How do you Grow Daisies?
This can be a difficult question to answer for beginner gardeners because of numerous factors including climate, soil, and experience level.
This article will help solve this problem and give beginner gardeners Easy-to-Follow Steps on growing daisies ANYWHERE.
And I recommend scrolling to the bottom of this page to find answers to the 7 most frequently asked questions most gardeners have when growing daisies
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Step #1: Plant One of These 3 Types of Daisies
When buying and planting one of these 3 types of daisies you should make sure that the bulbs are firm, unblemished, with few or no tears to the outer coating.
I am recommending three specific types of Daisies that are simple to grow and care for regardless of your experience.
Best of all is that all of these Daisies are perennials and beautiful!
A) Common Daisies
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 4 inches x 3 inches
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Summer
The Common daisy is the most popular type of flower that gardeners grow.
This type of daisy is perfect for raised garden beds, among other flowers in garden designs, and literally anywhere else in your yard.
Not only this, but this type of daisy is perfect to pollinate and complement other flowers.
- Related: Best Plants to Attract Pollinators
B) Bellis Annua
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 4 inches x 3 inch
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Summer
The Bellis Annua Daisy is one of the few annual daisies that I recommend planting in your garden.
This type of daisy has a lot in common with the common daisy.
The main difference between these two daisies is that this type is much smaller in diameter and height.
Plant this daisy in your raised garden bed, anywhere in your yard, or even among your vegetable and herbs.
C) Bellis Sylvestris
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 3 inches x 1 inch
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
This is my favorite type of perennial daisy to grow.
This flower grows great under trees, near water, and even next to other pollinators.
Like the Bellis Annua this daisy is shorter than the common daisy, looks beautiful, and smells great.
Step #2: How to Grow Daisies from Bulbs
Daisies are a beautiful flower that blooms in early to mid-summer.
Unlike conventional thinking, Daisies are perennial flowers.
Depending on the type of daisy though some can be grown as annuals.
Step 1 – Plant Your Daisy Bulbs in the Fall
First, make sure you buy your appropriate Daisies on Amazon from another reputable garden vendor.
Plant your daisy bulbs in the fall when your soil has cooled off & the temperature is between 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant your bulbs before the first frost!
If you plant your daisies in the summer that is a chance the heat will cause them to go into shock, stunting their growth or even killing them.
Take the temperature of your soil and ensure that it will stay below 60 degrees for 12 weeks or think about planting your daisies in pots.
- Hardiness Zones 3 – 5: Plant in September
- Hardiness Zones 6 – 7: Plant in October
- Hardy Zones 8 – 9: Plant in December
*Find Your Hardiness Zone HERE*
Step 2 – Prepare Your Soil THIS Way!
Locate the area of your flower garden or yard where you want to plant your daisies.
- Daisies do best in an area that receives partial to full afternoon sun.
- The soil should be well-draining and should be neutral to slightly acidic (6.0 – 7.0 pH level).
- The flower garden should be well protected from wind and heavy rain.
Mix 3 inches of Flower Garden Soil to the top 6 inches of your garden soil.
Step 3 – Simply Plant Your Daisy Bulbs
To have the most success planting your bulbs you should simply dig a hole 8 inches deep and plant 10 daisy bulbs next to each other.
*Make sure the Daisy Bulbs “pointy” part is facing up*
Then mix flower fertilizer (that has a 10-10-10 NPK ratio) in the hole (according to the the instructions). And then fill the holes with your flower and garden soil mix.
Next, water your daisy bulbs for 15 seconds. This will help promote the start of root growth. Continue to water your bulbs for 15 seconds once a week for the first month.
Then continue this process for as many bulbs as you want to grow. Make sure to spread each set of 10 daisy bulbs 4 inches apart.
Step 4 – Do THIS in the Winter
In the beginning of winter you will want to mulch your flower garden bed.
After you mulch the flower garden bed do nothing else to your daisy bulbs the rest of winter.
Step 5 – And do THIS in the Spring
Once the year becomes spring and your daisies grow leaves then you should add flower fertilizer again.
Then water your daisies once a week until your daisies bloom.
As soon your daisy petals fall off the flower deadhead it.
And make sure to keep your leaves on the flower for 6 weeks while your flower absorbs and retains energy for next year’s bloom.
Step 6 – Maintain minimal maintenance in summer
Once it becomes fall you should cut the stem and leaves of your daisies where it meets the soil.
Do not water your daisies in the fall. Do not fertilize your daisies in the fall. Simply leave your daisies in the ground all fall.
Frequently Asked Questions (9 Questions)
#1. How Do You Grow Daisies in Pots?
If you are not able to plant your daisy bulbs in an area your garden or yard, or if your soil will not stay below 60 degrees Fahrenheit then you should plant your Daisies in a container.
To have the most success planting Daisy Bulbs in pots you should do the following:
- Bury your bulbs in a container with 8 inches of Flower Garden Soil over it.
- Make sure the “pointy” end of the bulb is facing up
- Immediately water your daisy bulbs for 15 seconds
- Before the first frost of the year move your container to an area of your property that is cool and dry. Keep it here throughout winter
- Once you notice green growth emerging in the winter move your container into a sunny area and begin watering it once a week.
- Once your daisy petals fall off you will want to deadhead your flower.
- Let the green growth of your plant remain for 6 weeks. Then cut it and your stem where it meets your soil.
#2. How Do I Water My Daisies?
You should water your Daisies three different ways.
- Immediately after you plant your daisy bulbs you should soak the soil for 15 seconds
- Continue watering your daisy bulbs once a week for the first month and then don’t water until the spring
- Begin watering your daisies once a week once green growth returns in the spring
#3. How Do I Feed My Daisies?
To properly feed your daisies with the fertilizer you should wait until the daisy flowers have faded and begun falling off your flower.
To have the most success use Daisy Fertilizer. This will help your daisies store nutrients properly for the next season.
For best results, simply follow the instructions on your fertilizer product.
#4. How Do I Cut Daisies?
If you want to display your daisies indoors then cut daisies when the flowers have grown, but not blossomed. It is okay if the flower bud is slightly green, but should have color.
Place the cut daisy in a vase with water at room temperature. Every few days change your water.
If you want your daisies to last longer in the vase then you should add Miracle-Gro for Fresh Cut Flowers.
#5. How Do I Protect my Daisies from Pests
The biggest threat to your daisies is deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. This is both when your daisies are growing and blooming.
To prevent your bulbs from digging up place bird netting over the ground where they are planted.
If you are trying to prevent deer then you should use deer repellent. If this does not work then grow your daisy bulbs in pots and containers out of the deer’s reach.
#6. How do I Prevent Common Daisy Diseases
The most common daisy diseases and harmful insects are gray mold, slugs, snail, aphids, nematodes, and bulb rot.
You can help prevent these diseases and harmful insects by using a fungicide spray and an insecticide spray in early spring as green growth begins to emerge.
#7. What are the Best Uses for Daisies?
Daisies are best used for indoor display, but can also add color to raised garden beds, container gardening, or even in your traditional flower garden.
Daisies can complement columbines, azaleas, lilacs, daffodils, crocus, and even hyacinths.
#8. What types of Bulb Should I buy?
Purchasing Daisy Bulbs is a much easier task than say vegetable or herb seeds, where you have to worry about GMOs, Organic, Heirloom, etc.
When buying daisy bulbs you should stick to hybrid or heirloom. These will give you the best success in growing Daisies.
Hybrid Daisy Bulbs are weakened perennials that may or may not come up every year.
Heirlom Daisy Bulbs are perennial bulbs that come up yearly but have a higher risk of contracting a disease, harmful insect, or fungus.
Just as important is where you buy your bulbs from. I recommend buying your seeds from Amazon. This will provide you with the best price and quickest delivery.
#9. What Type of Gardening Pot Should I Buy?
I recommend buying one type of pot.
Buy a 5-gallon pot.
- This is essential if you want to allow your daisies to grow to its fullest. It is also important if you want to continue to grow your daisies outside.
