Dimorphotheca Mix Seeds

Dimorphotheca Mix, known as Cape Marigold, African Daisy or Star of the Veldt, delivers a bright blend of large daisy-like flowers about 5-8 cm across in radiant white, yellow, orange and salmon shades. The blooms famously track and face the sun, opening wide on bright days and closing in the evening or dull weather. Native to South Africa's winter-rainfall region, it is an effortless, drought-tolerant annual that lights up borders, beds and pots through Egypt's cool season.

Planting

In Egypt, treat it as a cool-season annual and sow from mid-September through November. Sow shallowly, barely covering the seed (around 0.5 cm), into light, very well-drained sandy soil in full sun. Keep the seedbed consistently moist; seeds germinate in roughly 7-14 days at a soil temperature near 16-21 C. Thin or prick out seedlings once about 5 cm tall, spacing plants about 15-30 cm apart.

Fertilizing

Feeding needs are low. Apply a light dose of balanced all-purpose fertilizer at planting time only. The plant performs well even in poor, sandy soil, so avoid heavy or high-nitrogen feeding, which encourages leaves at the expense of flowers.

Care

Give full sun (at least 6 hours) for the best display. Keep young plants moist until they reach about 10 cm tall, then water only moderately, letting the soil dry between waterings. Water in the morning and avoid wetting the foliage to prevent fungal trouble. Ensure excellent drainage, as wet soil causes crown rot and gray mould. Watch for aphids and downy mildew, and deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering into early spring. Expect flowers from about December through March-April.