Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Sandy, well-drained soil enriched with compost.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
No. Arctotis will grow as a perennial only in semi-tropical areas. In temperate climates it is grown as a summer annual.
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Feeding
Drench with a liquid organic fertilizer when plants begin to bloom heavily.
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Companions
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Spacing
Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Start seeds indoors and expect seeds to germinate after 7 to 10 days. Set plants out after the soil warms when they are 6 weeks old. Or, set out purchased bedding plants in spring. Young plants need water when they are actively growing, but require less attention once a good network of roots is established.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
African daisies have brightly colored flowers with contrasting, often bluish, centers. The flowers close at night or during rainy weather. Most varieties have attractive gray-green foliage. African daisies are a great drought-tolerant flower for dry spots. A different flower, Osterospermum, also goes by the common name of African daisy, but it is not as drought tolerant as Arctotis.
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Harvesting
Remove old flowers often to keep new buds coming.
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Troubleshooting
Root rot can develop when grown in wet, heavy soil. Older plants may become infected by powdery mildew.
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