GARDEN LIFE
Useful perennials
Kiran Narain

Gerberas are natives of South Africa and are also known as Transvaal or Natal Daisy. These useful perennials are a great standby for medium and small-sized gardens as they grow equally successfully in pots and in the ground and flower within nine months from seed sowing. Well-grown clumps flower prolifically and flowers are borne well into the hot weather. Available in hybrid forms in red, orange, yellow, cream and white—these are valued for the long-stemmed cut flowers which last long.

Gerberas like a porous compost and a warm, sunny sheltered place in the border. For pots a compost of two parts sandy loam, one part leaf mould and `BD part of silver sand is preferred. For old pots knocking off of one inch of top soil from the pot and replacing it with the new compost along with some bone – meal and 2 gm urea with 5 gm superphosphate to each pot may help. Water immediately, thereafter. The main flowering period for gerberas, in the northern plains, is mainly between January to May and odd blooms show even, thereafter, off and on. Water freely during active growth.

Gerberas can be propagated by seed, which should be sown immediately (as they lose violability very soon), or by division of clumps.

By seed: For good germination, care should be taken to acquire fresh seeds from the current year’s crop in March-April, from a reliable source. Sowing in March has the added advantage that plants attain flowering size by winter. Seedlings should be transplanted, preferably, when the monsoon sets in. Good progress is made if they are allowed to grow for a while in small pots before transplanting into the chosen site. Transplantation there will give best results if done around September-October. It is also recommended that the crown, just above the roots, from where all the leaves spring, is left outside the soil. When the plants are established, a little good top soil can later on be added around each plant if necessary.

By division: Since the true-to-colour varieties may not be available from seeds, a clump of the desired colours may be divided to get the colour and shape of one’s choice. A two-year-old clump may yield about six plants if divided. The soil around the plant should be given a good watering and once you are sure that the water has penetrated well, a whole clump can be lifted from the soil taking care not to damage the roots.

After the soil is washed off from the roots, the clump would be easier to disentangle and can be easily separated taking care to use only a sharp knife to cut through any unions between two pieces. The process is best done during the peak of monsoon season to its end – though in February also the propagation can be done by division.

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