Blanket Flower, Gaillardia
Blanket Flower, Arizona Sun
If you want to brighten your garden with a blast of color, consider growing Arizona Sun Blanket Flower. They can be planted in wildflower, mixed gardens and in borders. Arizona Sun Gaillardia flowers bloom from late spring throughout summer. Arizona Sun Blanket Flower, which stand out because of the sharp colors on the blooms, are a nice addition to flowerbeds. Arizona Sun Blanket Flower are relatively pest and disease-free plants. Arizona Sun Blanket Flower work well grown in containers and placed around the garden area. Gaillardia is a group of about 30 species that include both annuals and perennials. With bright and colorful daisy-like flowers it is no wonder this native wildflower has earned a spot on the heart of gardeners everywhere. The most common species for garden use is Gaillardia grandiflora. It is this perennial, and some of its most unique cultivars. Hardy, sun-loving and easy to keep it deserves a place in every garden.
Planting Arizona Sun Blanket Flower
While starting seeds of the Arizona Sun Blanket Flower is not difficult, the right conditions will improve the chances of getting this plant to grow. Soak the seeds overnight then, sow Arizona Sun Blanket Flower seeds directly in the ground in the spring when the threat of frost has passed. Keep the ground moist but not wet for the first couple of weeks. When the seedlings stand about 3 inches tall, thin them out to at least 12 inches apart. Pick a sunny, well-drained spot for planting for the best performance. Arizona Sun Blanket Flower will tolerate some shade but they do best in the sun.
Height: 12-24”" inches Spacing: 8-12" inches Depth: 1/16" inch Germination: 21-28 days Starting from Seed Indoors
Place a few seeds (2 to 3) into each pot and push them into the soil with your finger. Cover the seeds to a depth of approximately 1/16 inch of the potting mix. Mist each pot with water until the soil appears moist. Place the pots in an area which will provide both light (which is required for germination) and heat, preferably about 65 to 70 degrees F and at least 8 hours of light each day. Check on the seeds every day and keep the seeds damp but not drenched by misting with your plant mister. You should see sprouting in about 21 to 28 days. Once your seedlings have reached about 2 to 3 inches in height, choose an area in your garden to transfer them. You can also use containers like barrels or clay pots. Dig holes twice the width and depth of each of your pots. Fill up each hole with water then let it drain off. Place a pot in the hole center and level so that your seedling is at the same level as the surrounding soil. Push dirt in carefully all the way to fill the hole back up. Water each seedling carefully so as not to soak the leaves or stem.
Direct-seeding into the Garden
Turn over the area you've selected to a depth of approximately 5 to 6 inches. Rake the area until it's level and smooth. Water the area until the soil is damp but not saturated. Scatter the seeds in the area. Gently rake the area to distribute the seeds further and protect them from birds. Or, press the seeds into the soil and cover with no more than 1/16 inch of soil. You can also place 2 to 3 seeds every 3 to 4 inches in rows approximately 12 inches apart, and cover seeds with 1/16 inch of soil. Place planting stakes around the area so you will know where to water. Check on your seeds about once a day. Make sure to mist the soil whenever it appears dry. Germination for Arizona Sun Blanket Flowers is approximately 21 to 28 days, depending on the warmth of the soil. Once your Arizona Sun Blanket Flower reach about 2 to 3 inches in height, you can reduce the frequency of irrigation.
Germination Problems
Growing plants from seeds successfully depends on a lot of factors and this makes it impossible to guarantee success on every batch of seeds planted. Factors include, soil composition, PH, temperature, moisture levels, seed depth, soil density, seed viabilty, seed storage and many others. We tested the germination of all our seeds and this seed variety is around 80%, but your results may vary based on exactly how you plant and all the environmental factors. Good luck.