Growing Halloween II Pansy Garden Seeds

Sow Halloween II pansy seeds indoors using a starting kit 12-14 weeks before the final frost. Pansies do not grow naturally in the wild and are not recommended for direct sowing. Maintain pansy seeds in complete darkness for germination then place beneath fluorescent grow lights for 16 hours per day with 8 hours of darkness. Harden-off seedlings before transplanting outside into shady and cool spot in the garden or comparable place indoors. Plant 3-4 Halloween II pansy seeds ¼ inch deep and 6 inches apart in moist, hummus-rich, and well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Avoid overhead watering to minimize wetting foliage as Halloween II pansy seeds are susceptible to fungal and leaf diseases if not properly ventilated. Halloween II pansies are a dwarfed 6-8 inch tall variety and should be planted on the south end of the garden to avoid being overshadowed. Pansies have no serious pests or diseases, but monitor regularly for slugs and snails. Halloween II pansy seeds mature in 91-98 days as 6-8 inch dwarf mounds with a tidy 8-10 inch spread covered in generous 3 inch blooms of midnight black petals with a tight yellow center and soft purple accents.

Viola x wittrockiana is a hybrid resulting from tri-colored violas. The pansy only exists as a result of mass crossing and hybridizing of the viola during the 19th century and has never grown naturally in the wild. There is much debate and etymological red tape about interchanging the common terms "pansies", "violas", and "violets". The species wittrockiana pays homage to 19th century pioneering botanist Veit Brecher Wittrock.