Violets

Legends about the forest violet

Violet is among the favourite flowers of small and large. It grows in forests, meadows, gardens and parks. The forest violet is named “shy flower” because it hides in the grass. In antiquity, it was used to fill the marriage bed, and the great Shakespeare had a weakness to the violet, which is why they are present in his poems. There are many interesting legends about violets.

There is a tradition that describes the violets as a symbol of suffering and mourning, as well as wisdom and affection. It’s about the relationship of the flower with Golgotha. It is believed that the first appearance of the colour is at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. They grow in the most traditional purple colour. In France, however, white violets are considered a symbol of purity, sincerity and innocence, and are said to be divine because they have touched the Virgin’s garment.

Violets, according to another legend, reflected the love between Josephine and Napoleon. Their love was revived from their first meeting, and he attracted her with a gesture of a bouquet of blue violets. Napoleon’s approach to his beloved was delightful thanks to the bouquet of violets in the shape of the first letter of her name. The small gift of beautiful colours has become a tradition and a testimony to their feelings. Josephine received a similar bouquet from her husband every year. After her death, she ordered the whole litter of small flowers to be sown on her grave.

Garden Violet are widely found in mythology. According to one of the legends, Aphrodite bathed in a mountain lake and at that moment she noticed a few men who are appetisingly watching her naked exquisite body, she asked Zeus to punish them properly. He made a decision to turn them into flowers that looked like a face with clear eyes and lips. This is the reason why sometimes they turn to the forest flower called “kokrche”, also known as a smiling girl’s face.

Violet – Growing and Care

You must be very precise when growing violets. Although they are not among the capricious plants, they are small, fragile and impose some basic rules to donate with beautiful dyes. You will be grateful for a long flowering (almost year-round for some species) if you make little effort for the environment and their way of life.

Location

Violets are a bit demanding in terms of where they lay, even though they are resistant to many atmospheric influences, you may find it difficult to choose a plot in the garden because they prefer indirect sunlight. It is best to grow in half-shade but in no case a full shade. The most optimal option that can be provided is sunshine during the cooler parts of the day and a shadowy shade during the rest of the day. The harsh morning sun tends to cause the beautiful colours to burn.

Soil

The soil must be prepared in advance. Quality drainage, humus and nutrients are required. For growing in boxes or some type of baskets, the container should be at least 30 – 40 cm deep. Again, they must meet the same conditions. You can enrich the soil with rotten leaves, but this must happen before planting or one or two compost shovels in planting for extra benefit.

Seeding and breeding

Sowing seeds is highly recommended to be done in early autumn. If you are plating for the first time, you can buy them from florist shops. If you want to breed one of your rare species – gather the seeds yourself. It is important to monitor the seedboxes at the right time. Summer is the period of readiness for their spreading – seedboxes gradually begin to open. Collected seeds must be stored in paper and planted in autumn. Place them at a distance of 10-15 cm and keep the soil well moistened.

October is the best month for sowing a permanent placing. After planting, germinating and strengthening, you can leave more stable plants and take the remaining seedlings out and dilute them. If you want to stimulate the formation of new buds and new leaves, cut the plant to 6-7 cm after the first flowering.

Watering

Irrigation should be done frequently and in moderate amounts. In the growing season, more careful monitoring and precision are required with regard to watering. Violets are moisture-loving plants, which means that no drought should be allowed in any season. Generally speaking, the plant grows best in moderately moistened soil. This task may sound a bit difficult to implement, so in order to make it easier, you can use sensors. They measure moisture in the soil and show the value. This can help control irrigation. If you are a bit more experienced, it is also a “simple eye”.

Pay attention to the indications given by the garden finger – this is a sure sign of the plant’s wishes. Also, be careful with excessive watering. Violets are not able to consume too much water and will “drown”. In this case, the blame for decay or the complete destruction of the vegetation will be yours. It would be good to have a drip or dripping system. So you will not have a commitment to irrigation because the technology supplies water at low soil levels.

10 valuable tips for growing violets

• Provide the violet shade in the summer and protect it in the winter
• Prepare the soil – it must be well-drained and rich in nutrients
• Plant the violets in an appropriate period – at least a few weeks before the expected last frost for the area, at a distance of 10-20 cm
• To enjoy violets throughout the year, sow the seeds in March (under glass or in your home) and plant in May – colour in summer to autumn. For bloom from winter to spring – sow in early
• July (in a shady stretch) and plant in autumn
• Apply mulching for better results – it brings thousands of benefits to the “flowering” of plants
• Spill moderately – excessive watering will cause decay
• Break the tops for a bigger colour – this is a growth phase
• Remove blossoming colours – this stimulates and prolongs the growth
• Apply preventive measures against pests and diseases and respond quickly to unwanted guests
• Make the planting in autumn or when the colours fall belongs to the genus “Viola”. It is a one-year and two-year plant but is more often seen as a two-year plant. Although the flower is known for its rich purple colour, it is still in white, yellow, pink, blue and in mixed colours. Gives a natural look to the garden, villa or balcony.
• You could make a “colour carpet” or a large, colourful, hanging basket, combining several varieties to one another. Huge selections predispose for a wide choice of size and colour, early and late flowering. The small and tender flowers of the violet are a symbol of innocence, modesty of love and loyalty.

Care

Nourishing the soil, removing unnecessary colours, leaves and weeds, as well as looking for ways to conserve during the winter period are the main guidelines for fresh and healthy vegetation.

• Fertilisation – in the flowering period, fertilisation is often required by suitable means such as combined fertiliser. It is recommended to be done every two weeks. Once you decide what type of fertiliser you will use, you need to know something extra. Reaching the crown of the plant and its leaves should be avoided with fertilisers in the form of granules. This will avoid unwanted injury. For better fertilising effect, use low levels of slow-release fertiliser. Higher values ​​tend to cause root eruption
• Cleaning the dried colours – your exterior also needs a periodic cleaning. The difference is that no dust is collected, but fallen or withering colours and leaves are observed. This is a natural process that requires minimal help on your part. Cleaning dried leaves are beneficial for the prolonged blooming of the violet.
• Weed cleaning – the appearance of weeds disturbs the violets. Keep in mind that plants should be kept well cleaned, especially during the growing season. Control is needed as weeds are capable of taking away the water, space and beneficial ingredients in the soil of your plants. For this purpose, cultivate more often and apply mulch. This will rid you of unwanted weeds and will help you in other directions – to keep moisture in the soil, maintain a suitable temperature during the winter.

Winter wintering is a threat to the existence of most plants. In some areas, violets can be covered with pine twigs that will keep the temperature warmer. This applies to the plants that are located in your yard. For those that are in pots or boxes, you can safely move them to another territory. Provide them with moderate temperature and more light. This will hibernate in excellent conditions and will rejoice you again in the next season of flowering

Diseases and pests

Violets are fragile plants that are appealing to pests. The most common diseases are grey rot and real powdery mildew, and leaf louse is the largest striker. Watch for symptoms and react to the moment if you do not want to divide with vegetation. Remove outbreaks and look for effective insecticides to fight off enemies and diseases. Look for professional advice for the most environmentally friendly and environmentally friendly products and act as instructed. The aphids are particularly stubborn and need to be sprayed with a preparation that has a stronger effect.