How much do violet seeds cost? Plus the latest planting methods

The violet is one of Europe's famous flowers, also known as herb stock, four-peach, herb violet, etc. It is a biennial or perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Matthiola in the family Brassicaceae, native to the Mediterranean coast, and is widely cultivated in large cities in China. It can be planted in gardens or greenhouses for ornamental purposes. It is very similar to the pansy, so it is easily confused. Let's take a look together at the price of violet seeds and the planting methods!

How much do violet seeds cost?

The price of violet seeds is about 0.5 to 1 yuan per seed, and about 100 to 130 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly due to differences in seed quality, variety and so on. In production, violets are mainly propagated by seeds. The flowers are abundant, the colors are bright, the fragrance is rich, the flowering period is long, and the inflorescences are also long. Therefore, they are loved by many flower enthusiasts. They are suitable for potted ornamental display and can be used to arrange flower beds, steps, and flower borders, and the whole stems of flowers can be used as bouquets.

What varieties of violets are there?

1. By height: Violets can be divided by plant height into 3 types: tall, medium, and short. All types can be potted. Medium and short varieties are used for flower beds, generally with a plant height of 30 to 40 cm, and tall varieties are used for cut flowers, generally with a plant height of 60 to 90 cm.

2. By flowering period: Violets can be divided by flowering period into winter violets, spring violets, and summer violets. Winter violets bloom in winter and spring, summer violets bloom in summer, and autumn violets are obtained by crossing winter violet and summer violet varieties.

3. By flower shape: Violets can be divided by flower shape into two strains: single-petaled and double-petaled. In the double-petaled strain, both single-petaled and double-petaled flowers appear after sowing. Although double-petaled flowers have high ornamental value, their stamens and pistils have all become petal-like, so they cannot set seeds. Only single-petaled flowers can set seeds.

Sowing methods for violets

1. Sowing time: Violets are generally sown from mid-August to early October, and this can also be adjusted according to the desired flowering time. Sown in a greenhouse in February, they bloom in May; sown in March, they bloom in June; but if sown in July, they will not bloom until February to March of the following year.

2. Sowing method: Before sowing violets, the potting soil should be relatively moist. After sowing, cover with a thin layer of fine soil and do not water again. If the potting soil dries out within half a month, the pot can be placed half-submerged in water so that water enters from the bottom of the pot and moistens the soil. Note that violets should not be sown too densely, otherwise the seedlings are prone to damping-off disease.

3. Post-sowing management: After sowing violet seeds, pay attention to shading. Seedlings can emerge in about 15 days. Before the true leaves unfold, the seedlings can be transplanted into a seedling bed at a spacing of 6×8 cm between plants and rows. When pulling up the seedlings, be careful not to damage the root hairs and keep a soil ball. Before planting out, some base fertilizer should be applied to the soil.

Planting methods for violets

1. Potting: Transplant violet seedlings early, bring more original soil, and try not to damage the root system. Choose flower pots corresponding to the size of the plants. For soil, use a culture soil that is loose, fertile, well-drained, neutral, and slightly acidic.

2. Watering: The amount of water for violets should be determined according to the growing season. In winter and early spring, water only after the potting soil has dried. In summer, when temperatures are high, water more and spray water around them frequently. In autumn, as the climate becomes cooler, watering should be reduced accordingly.

3. Sunlight: Violets like sufficient sunlight, but cannot tolerate direct strong light, nor should they grow for too long under excessively shaded conditions, otherwise it will cause fewer flowers and pale colors or even no flowering. For home flower growing, they can be placed in a ventilated place with scattered light.

4. Temperature: Violets like a warm winter, cool summer, and well-ventilated environment. In winter, they can tolerate a short period of low temperature of -5°C. They avoid dry heat. The suitable temperature for flower bud differentiation is 15°C.

5. Fertilization: During the growing season, apply a thin, fully decomposed cake fertilizer water or liquid fertilizer once every 2 weeks to violets, but note that nitrogen fertilizer should not be excessive. After flower buds appear, apply 0.5% superphosphate 1 to 2 times to make the flower colors brighter.

6. Pruning: For violets, 15 to 20 days after planting out, when the true leaves have increased to 10 and growth is vigorous, 6 to 7 true leaves can be retained and the terminal bud removed. After side branches develop, keep the upper 3 to 4 branches and remove the rest early. After flowering, the faded flowers should be cut off.

7. Pests and diseases: During cultivation, violets are prone to root rot, crown rot, powdery mildew, aphids, mites, thrips, nematodes and other damage. Attention should be paid to ventilation and disinfection of the growing medium before use. When the above pests and diseases are found, relevant pesticides should be sprayed promptly for control.