Pansies

Planting pansies

Set out transplants a few weeks before the last frost; they handle light frost well. In mild climates, plant in fall for winter and spring color.

Planting details

• Start seed indoors 10 to 12 weeks ahead for spring planting
• Spacing: 6 to 9 inches
• Afternoon shade stretches the season as days warm

Growing requirements

Pansies bloom heaviest in cool weather with sun to part shade and moist, fertile soil. Summer heat ends the show, so treat them as a spring and fall crop in warm climates.

Harvesting and care

Pinch off spent flowers to keep plants blooming. When heat stretches them leggy, cut back hard or pull them and let summer annuals take over.

Common mistakes

• Planting out too late in spring, so heat arrives before the display does
• Letting plants dry out, which shrinks blooms quickly
• Expecting summer performance in hot climates

Companion plants

Pansies fit the front of beds alongside snapdragons, lettuce, and other cool-season plantings that share their window.