When to Plant Blanket Flower Seeds?
Blanket flower is the common name for Gailardia aristata, a type of flower with blossoms that resemble the size and shapes of daisies. This plant is suitable for growing as a perennial or annual, depending on the climate. Planting the seeds early will help ensure the production of blossoms during the first summer of growth. Does this Spark an idea?
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Characteristics
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Blanket flowers grow to a mature height between 12 and 30 inches. They prefer slightly dry soil with good drainage. The blossoms appear in deep shades of yellow and red. Most blossoms exhibit dark-brown centers surrounded by a single layer of red petals tipped in yellow. These plants flower throughout the summer months and into the fall. They grow as perennials in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11 and as half-hardy annuals in cooler climates.
Planting Time
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Blanket flowers take about two weeks to germinate and about two more months before they blossom. Planting them indoors about six weeks before the final spring frost will help ensure the formation of blossoms during the first year of growth.
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Technique
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Starting the seeds in biodegradable seed pots reduces the risk of transplantation shock. An average potting soil with medium to coarse texture provides the preferred planting medium for blanket flowers. Planting them at a depth equal to twice their diameter will encourage seed germination and sprouting. Blanket flowers require soil temperatures near 70 degrees Fahrenheit and thrive under bright grow lights or in sunny windows that provide at least eight hours of sunlight every day. Waiting at least one to two weeks after the final frost to transplant these into the garden will help protect these warm-weather plants from frost and cold damage.
Considerations
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Planting them outdoors anytime during the warm spring and summer months will result in the first blossom formation the following year in warm climates where they grow as annuals. Unfortunately, planting them too late in cool climates results in annual foliage that never produces blossoms. Although blanket flowers grow easily from seeds, root division is the preferred method of reproducing strong plants that bloom the first year after planting.
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References
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- Photo Credit blanket flower image by Bradlee Mauer from Fotolia.com
