How to grow Viola in Australia
Grow in full sun to part shade in moist, fertile, well drained soil. Keep watering steady for continuous blooms.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Part shade
- Water: 4 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 15 cm
- Time to harvest: 70 days
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to July | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to July | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to July | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to July | |
| Adelaide & SA | March to July | |
| Perth & WA | March to July | |
| Tasmania | February to April, September and October | Sow Feb to Apr for winter flowers or Sep to Oct for spring. Violas love Tasmanian cool. |
| Canberra & ACT | February to April, September and October | Sow Feb to Apr for winter and spring flowers, or Sep to Oct. Violas flower through Canberra frost. |
| North Queensland | April and May | Marginal. Sow Apr to May so plants flower in the coolest months. |
| Darwin & Top End | May and June | Marginal. Sow May to Jun for the coolest nights of the dry. |
Varieties
- Johnny Jump Up (Heartsease)
- Sorbet Mixed
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick flowers when fully open and freshly coloured. Pinch blooms off at the stem and regular picking keeps the plant flowering for longer.
Storage
Pick flowers fresh and use within 1 to 2 days. Crystallised flowers store for weeks.