Although most summer flowers can be bought in nurseries already in bloom, it is much more fun to grow the plants yourself. This is especially true when they are as easy to sow as the Gazania.
How do you sow Gazania correctly?
To sow gazanias, scatter seeds on growing medium in pots or a mini greenhouse from February to April. Do not cover the seeds with soil, keep them slightly moist and place them in a bright, warm place. The germination temperature is 18-20°C and the germination time is about 15 days.
Where do I get the seeds?
You should buy the seeds for your midday gold, as the easy-care Gazanias are also called, from specialist retailers or order them online. Self-collected seeds from your own plants often germinate poorly or not at all, because they are often hybrids.
These crosses make up a large proportion of the Sonnentaler sold here. Their color palette shows various shades of pink and red, cream, yellow and orange flowers, some with very decorative radial markings. If you would like to propagate these gazanias, then cut cuttings.
What is the best way to sow Gazania?
With Sonnentaler, we recommend sowing and pre-growing on the windowsill or in a mini greenhouse, because the plants should bloom from June onwards. From February to April, sprinkle the seeds (€2.00 on Amazon) into pots with growing substrate and place them in a bright and warm place. Do not cover the seeds with soil and always keep them slightly moist.
If you use a mini greenhouse or cover the growing pots with a glass plate or foil, then air the seeds daily so that they do not start to mold. You have to wait about 15 days until the first seedlings appear. The germination temperature is around 18 – 20 °C.
If the plants have four to six leaves, then prick out your gazanias. Wait until the end of May to plant out. Slowly get the young plants used to the outside temperatures before they can move to their sunny summer location after the Ice Saints.
The most important things in brief:
- It's better to buy seeds, not collect them
- Sowing from February to April
- do not cover with soil
- keep slightly moist
- Germination temperature: 18 – 20 °C
- Germination time: approx. 15 days
- Air daily in the mini greenhouse or under foil
- Flowering period: June to September
Tip
It is best to use purchased seeds, because most gazanias on the market are hybrids that do not develop seeds or have difficulty germinating.
