Gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii), also known as Transvaal daisies because they're originally from Transvaal in South Africa, are prized for their large size and vibrant colors, which makes them popular as both indoor and outdoor accents. They act as perennial plants in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 or higher, but as annuals in colder zones. The right time to plant your daisies depends on several factors, chiefly whether you're planting seeds or dividing a mature gerbera daisy plant, as well as considerations like your garden's temperature and sun exposure.
Timing of Seeding
While starting a gerbera daisy plant from seed is generally cheap, the results are unpredictable when it comes to the plant's flower color. If a gardener chooses to plant gerbera daisies by seed, timing is critical. It takes one to two weeks for planted seeds to germinate, and another seven weeks before the plants are big enough to be transplanted to their final outdoor growing spot. While gerbera daisies can survive in temperatures as cold as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, they can't handle frost well. Thus, gardeners should time their planting of the seeds no earlier than approximately nine weeks before the last frost date in their specific region.
Timing of Plant Division
Mature gerbera daisy plants produce multiple growing crowns. Using a sharp spade, gardeners can divide the crowns and replant the removed crowns to start new daisy plants. For the best results, time the division for the early spring before the daisy plants start their active growing season. Using a sharp spade, gardeners dig out the entire plant, remove debris and dead matter, and then cut the crowns apart using a sharp knife.
While gerbera daisies are hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, for the best results they should only be planted when outdoor evening temperatures are no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal daytime temperature should be no higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. At high temperatures, the daisy flowers may start wilting even if the plants are properly irrigated.
As the seasons change, how the sun's light hits a garden's flowerbed changes considerably. Gerbera daisies thrive best once their flowerbed receives full sun, which is approximately six full hours of direct sun every day. For perfect timing, gardeners should wait until the selected flowerbed receives morning sunshine and shade in the afternoon.
Your Planting Articles
- Bachman's Floral Gift & Garden: Gerbera Daisies
- University of Florida Extension: Gerberas at a Glance
- Alabama Cooperative Extension: Greenhouse Production of Gerbera Daisies
- University of Minnesota Extension: Dividing Perennials
- North Carolina State University Extension: Gerbera Daisy
- University of Illinois Extension: Site Assessment - Sunlight
- Garden Gate Magazine: Gift Plants
- Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images