While most summer flowers can be purchased from nurseries already in bloom, it is much more fun to grow the plants yourself. This is especially true when they are as easy to seed as Gazania.
If Gazania is preferred indoors, it will flower sooner
Where can I get the seeds from?
The seeds for your midday gold, as the easy-care Gazania is also called, should be bought from specialist retailers or ordered online. Self-collected seeds of your own plants often germinate poorly or not at all, because they are often hybrids.
These crossings make up a large part of the Sonnentaler that are sold here. Their color palette shows different shades of pink and red, cream, yellow and orange flowers, some with very decorative radial markings. If you want to propagate these Gazania, then take cuttings.
What is the best way to sow Gazania seeds?
Sowing and pre-cultivation on the windowsill or in a mini greenhouse is recommended for the Sonnentaler, because the plants are supposed to flower from June. From February to April, scatter the seeds in 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 seed pots (€16.68) with a glass plate or foil, air the seeds daily to prevent them from becoming moldy. You have to wait about 15 days for the first seedlings to appear. The germination temperature is around 18 - 20 °C.
When the plants have four to six leaves, prick out your gazania. Wait until the end of May to plant out. Slowly get the young plants used to the outside temperatures before they are allowed to move to their sunny summer location after the ice saints.
The essentials in brief:
- Better to buy seeds, not collect them
- Sow from February to April
- do not cover with soil
- keep slightly moist
- Germination temperature: 18 - 20 °C
- Germination period: approx. 15 days
- Air daily in the mini greenhouse or under foil
- Flowering period: June to September
tips
It is best to use store-bought seeds, as most Gazania on the market are hybrids that will produce no or poorly germinating seeds.