I used to grow Johnny Jump Up (violas?) and they reseeded. Loved them. I think the last few summers were to hot and dry and did them in, only saw a few last year. So, I ordered some seeds, which came this week. It says to chill before planting. I live in central Ohio, we are still having snow and cold weather.

Should I sprinkle the seeds out where they usually grow and let nature chill them (since they normally reseed)? Sprinkle them into a pot of potting mix outdoors? Or, do I need to put the seed packet in the fridge?

I do not have a place to start them indoors.

I tried doing a google search, but the first few pages were all for buying the seed, not growing it. Maybe I am not searching for the right words.

Thanks!

I googled "How to Propagate Johnny-Jump-Ups".

This sounds about right:
http://www.gardenersnet.com/fl...

I winter sow my Johnnies.


Don

I just toss the seed outside while there is still a chance of frost.
No need to start indoors.

Thanks!

I am not the world's best "Googler"....

I hope growing them from seed works for me. I've not been able to find the more traditional ones the last few years at the local nurseries, only the "fancy" ones.

They will do fine from seeds started in early spring.
Let us know if you want some googling done---we can help.

I've never started them from seed, but ones I've bought as plants have always died off in the summer heat. They've never returned or reseeded.

In recent years I've bought winter hardy pansies, planted them in fall. They come back beautifully in spring. They die back in time for me to yank them and replant summer flowers. At least that way I get 2 seasons from them.

I tried WSowing pansies once, those also croaked in summer. Maybe I should try viola seeds again.

Karen

We get a lot of volunteers in our area, both the violas (they must grow wild in the area, because I never planted them and they're everywhere!) and pansies that either winter over or reseed. We're in similar zones, so they should do fine sprinkled outdoors. Might not hurt to cover them with a bit of fine soil, because they are supposed to prefer darkness to germinate.

The area where they always grew is shaded in the afternoon. They would disappear during the hot part of summer, but some would be back in fall, then next spring, they would be going gangbusters again.

Maybe I should try putting a few scattered on the ground, wiggled into the mulch, and a few in a pot. I'll have to see how many are in the packets.

I just recently started mine indoors in a plastic baggie. No chill, just dark. They germinated in just a couple of days.