shasta daisies for July wedding

by Rhonda
(oregon portland)

i am growing seedlings inside right now in oregon where the frost is still apparent. they are just starting and i water them with a sprayer each day. Can i put them in greehouse now and will they bloom in july? i have my daughters wedding then and dont want to buy any from someone else if i dont have too

Doug says it depends on the variety. If 'Becky' and if grown properly, then yes they should bloom the first year from seed from a January sowing.

If other varieties - then the answer is mostly no. They'll require a dormancy period next fall/winter to bring them into bloom the next mid-summer.

If a later sowing, I rather doubt you'd hit July although you might hit September.

Will the Becky plants be full and lovely? Depends on your growing skills but they'll be smaller than in second year.

I'd recommend you put at least 3 seedlings to a 1-gallon (8-inch) pot or 5-7 in a 2-gallon pot to make a decent showing.

Will they come into bloom? Depends on your growing and the season. Cool and damp will retard the growth. Hot and sunny will speed it up.

Do I recommend anybody grow their own wedding flowers? Nope - do a search on the bottom of this page for the word "wedding" and stand back. Everybody asks this question and the answer is the same. Even the pros don't try to hit a specific date for their own family weddings. Way too many variables - and way too much stress (particularly when the mother of the bride - or bride discovers the flowers have been eaten by chipmunks or squirrels two days before the event)

Good luck.