Pansies are the stars for cool weather bedding flowers, and they're perfect for containers as well. They come in many different colors and patterns with cheerful upturned faces. Pansies are in the Viola family and although they can be a perennial, most grow them as annuals. They do not perform well during the heat of summer, but spring and fall, and even in mild winters, they shine.

Planting time all depends on when the plants are being set out. For spring, start the seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks prior to the last frost. For fall, start the seeds indoors 8 weeks or more before any frosts are expected.

Plant Pansy flowers in full sun to partial shade. If they're being used in the spring, afternoon shade will help them last longer into the summer. Pansies prefer rich, moist soil that drains well.

• Place the Pansy seeds into starter trays filled with moistened soil
• Cover the seeds lightly with soil
• Covering the trays with black plastic will give darkness and help hold in moisture
• Check on the seeds daily and remove the plastic as soon as seedlings emerge
• Grow the Pansies in a bright window or under lights
• For spring transplanting, harden off the Pansy plants 7 - 10 days prior to the last expected frost and transpant out
• For fall transplanting, harden off the Pansy plants for 7 - 10 days toward the end of summer
• Ideally, Pansies should be transplanted and settled in their fall home for at least 2 weeks prior to a light frost

• Pansies prefer moist soil, so water the plants regularly
• Fertilize with a fertilizer for blooms - high in phosphorous and potassium
• Deadhead spent blooms to keep more blooms coming on
• Trim the plants back if they become too leggy