They are beautiful, colorful, and very easy to care for. Gerberas are flowering plants that return every year to gardens or patios to beautify them throughout the season. And they are also very economical. But… would you like to have many of them paying very little? Get a packet of seeds. Learn all about African Daisy from Seed in this article.
When has African Daisy Seed Sown?
These beautiful plants are sowed in spring-summer, so the idea is to obtain the seeds during those months. However, if you have a greenhouse, or if you live in a climate without frost or very mild, you can also sow them in autumn; in this way, you can get a little ahead of the season and get them to bloom earlier.
Also, you should keep in mind that they are perennial plants, that is, they live for several years. During the first weeks of life, they use all their energy to grow, and if the conditions are right and the seedlings are strong enough, they will also produce their first flowers. But beware, the quality of the flowers may not be as good the first as the second year, so if that happens, do not worry.
- African Daisy Mix, also known as Cape Marigold has colorful blooms making it perfect for flower gardens in USDA Zones: 3 - 10.
- These easy to establish annual daisies attract butterflies and are a great bee plant growing up to 12 inches tall.
- Sow these heirloom Dimorphotheca Aurantiaca seeds at 4 ounces per 1,000 square feet or 2 -3 seeds per plant in well-draining soil.
African Daisy from Seed: Sowing
If you dare to sow their seeds, we recommend you first get the following:
Universal substrate
Seedling tray
Watering can
OPTIONAL: copper or sulfur to avoid fungal infections (transmitted by fungi).
Got it? Now let’s find out what the step-by-step is like.
African Daisy from Seed: Prepare the Seedbed
The first thing to do is to prepare the seedbed. As the idea is to have several specimens, it is best to plant them in seedling trays. Fill it with a universal substrate, and make sure that each alveolus (each hole) is filled with soil. You can do this either with your fingers, pressing down, or by placing an equal tray on top, place your hands on top of it and press down carefully.
If you see that it is necessary, do not hesitate to add more universal growing mediums.
Moisten all the Soil Well
The following step is to water with the watering can (important that it has the ‘artichoke’ on so that the water comes out soft) the substrate, so that it is well humid. Therefore, it is necessary to pour water until it comes out of the drainage holes since the seeds must be in a humid environment so that they can germinate.
Sowing Seeds and Watering
Then, put a maximum of two seeds in each alveolus, a little apart, and cover them with a -very- little substrate, just enough so that they are not visible to the naked eye and cannot be blown away by the wind. If you wish, it is a good moment now to sprinkle a little copper or sulfur on top.
It is watered again, and finally, the tray is placed in an area with direct sun, outdoors.
The substrate should be kept moist but not waterlogged. Thus, African daisy seeds will germinate in a maximum of 2-3 weeks. When the roots come out of the hole in the alveolus, you can move them to larger pots of about 8”-12” (20-30cm), or the garden.
Thus, for what it costs you only one adult plant, you will have obtained at least ten, which is not bad at all, don’t you think?
African Daisy Care
Finally, I will tell you what are the basic care of the African Daisy:
Location: always in an area with direct sunlight. In this way, it will be able to bloom healthily.
Soil:
Pot: universal growing substrate.
Garden: it grows in soils rich in organic matter, and with good drainage.
Watering: it should be watered 2-3 times a week in summer, and about 2 times a week the rest of the year. Do not spray the leaves or flowers.
Fertilization: During the whole flowering season it is advisable to fertilize it with a fertilizer such as guano, or fertilizer for flowering plants.
Pruning: cut withered flowers and dry leaves with previously disinfected scissors.
Hardiness: it resists soft and punctual frosts up to 28.4°F (-2ºC), but it is better not to go below 50°F (10ºC).
Learn more about African Daisy Care.
