By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The fall planting season is one of my favorite times of the year, and it is evident that many Mississippians feel the same way. The first cool snap makes people want to get ready for pansies and violas. Garden centers are already bringing in supplies of the rugged winter annuals.

2002 will be a great year for pansy lovers to try the scads of new varieties. That old-fashioned group known as Majestic Giants has been improved, and now you will want to look for Majestic Giants II. These should give an even better landscape performance. The Patricia variety in this group has caught my eye with its knockout color combination of burgundy and cream.

Look also for the new group, Dynamite, which looks like the largest of all pansy flowers. In this series, Dynamite Wine Splash is the one that has captured my heart. It has a mahogany color blended with an almost translucent fiery yellow-orange.

If you haven't tried Purple Rain in the past couple of years, make this the year you do so. We may not need rain now, but we can all use some Purple Rain. The Purple Rain is a mounding, cascading pansy that is perfect as a border plant in the landscape or ideally suited to baskets, planters and window boxes.

Its dark-purple color with hints of blue in the center make it an attractive choice for gardeners. Beds that I have watched the past couple of years showed this pansy reaches heights of 12 to 18 inches without a leggy look. They almost look like a small pansy hedge.

As you plant them, consider incorporating yellow daffodils. Another good choice as a companion plant would be the Mississippi Medallion-winning Purple Bouquet dianthus, a tall cut-flower variety that is sure to win you over.

Last year, I told you about a new selection called Colossus -- with flowers larger than the old Majestic Giants. The demand could not keep up with supply, and they never made it to our area. This year, I'm happy to report I have found them at more than one Mississippi grower, so there should be a few more around. I believe you will like how these perform in the landscape as they position their flowers more upright for all to see. The Colossus caused quite a stir in the marketplace.

The viola that caused the biggest stir at the pack trials this year was one called Orange Duet. It reminds me of a bright-orange flower with burgundy mouse ears. It is in the Sorbet series of violas. I also fell in love with the heirloom look of the Sorbet Coconut Swirl. This may be the prettiest viola of literally hundreds of choices. It has light blues, creams and yellows with a blush of rose.

Before planting, prepare your beds with the addition of organic matter. This helps loosen the soil for better water penetration and aeration, leading to good root development. Soil improvement is a continual process, and organic matter is equally important in sandy soil.

Sand is made up of the largest particles, allowing for quick drainage and the leaching of nutrients. By adding organic matter, you improve the soil's water-holding capacity, and it can retain those vital nutrients.

If you think spring gardening is fun, try fall gardening. You will be surprised how the dreary winter landscape can come alive with color by planting violas and pansies.