Grow winter pansies from seed next year?

I just wondered if this is possible or easy? Since it looks like in winter a lot are needed it would be more economical to grow them from seed right? Or is is just a lot easier to but the plants? If I wanted to grow them next year when would I need to plant them? Would they have to be grown in seed trays first?

 

They are easy and cheap from seed!.. sow in seed trays in early summer, prick out when germinated, grow on, potting up if neccessary......... nice chunky plants to put out in Autumn

Of course it's easier just to buy them... but far more expensive and not as satisfying!

 

Such pretty flowers and they come at just the right time. Tip;pinch out the flowers as you plant them out, they thicken up and produce more flowers. Of course, that`s easier said than done, I couldn`t bring myself to do it to mine but that`s the hortultural thing to do.

 

Don't think I could bring myself to pinch them as I plant them (no patience remember) but I guess usually about 1/2 of the box' of 6 have no flowers to start with anyway. Is early summer June?

 

May/June.

 

OK thanks I've put it in the calender I'm putting together.

What about growing ivy from seed? can that be done - when would I need to plant that (for winter hanging baskets)

 

Take cuttings.... really easy!

 

When, where, how?

 

I have recently grown 5,000 of them for work and not pinched out the flowers, people like to see a bit of colour early on so I leave them on.
I sow seed 2/3rd week of August in a cold polytunnel and grow on in same.

 

So if I sow them in May/June when will they be ready

And August?

I guess I want them for the winter as annuals are dying off.

 

Ivy?

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1106/ivypropagation.asp