Even when the weather was very wet and windy, and then cold, these tough little flowers still managed to hold some blooms. Interestingly, the wild heart’s ease, or wild pansy, was in flower in early winter, but has since suspended flowering until spring.

This wild flower is very common on sandy soils and may even appear as a weed. It is one of the parents of garden pansies, its relatively tiny flowers making a perfect miniature.

The winter pansies are also known as universal pansies, the name a reference to their ability to flower year-round, peaking in spring and summer with some flowers in autumn and winter. Any plant that can produce even a few winter flowers is worth having.

Along with the large-flowered pansies, the smaller violas have become very popular too. These have smaller flowers but produce many more, covering the whole top of the plant in full flowers. They also have a more compact growth habit that sets the flowers off nicely.

Pansies and violas are closely related and the two kinds have been interbred. The colours of both are yellow, blue and red in a range of shades and two-tones. The flowers often have faces, many with a black blotch at the centre.

Most have large flowers with rounded, overlapping petals and the typical pansy face. Although, some kinds have just one colour, such as blue or yellow.

Smaller-flowered pansies, when used for winter and spring, stand up better to rough weather conditions. The larger flowers have a tendency to flop over when wet with rain and are more tossed about by strong winds.

Pansies are produced in a range of seed strains and are generally not sold in individual colours but as mixtures. But, when buying pansies, individual colours to suit a particular colour scheme can be picked out, if the plants are in flower.

Some people like them mixed, others prefer single colours, or paired colours. Large-flowered pansies and viola varieties with small flowers are ideal for use in window boxes, pots and hanging baskets. When in full flower, the large number of flowers makes the planting look well-filled. Some kinds have been bred with a creeping, semi-trailing, growth habit which is ideal for containers.

Although pansies can flower more or less year-round, they are not long-lasting plants. Sometimes they can carry through a year or more, but are best re-planted as the foliage often gets damaged by leaf-spot diseases.

In any case, they are mostly used as seasonal bedding plants, not expected to last more than a season. The plants flowering now were sown as seeds last May or June and planted in beds or containers in late autumn. They can also be sown in spring to flower in summer.

Pansy seeds are very easy to germinate. They can be sprouted in the warmth of a kitchen or a special propagator, and moved to a cooler greenhouse, porch or other bright place to grow on. They can be placed outdoors when they grow bigger because they are hardy and not damaged by frost.

There is still time to plant up some pansies for spring display. There are some other kinds of viola that are more perennial but these are a separate group of plants with different parent species and are not used for bedding purposes. CL

Garden birds in harsh weather

Apart from bird-song and their lively presence in the garden, birds are beneficial predators of harmful insects, such as greenflies, caterpillars, leather jackets and vine weevil eggs. Feeding garden birds helps to ensure that their population is maintained, and there is evidence that birds are more likely to nest and raise chicks in gardens where they are fed in winter and spring.

The expert advice now is that birds can be fed year-round as the old theory that they might feed bits of peanuts to chicks has been discounted. Apparently, birds use the supplied food to fuel their insect-catching forays, leading to increased feeding for the chicks. Garden birds are at their most vulnerable in late winter and early spring. This is when the weather is cold and the natural sources of food have been largely exhausted, while the new rise of insects has not yet happened. So, top up the feeders and the bird table.

>> This week

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

Early varieties of potatoes can be sprouted indoors now. For really early crops, sow the seeds of early varieties of cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce and onions now. These will have to be started off in warm conditions indoors, or in a propagator, and grown on in a greenhouse or tunnel. Prune apple and pear trees.

Trees, shrubs and roses

The ground has been exceptionally wet this winter and not ideal for planting as the soil can be compacted. If possible, wait until soil conditions improve. Roses can be pruned at any time in good conditions. Make sure that trees given a stake at planting are still solidly supported and the tree tie is not chafing.

Flowers

Bedding flowers can be started off from seeds sown in a heated propagator from now, but it is still too early for most of the easy kinds, such as dahlias and marigolds. If the ground is not too wet, border flowers can be lifted and divided, if necessary. Many of these flowers are beginning to show signs of early growth.

Lawns

If the soil is wet and squelchy, do not walk on it, if possible, as considerable damage can be done by compaction. If it is firm enough for a first mowing, this should be carried out at the very first opportunity. The lawnmower should be serviced and the blades sharpened before the new mowing season.

Greenhouse and house plants

Many Christmas houseplants, such as poinsettia, azalea and cyclamen, can be made to last longer with some basic care. They will need watering but only just enough to keep them moist, certainly do not keep them standing in water. Give no feeding. Give them good light but do not leave them behind a curtain at night.