Growing Shasta Daisies From Seed — Shasta Daisies are an excellent perennial flower. They are super easy to grow from seed, great for bouquets, and they multiply like crazy. Actually, all you have to do is set it and forget about it. You’ll be glad you did it years from now.
With their classic white petals and cheerful yellow centers Shasta daisies are a must-have flower for any garden. These hardy perennials put on an outstanding display of blooms all summer long. Plus they make fabulous cut flowers. Growing Shasta daisies from seed is an easy, affordable way to add these beauties to your yard.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn everything you need to successfully grow gorgeous Shasta daisies from seed.
A Quick Overview of Shasta Daisies
Let’s start with a quick rundown of this popular perennial flower
- Botanical Name: Leucanthemum x superbum
- Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
- Flowers: White petals with yellow center, single or double flower form
- Height: 1-4 feet
- Spread: 1-3 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Some key facts about Shasta daisies:
- Extremely cold hardy perennial
- Tolerates heat and drought once established
- Long bloom period from early summer to fall
- Wonderful cut flowers with good vase life
- Attracts pollinators like butterflies and bees
Now let’s look at how to grow these beauties from seed!
When to Plant Shasta Daisy Seeds
You can start Shasta daisy seeds indoors or directly sow them outside. Here are the optimal timeframes:
Indoors: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. This allows enough time for seedlings to mature into sturdy young plants that can be moved outdoors.
Outdoors: Direct sow seeds in the garden after all danger of frost when soil temperatures reach 70°F. This is usually a few weeks after your last spring frost date.
Fall: You can also plant fresh seeds in fall, sowing 8-10 weeks before first frost so plants establish roots before winter dormancy.
Starting Shasta Daisy Seeds Indoors
Sowing seeds indoors gives you more control over factors like moisture, light, and warmth for the best germination rates. Here’s how to do it:
Supplies Needed
- Shasta daisy seeds
- Seed starting containers – trays or pots
- Seed starting mix
- Grow lights (optional)
- Plastic dome or wrap
Step-by-Step Process
- Fill containers with moistened seed starting mix. Gently firm down.
- Place 1-2 seeds on the soil surface about 1 inch apart.
- Lightly press seeds into the soil but don’t cover completely. Light aids germination.
- Mist soil until moist but not saturated.
- Optional: Cover trays with plastic domes to retain moisture.
- Place containers in bright spot or under grow lights.
- Maintain soil temperature of 65-70°F for optimal results.
- Once sprouted, remove any domes and carefully water to prevent damping off disease.
- Thin seedlings to the strongest plant per cell when 2 sets of true leaves appear.
Transplanting Shasta Daisy Seedlings Outdoors
Young Shasta daisy plants can go into the garden after they’re several inches tall and past any chance of frost.
Hardening Off: Over 7-10 days, gradually expose seedlings to longer periods outdoors to “harden off”. Avoid hot sun/wind at first.
Transplanting: Move seedlings into the garden in evening or on cloudy days to prevent transplant shock. Gently loosen roots before replanting at the same depth. Water in well and provide shade for a few days.
Direct Sowing Shasta Daisy Seeds Outdoors
For a casual, natural look, you can scatter Shasta daisy seeds right in the garden for self-sowing flowers each year.
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When: After all chance of frost when soil is at least 70°F. Can also plant in fall.
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Where: Area with full sun to partial shade and good drainage.
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How: Scatter seeds evenly over the soil surface. Lightly press into the soil and mist well to moisten. Keep moist until sprouted. Thin to 6-12 inches apart.
Caring for Shasta Daisies
Once established, Shasta daisies are easy to care for. Here are their needs:
- Sun: Full sun is ideal, can tolerate partial shade
- Soil: Average garden soil enriched with compost or manure
- Water: Moderate, allow soil to partially dry between waterings
- Fertilizer: Apply balanced fertilizer or compost in spring
- Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms to encourage new flowers
- Dividing: Divide congested clumps every 2-3 years in spring or fall
Common Pests and Diseases
Shasta daisies have very few problems but may be affected by:
- Slugs/snails – Use organic baits if population is high
- Aphids – Wash off with water or use insecticidal soap
- Root rot – Avoid overwatering and improve drainage
- Powdery mildew – Can occur in humidity, increase air circulation
- Rust – Remove affected leaves, avoid overhead watering
Tips for Growing Gorgeous Shasta Daisies
Follow these tips to get the most out of your Shasta daisies grown from seed:
- Give young plants protection from intense sun and wind until established
- Deadhead regularly throughout bloom season to encourage more flowers
- Stake taller varieties like ‘Alaska’ to prevent flopping in heavy rain
- Cut flowers for bouquets in early morning when blooms are freshest
- Divide dense clumps every 2-3 years to rejuvenate and control spread
- Plant en masse for beautiful drifts of daisies throughout your garden
- Mix colors by pairing with bee balm, coneflowers, and ornamental grasses
FAQs About Growing Shasta Daisies from Seed
How long do Shasta daisies take to bloom from seed?
If started indoors, Shasta daisy seeds may bloom about 3-4 months after being sown. If direct sown outdoors, allow at least 2-3 months for blooms the first season.
Do Shasta daisies come back every year?
Yes, Shasta daisies are herbaceous perennials that will return each year if grown in the proper hardiness zone. They are extremely cold hardy.
Should Shasta daisy seeds be covered when planting?
No, Shasta daisy seeds need light to germinate so do not cover them with soil. Simply press gently into the soil surface.
How much sun do Shasta daisies need?
Shasta daisies grow best with full sun. They can tolerate partial shade but will produce less blooms.
Growing Shasta daisies from seed is an easy, rewarding way to add reliable color to your garden. In just a few months, you’ll have gorgeous drifts of white blooms to enjoy all season long. With proper care, these summer-blooming beauties will return each year.
To start Shasta Daisies from seed, you have two options:
Start them indoors or direct sow outdoors. They both have pros and cons. If you start them indoors, you need to start them 6-8 weeks before planting. However, when you do plant them, you will be able to see much better where you are putting them.
If you start them outside, you won’t have to use grow light space and grow medium that could be used by someone else. They are also easy to direct sow, so you should have a good chance of success.
Either way, to start them from seed, you need light. They require good quality sunlight {or a grow light} to germinate. Gently lay 3-5 seeds on the top of the dirt and lightly press them into the dirt. Resist the urge to cover them with soil, they do not need dirt over the top of them.
It will take about 2 weeks for seedlings to emerge {sometimes less, especially indoors}. When they are about 1 inch tall, thin them to every 1 to 2 feet. I know that sounds like a lot, but they will spread out and look like clumps quickly.
You can direct sow them about two to four weeks before the last frost, if you want to. You can direct-sow them at any time during the summer, as long as you do it about two months before the first fall frost.
The best part about daisies is that they have continual blooms–which means flowers all summer long. You can pick as many as you want for vases, and you can be sure that there will still be plenty in the garden.
There you have it! How to grow Shasta daisies from seeds. Do YOU grow daisies? What kind do you like best?
If you want to start a garden but don’t know when to plant your seeds or move your transplants, click HERE to see a chart that tells you what vegetables you should plant or move each month in your area.