Johnny Jump Up in Zone 4a & 4b
Viola tricolor
Yes, Johnny jump up grows in zones 4a and 4b. Start seeds indoors Mar 6–Mar 13 and plant out May 1–May 8.
When to plant Johnny jump up in zone 4b
Zones 4a and 4b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Mar 6–Mar 13 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 1–May 8 |
| Estimated bloom | Jul 5–Jul 12 (~65 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-10 in.
Plant alongside it in zone 4b
These go outside within two weeks of Johnny jump up in zone 4b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)May 1–May 8
- AstilbeMay 1–May 8
- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)May 1–May 8
- Basket-of-GoldMay 1–May 8
- Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)May 1–May 8
- CalendulaMay 1–May 8
Johnny jump up is Viola tricolor, the wild species that garden pansies were bred from. It is grown much the same way and behaves differently once it is in the ground.
How Johnny jump up fits zone 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Johnny jump up needs about 65 days from transplant to first bloom.
Johnny Jump Up planting windows in every zone
Zone 4b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Mar 11–Mar 18 | May 6–May 13 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 3a & 3b | Mar 21–Mar 28 | May 16–May 23 | Jul 20–Jul 27 |
| 4a & 4b (your zone) | Mar 6–Mar 13 | May 1–May 8 | Jul 5–Jul 12 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 1–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 3 | Jun 30–Jul 7 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 14–Feb 21 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jun 15–Jun 22 |
| 7a & 7b | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 31–Jun 7 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 14–Jan 21 | Mar 11–Mar 18 | May 15–May 22 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 7–Dec 14 | Feb 1–Feb 8 | Apr 7–Apr 14 |
Bloom dates are about 65 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for Johnny jump up.
Where to buy Johnny jump up seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries Johnny jump up seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing Johnny jump up" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 4b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Johnny Jump Up in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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