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How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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Posted by dcrosby 5MA (My Page) on
Sun, Apr 29, 12 at 18:01

Dear Garden Folk

I was in a situation the other day where I had to plant my annuals, Viola, with no compost.

Ive always ammended my soil but this time I had none on hand.

Will they be ok or should I dig them up or top dress them with the compost?

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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throw them on the driveway.. they will probably grow in the cracks ...

is that sturdy enough???

ken

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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that'll do

thanks!

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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i was thinking about the small ones ... that are in my lawn.. and EVERYWHERE ...

then later.. i was wondering if you meant the bigger more showier ones ...

regardless ... with good watering.. either should be pretty bullet-proof ...

ken

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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Just top dress the planted violas with good compost.
I do it several times during the growing season. They bloom well until early-mid August for me...then they get too leggy.
I replace them with fall mums.

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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they are on the small side so i'm not sure if they're the ones you mean but top dressing them will probably assure their survival
thanks folks!
dale

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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Violas do not need much in the way of compost. If you've added compost every year you probably have good soil already. They are not fussy plants. If they thrive and come back and reseed themselves in my neighbours mostly clay flower beds they will thrive without a fresh bit of compost in yours

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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  • Posted by mytime 3/4 Alaska (My Page) on
    Mon, Apr 30, 12 at 19:19

Mine grow everywhere with no care whatsoever, including the cracks in the driveway. I save my compost for fussier plants.

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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less is good as it is less work for me

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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I'm talking about violas that are seen in this photo. These certainly have never wintered over for me and if they have seeded, are not true hybrids.


IMG_3654_2

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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What many of us have are the carefree viola tricolors - the Johnny Jump Ups. No one ever seems to know how they were introduced into their yards and gardens - in sod, a load of topsoil? They're remarkably hardy and reliable and spring up everywhere. I get them coming up in solid colors as well as every possibly color combination.

I've never had any luck getting the larger flowered usually sold as annuals viola types to winter over. Regular pansies will often reseed/reappear for a few seasons.

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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so far they seem pretty happy. i think, based on their size, that they are Johhny Jump ups so they should make it through the summer...i think

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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If you put compost down with them every year, skipping a year...or two..or three will not matter.

tj

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RE: How sturdy are Viola...no compost

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My daughter and I were (gently) laughing as here in our zone 8, violas and pansies are winter crops/ornamentals that we sadly have to yank to make way for summer annuals...sadly because they're at their prettiest until mid-April.

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