Viola corsica from seed - advice?

[Martin Baxendale]

Anyone have any advice on sowing seed of Viola corsica? My parents and I have been growing it for years and it self-seeds, but whenever I've tried collecting seed and deliberately sowing it, I've had very poor or no germination.

I'm assuming immediate sowing, not allowing the seed to dry out, is advisable and shallow sowing, only just covering the seed. But does anyone have any other suggestions for what might work best? Would storing the seed of this one and sowing in winter work better? Or surface sowing, or what? Any ideas (and any suggestions for success with viola seed generally) most welcome.

[Gerdk]

Viola corsica belongs to the pansy type of violets. Pansies are germinating better under dark conditions, i.e. cover the seeds a little bit with light soil and place them shady at first.
Normally most violets of the pansy section germinate without problems, even when sown in spring. Unfortunately I have no personal experience with Viola corsica seeds, but I guess it will be best if you sow immediately under the conditions mentioned above.

Gerd

[Martin Baxendale]

Thanks, Gerd. That's pretty much what I thought. It shouldn't be difficult to germinate, so I don't know what went wrong in the past. Maybe waterlogged pots in past very wet summers. I'll try again, but keep the pots under cover this time. It's a lovely viola.