Gerbera Daisies Great Choice for the Garden

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

The newer and wider selection of gerbera daisies make them a great choice for the garden, container and flower arrangements.

The award-winning Garvinea gerbera daisies are long blooming and have more heat tolerance than most others. The 18-inch tall plants are covered with 2-inch diameter flowers all summer long. One plant can produce as many as 100 blooms in a season. It’s cold hardy to zone 7.

The larger Patio gerbera daisies produce large flowers up to 8 inches across on stems up to 2 feet tall. Great in containers you’ll have the biggest display in spring and flowers sporadically throughout summer.

On the other extreme are the minis and micros. Much smaller plants covered with lots of small flowers.

Whichever one you select, grow it in full sun and well-drained soil. Fertilize regularly and remove faded flowers and dead leaves to keep the plants blooming and looking their best.

A bit more information:  Gerbera daisies are the fifth most popular cut flower in the world. They stand for innocence, purity and cheerfulness. Give someone a bouquet of these flowers and you are sure to generate a smile. For more information, read the article Gerber Daisy in Michigan Gardener magazine.

For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com.