How to Germinate Viola Seeds

Violas are hardy little flowers that bring a surprising amount of joy for their size. There’s a face in each one of them, which makes them feel sweetly companionable. You’ll often hear Paris and me cooing over them as we move down the rows at the farm, stopping to admire particular faces that catch our eye. We love them just as much in tubs and pots at home as we do growing en masse.

Growing violas from seed is one of the most satisfying ways to start the season. They do have a reputation for being tricky, largely because many of the more interesting and unusual varieties have lower germination rates. But don’t let that put you off. They are not difficult plants, just particular ones. And the reward is access to far more special varieties than you’ll ever find as plugs in a garden centre.

Below is the method we use to get the best possible germination from our seeds.

What you’ll need

Viola seeds
General purpose potting compost
Perlite or horticultural grit
Seed trays
A watering can or spray bottle
A humidity cover, such as a propagator lid or plastic wrap
Labels and a marke

Best time to start

Violas are one of the few crops we start almost year-round. They’re remarkably flexible. If you sow in spring, you can expect flowers from midsummer right through to autumn. Earlier sowings will give you longer flowering windows, but there’s no single “right” moment.

Sowing violas indoors in seed trays

Preparing the compost
Fill your trays with general purpose compost mixed with a little perlite or grit. The compost should feel damp to the touch, like a wrung-out sponge, not wet.

Sowing the seed
Sprinkle the seeds across the surface of the compost and gently firm them in with your fingers. This helps ensure good contact between seed and soil.

Covering the seed
We usually give them a very light covering of vermiculite or compost, but violas do benefit from light to germinate, so they can also be left uncovered. The key thing is preventing the surface from drying out.

Humidity and moisture
A propagator lid or cover is helpful at this stage, especially for surface-sown seeds, which can dry out quickly. Keep the compost moist, but never saturated.

Temperature
Aim for a steady temperature of around 15 to 21°C. Avoid heat mats if you can. Violas tend to germinate better when they are kept cool rather than warm.

Germination
Seeds usually germinate within 7 to 30 days. Check them often, and be patient. Some will always take longer than others.

After germination

Once the seedlings appear, remove the cover and move them into a bright position or under grow lights. Keep the compost evenly moist, it’s really important not to over-saturate their compost, they don’t respond well to being wet, they just need the soil to be damp enough to drink. This is especially true if it is cold, cold and damp in combination encourages root rot and disease.

When the seedlings are large enough to handle, gently prick them out and pot them on into individual cells. Take care with their roots, which are delicate at this stage.

After around six to eight weeks, begin hardening them off gradually before planting outside.

Pricking out, potting on from 29th January.

Then April 4th below! They’re ready for planting out now! Don’t forget to pinch off any flowers that appear before planting out, they need all the energy they can get to establish in the ground.

How to Germinate Viola Seeds: A Beginner-Friendly Guide