Viola 'Sorbet XP Jump Up Mix'

Professional Grower Plugs:
Pot your plugs on as soon as possible after arrival, ideally within 3 days. If you can't pot them on straight away, keep them moist in a bright, sheltered position.

Before potting, check that the compost is moist. If the plugs feel dry, stand the tray in shallow water for a short time to allow them to take up moisture from below.

Fill 9cm pots with good-quality multipurpose or potting compost. Make a planting hole with a pencil or narrow dibber, carefully ease each plug from its tray and plant at the same depth it was growing in the tray. Gently firm the compost around the plug to ensure good contact with the roots, but avoid pressing it down too firmly as this can reduce drainage and the air spaces roots need. Water thoroughly using a watering can fitted with a fine rose.

Grow the plants on in a bright, sheltered position such as a greenhouse or cold frame, keeping the compost moist but not waterlogged. Allow around 3–4 weeks for the plants to establish, although they may take longer in cooler conditions. Once they're putting on healthy new growth and have developed a good root system, they're ready to be hardened off.

Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days, initially placing them outside in a sheltered position during the day and bringing them back under cover at night. Once hardened off, plant into their final position in pots, containers, beds or borders.

Pots and containers:
Choose a container with good drainage holes and fill with good-quality multipurpose compost. Gently firm the compost rather than packing it down tightly, and leave around 2–3cm below the rim to make watering easier.

Sorbet XP violas have a neat, compact habit, so they work particularly well planted in groups. Space plants around 15cm apart, allowing them enough room to fill out without becoming overcrowded.

Hanging baskets:
Sorbet XP violas also make colourful hanging basket plants. For a 30cm (12in) basket, use around 5–6 plants, spacing them evenly to create a full, rounded display. Unlike trailing violas, they'll form neat mounds of flowers rather than long cascades over the sides.

Water thoroughly after planting and keep the compost moist but not waterlogged, checking hanging baskets regularly as they can dry out more quickly than pots.

Top tip:
For a fuller basket, position the plants evenly across the surface rather than crowding them around the edge. As they establish, their compact, well-branched growth will knit together to create a flower-filled display.

Viola 'Sorbet XP Jump Up Mix' is easy to combine with other autumn and spring bedding, with its small two-tone flowers adding plenty of character between larger blooms.

Try pairing it with primroses or bellis for contrasting flower shapes, or add taller wallflowers towards the centre or back of larger containers for extra height.

Spring-flowering bulbs such as dwarf daffodils, crocuses and tulips also make excellent partners. Plant them beneath or between your violas in autumn and they'll grow up through the display in spring, adding another layer of colour.

Top tip:
Use Sorbet XP violas towards the front or edges of mixed containers, where their compact habit and cheerful little faces can be easily seen without being hidden by taller plants.

Keep violas well watered during dry spells, particularly those growing in pots and containers, but avoid leaving the compost waterlogged.

As flowers fade, pinch or snip off the whole flower stem just above the leaves rather than removing only the petals. This removes the developing seed pod and encourages the plant to keep producing new flowers.

Flowering may slow during particularly cold winter weather. This is normal – continue caring for the plants and they'll start producing fresh growth and flowers again as conditions improve.

Container-grown plants can be given a liquid feed while actively growing. There's no need to feed during very cold weather when growth has slowed; start again as growth picks up towards spring to support fresh flowers.

Top tip:
Remove any yellowing or damaged leaves as you deadhead. This keeps the compact plants looking neat and helps improve air movement through the foliage.

Professional Grower Plugs:
Supplied in trays of 20 or 60, Professional Grower Plugs offer excellent value and are ideal for gardeners who enjoy growing plants on themselves. These young plants arrive ready to be potted into 9cm pots and grown on in a bright, sheltered position before being hardened off and planted into their final position.

Garden Ready Plants:
Supplied in trays of 12, Garden Ready Plants are our largest plug plants and a great choice if you want quicker results. Carefully grown on before dispatch, they're ready to plant straight into beds, borders, pots, containers or window boxes.