Remember the old fashion gerbera that grow for years in
the landscape? They produce the tall single to semi-double blossoms that add a wildflower
look to the garden. These gerbera are still available but you have to grow them from seed.
Modern gerberas are beautiful double flowering
plants but if your experiences are similar to other gardeners they often decline due to
rot problems. For some reason the older types are more pest resistant.
Start your
gerbera collection with a packet of seeds purchased from a garden center. Fill small
containers or cell packs with soil. Plant one or two seeds to a pot or each section of a
cell pack. Then use the following tips to grow transplants for the garden:
Keep the planted containers moist and in filtered sun.
Thin the seedlings to one plant to a small pot or cell.
Feed every other week with a 20-20-20 fertilizer solution.
Gradually move the plants to a full sun location.
When 4- to 6-inches tall transplant to the garden.
Gerbera need a
well-drained garden site with full to filtered sun. Keep the soil moist and add a thin
layer of mulch.
