I have a bunch of packets of seeds, Shasta Daisies & Black-Eyed Susans. Both perennials. I realize it's really late to plant them, but I've had them for a long time and at this point I think it would be better to plant them late, than never. On the back of the packet it says to start them indoors, in seedling trays 10 weeks before planting outdoors. Then it says to move them into a sheltered area outside before transplanting the seedlings to the ground. Is all this just because most people would do this in the Spring when there's still risk of frost? Can't I just plant the seeds directly in the ground since it's so late in the season? It also says to space the seedlings 10" apart. I have a very natural garden, things just growing randomly and naturally. I don't really need to space them, do I? I just wanna go dump them in the soil and see what happens, but I don't want to totally waste them either. I guess I'm asking if all these directions are really necessary, and also if there's any harm in planting them mid-summer like this. Maybe I won't get full blooms this year, but they'd still grow and come back next year, right? I know, I'm garden illiterate and garden lazy.
No, you don't have to start them indoors. Just wait until after the last frost of the spring. On the back of the packs it should tell you how long it should take before they bloom. If you plant them, and the frost comes before they bloom, they will not come back next year. When they bloom, the seeds scatter and that is how they come back. If you can keep them till next spring, that's what I'd do. And you can put them anywhere in the garden, even in a clump if you want to.
I planted veggies outside instead of starting indoors, also kind of late in spring, they are doing fine. Sprinkle them on tilled soil and then sprinkle more soil on the seeds, about an inch worth. How much sun does it say they need? I'd have some shade on them until they are a good size.
Just rake the soil area a little where you want them....make sure to keep moist until they sprout. I think you will have plenty of time for blooming so as to have more seeds.
The shasta daisies will probably be okay. They are true perennials. Mine comes back from the root and seeds in zone 7. So GORGEOUS! They turn into nice sized bushes. Mine comes up around my chest and is so thick and lush. They're blooming right now. They're in full sun, all year. http://www.daytonnursery.com/encyclopedia/perennials/leucanthemum.htm I mulch all my plants well and they have really good drainage. Water well until established, then shasta daisies are really drought tolerant. After a really long dry spell, mine will go limp and look terrible until it rains. I don't water them, ever. Excellent for attracting bees and butterflies. Leatherbacks love them too.
It doesn't actually say how long until they bloom on the pack. They are on the link that CluckJay posted; they are the "Silver Princess" variety. That link says they are a dwarf, mounting daisy. That site says they bloom June - August or through September if deadheaded. Then right under that it says bloom time July - October. I looked up my variety of the Black-Eyed Susans ("Goldstrum") on that same site and it says bloom time is July - September. So does that sound like I'll have time if I plant them both now? We don't typically get frost here until October I believe. September is usually still pretty warm.
