At the sight of magnificent Bellis varieties with lush double flowers, doubts arise as to their winter hardiness. Are you wondering whether daisies in the bed and on the balcony actually tolerate frost? This guide provides a well-founded answer with tips on adequate protective measures.

Daisies that grow wild in the grass are absolutely frost hardy

Early Bellis are sensitive to frost - this is how you prevent frost damage

Just in time for the beginning of spring, the shelves in garden centers fill up with colorful Bellis. Driven by the longing for the first flowers in the bed, hobby gardeners immediately plant the little beauties and are bitterly disappointed. Just one frosty night puts an end to Bellis' short life. This does not have to be the case if you harden off cold-sensitive daisies that have been grown in the greenhouse. That is how it goes:

  • Put Bellis behind glass in a semi-shady, sheltered place on the balcony during the day
  • Put into the house or greenhouse before sunset
  • Follow this method for 8 to 10 days

This phase of acclimatization optimizes the frost tolerance of early daisies. If you want to be on the safe side, plant Bellis varieties at the end of April/beginning of May. For noble premium varieties with richly filled flowers, the planting time begins after the ice saints, when there is no longer any fear of ground frost.

Direct sowing produces pithy Bellis - patience pays off

You avoid any concerns about frost hardiness if you sow Bellis directly in the bed. As biennial plants, daisies survive the first winter in the form of a basal rosette of leaves. This green tuft of leaves is hardy down to - 34 degrees Celsius and does not require any protective measures. With the beginning of spring, slender, leafless flower stalks rise from the rosette, at the tips of which the distinctive flower heads are enthroned.

The charming flowers can withstand frost down to -8 degrees Celsius, so that in mild locations they can already unfold from February/March and last well into autumn.

tips

In terms of care, the art of omission makes an important contribution to the frost hardiness of Bellis. If you remove fertilizer from the care program for daisies, this prudence strengthens the degree of winter hardiness. For daisies in pots and window boxes (€16.99), the nutrient supply in the substrate is completely sufficient for a vital flowering period.

Category:

Herbs