Bird Watch and Free Seeds
Ruth sings the praises of this quick-growing, cheery plant
WHO doesn’t like daisies, with their cheery, open faces and determination to thrive whatever the conditions? One of my favourite varieties is the Shasta daisy – a hearty clump-forming perennial that resembles a large ox-eye daisy.
We have a large stand of glowing white Shastas growing in the garden. They have pretty fringed petals and provide a succession of flowers for the garden and indoor arrangements throughout the summer months.
I’d love more plants, though, so I am delighted with this week’s free seeds from Mr Fothergill’s – Shasta daisy ‘Alaska’, one of the most easy-to-grow varieties available.
These are also the most popular variety of Shastas and were voted a ‘best buy’ by gardening press and consumer groups thanks to their longevity and pristine white petals radiating out from an egg-yolk yellow centre.
They like a sunny, well-drained site and are relatively low maintenance, though it is worth checking developing clumps of plants for slugs and snails.
They make long-lasting cut flowers and if left to grow outside will attract a host of pollinators.
You can sow them direct into soil that has been cleared, raked and dampened but, for the best results, sow in pots, grow on and plant out either in autumn or after hardening them off next spring.
Make sure they have plenty of space as they will soon develop into large, joyful clumps and flower right through to the first frosts, or even beyond in a sheltered spot.