Violas and pansies from seed

[Likac66]

I'm trying to grow some winter pansies from seed. A few have germinated - I started them in the garage under newspaper - but so far I only have a handful of very tiny fragile seedlings. We go away on Friday so I've asked my father in law to baby sit them at his house (along with the dog!).

Does anyone have any tips for growing these from seed? Thanks

[shushkin!]

I had winter flowering pansies in containers by the front door. They are still flowering and have been setting seed. I have been collecting it as soon as the pods go brown and split open.
The seeds are nice and fresh. I just pressed the seed gently into some damp compost and it was a matter of days and they all popped up. I had put the seed tray in a plastic bag and in a shady spot. The temperatures seem to be ideal now for germination.
As soon as they were up I quickly put the seedlings in a well lit spot and they are growing well now.

[lookbettertomorow]

I have terrible results growing viola from seed, tried many ways but give up. I buy known varieties where you only get 15 to 30 seed and at best will get 4 plants. My top favourite is Fothergill's floral power, fantastic. Sorry no help I know, just saying.
Really annoying thing is I get loads of self sets popping up in my containers from last year, have potted 20 up but they won't be true. These are from generic violas not floral power. Sometimes think i try too hard

[rary]

Don't treat them with kid gloves as violas/pansies are quite hardy, and any variety will grow in the winter it depends on when they are sowed, if you have any in your garden that you like, take some cuttings and put the cuttings into course sand, that the best medium that I have found for rooting them