Easter is on the horizon, and this year it also marks the middle of autumn. Although I still feel like I’m only just farewelling summer, it’s nice to be able to slacken off from my watering programme and think about my winter garden.
Luckily the end of warmer weather doesn’t also mean the end of bright colourful flowers in the garden. Now’s the perfect time to inject new bursts of colour – and the easiest way is to plant some pansies.
The brightly coloured overlapping petals of the pansy cheer up any garden spot. They’re cute, yet bold, come in a rainbow of colours and, best of all, are one of the easiest flowers to grow.
Pansies flower right from autumn through spring, often when it feels like there’s not much colour happening in your garden. They’re extremely hardy – surviving frosts, wind and rain. Just make sure you get them in before it gets too cold, and you’ll see that they are truly a plant-and-forget flower.
They make great garden beds, borders, and are perfect for pots. Pansies also look really attractive when planted in between larger plants.
You can grab your pansy seedlings from Awapuni Nurseries online shop and have them delivered directly to your door. We guarantee delivery, and if you’re not completely happy with your plants, we will replace them. We currently grow 27 varieties of pansies, so you’re bound to find something to suit your garden.
Exciting news from the nursery this season is the launch of our new mixed giant pansies. The flowers on our giant pansy span up to 10cm across and grow slightly higher than your average pansies too – up to 20cm high. You’ll find pinks, yellows, blues and violets in the mixed variety - perfect for an array of pots, hanging baskets or as a multi-coloured garden border.
When you’ve got your seedlings, look for a spot in your garden that receives morning (or all day) sun, with good drainage. After our hot summer, dig in some compost and fertiliser to enrich the soil.
To plant your seedlings, dig little holes, 3cm deep and around 15cm apart. Give a good initial watering, and then water every few days while they get established. In one to two months you’ll start to see some burst of colour coming through.
Once they’re flowering, pick them to encourage more blooms. The more you pick, the more will grow. Arrange your pansies in a vase with some interesting foliage, to bring bursts of colour into your house this winter.
And for the chefs out there – pansies are also edible, having a sweet grassy flavour. Use them to bring colour to winter salads, or to garnish a cake. You can even freeze them in ice cubes and add to your drinks.
