Johnny Jump-Up ‘Helen Mount’ Seeds

Start Viola Cornuta seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost, or direct sow in early spring or fall when the soil has warmed to 65–70°F. Plant seeds 6 mm deep, and cover with fine soil. If started indoors, press seeds lightly into a moist seed-starting mix and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite. Seeds need 6 weeks of cold stratification to germinate well. Johnny Jump up flower seeds germinate in 4-7 days. You can also sow Johnny Jump-Up seeds in fall. That way seeds get stratified naturally, and would be the first to flower the following spring.

Viola Cornuta flowers do well in full sun to partial shade, but the more direct light they get, the more flowers they set. Consider afternoon shade in warmer climates, since it keeps plants flowering longer. Soil doesn't need to be very rich, average, well-drained ground with a pH around 6.0–6.5 works fine. Add compost at planting to make the ground more fertile and water consistently to keep the root zone evenly moist. 

Remove spent blooms every few days to prolong the blooming period. If plants get leggy by midsummer, cut them back by about a third. Once the temperatures drop, they will put out a second flush. For edible harvest, pick fully open flowers in the morning, after dew dries. They keep for a day or two between damp paper towels in the fridge.