Growing Sorbet Series Viola Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Viola cornuta
- Seed Type: Perennial (most often grown as an annual)
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: For optimal blooms, sow indoors using a seed starting kit 8 – 12 weeks before your region's final frost. Sorbet Series seeds may also be sown late summer for autumn blooming since violas can weather a frost. Provide plenty of sunlight or grow 3 – 4” beneath fluorescent grow lights for 16 hours per day with 8 hours of darkness. Do not use incandescent bulbs and do not leave lights on for any 24-hour period. Harden-off seedlings before transplanting outside into partial shade with well-drained, organic-rich soil.
- Days to Maturity: 91 - 98 days
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9
- Seed Planting Depth: 1/8”
- Plant Spacing: 8 - 10"
- Growth Habit: 6 – 8” tall mound with a 6 – 8” spread of blooms
- Soil Preference: Organic, evenly rich, well-drained
- Light Preference: Full sun – partial shade
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Sorbet Series seeds grow to be hardy, cold-tolerant, and suitable for a wide range of North American climates. Monitor regularly for pests, but not known to be especially susceptible to regular pests or diseases. Sorbet Series violas can endure chills that many pests can not.
- Flower Colors: Purple, Lemon Chiffon, Black Delight, Yellow Frost, Lilac Ice, Beaconsfield, Orange Jump Orange, Yesterday Today Tomorrow, or Mix and Blotch Mix
- Flavor: Sweet to mild herbal perfume. Violet-blue shades are known to be more aromatic and pair best with teas and desserts. Herbal-earthy shades compliment savory dishes and are widely used as a garnish or salad topper.
For optimal blooms, sow Sorbet Series viola seeds indoors using a seed starting kit 8 – 12 weeks before your region's final frost. Sorbet Series seeds may also be sown late summer for autumn blooming since Sorbet Series violas can endure a chill. Provide plenty of sunlight from a window or, ideally, grow 3 – 4” beneath fluorescent grow lights for 16 hours per day with 8 hours of darkness. Do not use incandescent bulbs and do not leave lights on for any 24-hour period. Harden-off young Sorbet Series viola seedlings before transplanting outside into partial shade with well-drained, organic-rich matter worked into the soil. Plant Sorbet Series viola seeds 1/8" deep and 8 - 10" apart and add fertilizer as your violas near maturity. Monitor regularly for pests, but Sorbet Series viola seeds are not known to be susceptible to regular pests or diseases as they can endure chills that many pests can not. Sorbet Series viola seeds mature in 91 - 98 days as 6 – 8” tall compact mounds with a 6 – 8” spread of sparkling blooms of your choice from their unique signature colors.
Violas are not too different from pansies, and the term viola or violet is generally used for those varieties with a smaller plant a bloom size.