shades of red, orange, yellow and blue as fall bedding plants. These hybrids can withstand extreme cold and bloom well into the winter season. Pansies are usually back in stock at full-service garden centers in mid-September, along with other autumn blooms such as asters and mums.

Winter Planting

• In milder zones such as the southern United States, pansies are grown as a late-fall or winter plant to bloom from October into March or April, depending on how far north they are grown. For best results, always purchase seeds or seedlings from local garden centers or growers for the best cultivars for your growing zone and conditions.

General Tips

• No matter when or where you are growing pansies, know that this whimsical bloom prefers well-draining, rich soil and plenty of sunlight. Pansies, like their close cousins Johnny-jump-ups and violas, are self-seeders, so adding them to your landscape can mean seeing their happy little faces pop up for years to come in some of the most unusual places in your garden, including the lawn and the cracks in the sidewalk. Simply pulling or using a general herbicide will keep them at bay in unwanted areas. Pansies are heavy nutrient feeders, as well, and benefit from regular doses of fertilizer, but if you plan to eat their edible blooms, use a consumable-grade fertilizer or compost to boost the nutrients.