
Let's be honest - you have limited time in your garden and the last thing you want to do is maintain flowers
Grow Pansies For Color In Your Garden
If you are looking to add some serious color to your garden, you may want to grow pansies! Pansies grow low to the ground, help with weed control, and are available in a variety of colors. Not to mention, they are edible and are very low maintenance.
Check out these varieties of pansies below.
How To Eat Pansies
Eating a pansy is as easy as picking the flower and popping it in your mouth. The flavor is slightly perfumey but can vary in flavor from mint to bubblegum.
It's important to note that while eating flowers, you should only eat flowers you know haven't been treated with pesticides. I grow organically, so I can eat my edible flowers while I garden.
This article from Gardening Know How goes into detail about using pansies as food.
Caring For And Planting Pansies
While choosing the variety of pansies to grow is fun, it's important to know how to grow and care for your flowers.
Fast Facts About Pansies:
Annual
Hearty in cold weather
Plant in early spring or fall
Start pansies indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date
Great for container growing
Germination takes 1-3 weeks
Can grow 6"-9" tall
Best grown in soil temperatures of 45-65 degrees
Space 7"-12" apart as they will spread 9"-12" as they grow
Thrive in cooler temperatures
My Plan To Grow Pansies
I feel like I'm constantly thinking about my garden - what to plant, when to plant, etc. As soon as the season ends, my planning for next year begins. At present, I'm focused on watering my garlic, keeping the plants I'm over-wintering alive, organizing my seeds, and most importantly planning my garden.
Before my next season, I need to get some planters or buckets. Previously I used fabric buckets and a Mr. Stacky growing system which both worked, although I needed to water them daily so they didn't dry out. Nonetheless, I'm bringing more buckets to my garden next year. I'd like to plant my pansies and some herbs in a bucket. My thinking is I'll have plenty of other flowers in the ground - both as a border and inside, and I'd like to get some height in my garden. I want the pansies to shine and possibly cascade down a bucket.
I must get back to my garden planning, but as you wait for the next post in this series, read my other series.