African daisies, also known as osteospermums, are stunning flowering plants that originate from South Africa. With their bright, colorful blooms in shades of purple, pink, orange, yellow and white, these daisies can bring vibrant beauty to any garden.
While you can certainly purchase young African daisy plants from a nursery, starting these flowers yourself from seed is easy, affordable and rewarding. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing these gorgeous plants from seed.
An Overview of African Daisies
Before diving into the details of growing them from seed let’s first take a quick look at some key facts about African daisies
- Botanical name: Osteospermum species
- Plant type: Tender perennial, often grown as an annual
- Mature size: 1-3 feet tall and wide
- Bloom time: Spring, summer, fall
- Exposure: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, sandy soil
- Hardiness: Zones 9-11
As you can see, these daisies thrive in warmer climates. They can perish in freezing temperatures, so gardeners in cooler zones often grow them as annuals. But with proper care, they will bloom prolifically from spring until fall.
Now let’s look at how to grow these beauties successfully from seed.
When to Start African Daisy Seeds
African daisies grow best when started indoors and transplanted outside after all danger of frost has passed. Here are some tips for timing
- Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost date.
- Germinate seeds at 70-75°F. They need warmth to sprout.
- Move seedlings outdoors when soil temperature reaches 60-65°F.
- Plant seedlings 12-15 inches apart in the garden.
Starting seeds indoors gives African daisies time to establish before summer’s heat arrives Just be sure to harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting them outside.
Helpful Supplies for Starting Seeds
A few key supplies will make starting African daisy seeds easier:
- Seed starting mix
- Cell packs, pots or trays
- Small spray bottle for watering
- Plastic dome or mini greenhouse
- Grow lights (optional)
Quality seed starting mix provides ideal drainage and nutrients for sprouting seeds. Cell packs help prevent overcrowding of delicate seedlings. A spray bottle allows precise, gentle watering. And a dome or mini greenhouse creates a humid environment that boosts germination rates. Grow lights can substitute for sunlight on cloudy days or if you don’t have a bright window.
Step-By-Step Guide to Planting Seeds
Follow these simple steps for planting African daisy seeds:
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Fill your cell pack or pots with moistened seed starting mix.
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Sow 2-3 seeds in each cell, pressing gently into the soil.
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Cover seeds lightly with a sprinkle of mix or vermiculite.
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Mist gently with spray bottle to water.
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Cover container with a plastic dome or greenhouse unit.
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Place in bright, 70-75°F location.
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Remove dome once seedlings sprout in 10-20 days.
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Thin to one seedling per cell when first true leaves appear.
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Harden off before transplanting outdoors in 4-6 weeks.
Proper planting ensures your seeds receive the moisture, warmth and light they need to thrive. With a little luck, you’ll soon have a batch of young African daisies ready for the garden.
Caring for Seedlings
Seedlings need attentive care while growing indoors:
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Water: Keep soil moist but not soaked. Water when surface is dry.
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Light: 14-16 hours under grow lights or bright window.
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Temperature: 65-70°F days, 60°F nights.
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Fertilizer: Use half-strength liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
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Air circulation: Run a small fan briefly each day to toughen stems.
Providing optimal conditions gives seedlings the best start on a long blooming season. Monitor them closely and make any adjustments needed.
Acclimating Seedlings to the Outdoors
Hardening off African daisy seedlings is an important process for ensuring transplant success. Here are some tips:
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Move seedlings to a sheltered, partially shady spot outdoors.
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Gradually increase outdoor time from just a few hours to a full day over 7-10 days.
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Bring seedlings indoors or provide cover if frost or heavy rain is expected.
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Reduce watering slightly during hardening off period.
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Transplant on a cloudy day or in evening to avoid transplant shock.
Take hardening off slowly and your seedlings will transition to the garden smoothly.
Choosing the Best Outdoor Site
When selecting an outdoor planting site, keep these factors in mind:
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Sun: Choose a spot with at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.
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Soil: Well-drained, sandy soil enriched with compost is ideal.
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Drainage: Avoid low spots that collect standing water after rains.
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Air circulation: Plant in an open area, not surrounded by trees or shrubs.
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Fertility: Mix in a balanced granular fertilizer before planting.
Providing plentiful sun, fertile soil and good air movement encourages vigorous growth and maximum blooms.
Planting and Maintaining Seedlings Outdoors
Once hardened off, it’s time to move seedlings to their permanent garden location. Follow these tips:
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Dig holes 12-15 inches apart and wide enough to accommodate roots.
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Carefully remove from cell pack and place in hole at same depth as growing indoors.
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Fill holes with soil, firming gently around stems.
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Water thoroughly after planting to eliminate air pockets in soil.
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Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture.
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Fertilize every 4-6 weeks with balanced liquid fertilizer.
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Pinch off spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
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Monitor for pests like whiteflies, aphids and spider mites.
With attentive care and optimal growing conditions, your garden-grown African daisies will thrive and delight you with nonstop, vibrant blooms.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
While generally robust, a few issues can impact African daisies. Here’s how to resolve them:
Leggy growth: Increase sunlight exposure.
Slow or no germination: Ensure seeds are fresh and soil is sufficiently warm.
Wilting plants: Check for root rot and improve drainage if soil is compacted.
Leaf spots or blight: Apply fungicide and remove affected foliage promptly.
Pests: Use insecticidal soap, neem oil or other organic pest control measures.
Few or no blooms: Fertilize more frequently, pinch spent blooms and improve sunlight exposure.
Catching problems early allows you to take corrective action and keep your African daisies looking their best.
Enjoying African Daisies in the Landscape
With their brightly colored, daisy-like blooms and easy care nature, African daisies are a top choice for flower gardens. Some creative ways to use them include:
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Plant in groups of 3, 5 or 7 for bold color impact.
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Use as edging along walkways, borders or flower beds.
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Mix colors for fun variety.
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Combine with plants like lavender, salvia, and phlox.
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Grow in containers on patios, porches or balconies.
No matter how you incorporate them into your outdoor space, African daisies grown from seed will reward you with vivid color and lively texture all season long.
Starting African daisies from seed does take some time and care upfront, but the payoff is enjoying gorgeous, robust plants you grew yourself. Follow this guide for sowing seeds, raising transplants, acclimating them and planting in the garden. With the right conditions and care, you’ll have vibrant African daisies blooming profusely to brighten your landscape.
Growing African Daisies from Seed
If they are available, you can buy osteospermum as a seedling from a nearby nursery. If they are not, you can grow them from seeds. Because these are African plants, many people wonder, “What is the planting time for African daisy seeds?”. You should start them indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in your area, at the same time you start your other annuals.
To plant African daisies, just sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil. The seeds need light to grow. Do not cover them. Once you have them on the soil, place them in a cool, well-lit location. Do not use heat to germinate them. They do not like it.
You should see growing osteospermum seedlings in about 2 weeks. Once the seedlings are 2”-3” (5 to 7. 5 cm. ) high, you can transplant them into individual pots to grow until the last frost has passed.
How to Care for African Daisies
Osteospermum is from Africa, hence the name African daisies. Growing African daisies require conditions similar to those found in Africa. It likes heat and full sun. It needs well-drained soil and, in fact, will tolerate dry soils.
Osteospermum is an annual and, like most annuals, it enjoys extra fertilizer. One good thing about African daisies is that they are one of the few annuals that will still bloom even if you plant them in bad soil.
When growing osteospermum, you can expect them to start blooming about mid-summer. If you have grown them from seed yourself, they may not start blooming until late summer. You can expect them to grow to be 2-5 feet (0. 5 to 1. 5 m. ) high.
How to GROW Dimorphotheca/African DAISY From Seed
FAQ
Are African daisies hard to grow from seed?
How long does it take African daisy seeds to sprout?
Do African daisy come back every year?
How long does it take for a daisy to grow from a seed?
How do you plant African daisy seeds?
Before planting African daisy seeds, prepare the soil. The soil should be well-drained, loose, and fertile. African daisies thrive in full sun, so choose a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day. Dig the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches and amend with compost or other organic matter to improve soil fertility and drainage.
How do African daisies grow?
African daisies thrive in well-draining, loamy soil. This type of soil retains some moisture but does not stay waterlogged, which helps prevent root rot and other moisture-related issues. Ensuring good drainage is crucial for the overall health of the plants. These plants prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.0.
How do you propagate African daisies?
Here’s how to propagate African daisies: Fill a shallow tray with a sterile seed-starting mixture and dampen the mix slightly. Use sharp bypass pruners to take plant cuttings with two sets of leaf nodes or more, trimming 2 to 3 inches. Pinch off any flower buds present, and remove the lower leaves.
When should I plant African daisy seeds?
It is best to plant African daisy seeds in the spring or early summer when the temperature is warm and the threat of frost has passed. The optimal temperature range for African daisy germination is between 70-75°F (21-24°C). Planting during this time ensures that the seeds have the right conditions to germinate and grow.