Pansy, viola, where am I going wrong?

This is the first time I've had pansy and viola, had them as plugs and potted on 5/11/20 and put them in a coldframe, not really had much growth, the odd ones have a few roots poking through the bottom, they're not failing but not really growing to much. Where have I gone wrong?

 

I shall be growing lots of plants from seeds this year and look forward to the answers you get..I am thinking it's been a tad cold....they look good to me though....

 

Not an expert but do you need to feed the plugs? Also is the cold frame sited to capture as much of any winter sun as possible?

 

You haven't gone wrong at all mazambo, pansy barely grow ( like most plants ) through winter . When it gets warmer in spring they will soon grow and flower. They look ok to me for the time of year bar one or two .

I find it easier to just by a tray of more mature plants from GC - asda - tesco etc and just plant them out than bother with plugs / seedling . Mine usually get attack by aphids under cover. I may have a go again next time growing from seed never get the colours I want from GC etc.

 

I agree with @Perki
They look really good and healthy.
I used to buy the so called winter flowering pansy's, they never flowered much in the depths of winter, but grow like crazy come spring.

 

Thanks everyone, I think I need to go further than the headlines sometimes "winter flowering" to me meant they flower in winteroh well at least I'll get a bit of spring colour. ermm how do I change the total garderner bit under my name

 

Click on yer name top right, then click on personal detail. then in Custom Title box add what you need, then click save

 

Thanks @Jiffy

 

No. You haven't done anything wrong. Looking at the plants. They are steadily growing, and most importantly they are developing a good center, rather than running away on the outside. Yes. Plants grow much slower in the winter. With respect. I tend to cringe when 'feeding' is mentioned. There really is no need for lots of feeding for any plants.

 

Even though they are not growing quick (which is normal this time of year) the plants will be making some good roots which they will need to provide you with flowers. Come spring onwards they will show you why they were slow growing. I've always took into mind that if they are not flowering in abundance they are making some good rooting stock..
Yours look good strong plants to me!

 

I have two troughs filled with violas. They never fail to amaze me, they are battered silly through the winter rains, the snow and cold frosts and always come up again.
Over the last week or two I've thought about pulling them out and planting up some bulbs in their place as they have looked awfully straggly.
But no, as the temperature rises today to a heady 3.5 degrees, I look out and see them sitting straight and proud once more, their cheeky little faces shining with colour. Marvellous value.
I find pansies tend to sulk and often do not last as long as my violas.
Good luck with your little plants,mazambo. I hope they grow strong and give pleasure throughout the coming seasons.

 

Pansies & Violas can be cut back, if they get too straggly.

 

I have some Violas bought from local hardware store. They are in pots of mpc, haven't been fed or dead headed and exposed to the rigours of an Anglesey winter. They seem okay and have flowered all the way through winter. I like them because they are tough and don't need any care from me.

 

A few of the pansies now have flowers or buds appearing and a couple of violas too, should i leave them be or can i put them in baskets now?

 

I'd leave them for a bit longer but looking good.