How to Grow Scarlet Gilia Aggregata
- 1). Chose a sunny location in the garden. Scarlet gilia is best direct sown, but you may start it indoors and transplant in spring. The pH needs to be high, around 7.0 to 8.5. Perform a soil test to see what your location rates and apply lime to raise the pH and sweeten the soil if necessary. Dig in the amount recommended by the package in fall.
- 2). Weed the bed in spring and use a tiller to break up the soil. Add 3 inches of compost and 4 to 5 inches of sand to increase the drainage. As a woodland or meadow flower, scarlet gilia is used to a season of rain or snow run-off and then little to no moisture for the rest of the season.
- 3). Rake the bed to even it out. Sow the plant in late spring or early summer when the soil temperature has reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The seed requires no special treatment, so spread it on the prepared bed. Sprinkle compost lightly over the seed to prevent it from blowing away. Sow again the next year so you will have a constant supply of the biennial. Water the bed until 3 inches are evenly moist.
- 4). Keep the bed free of weeds and constantly moist until the seedlings have established. Regular fertilizer is not necessary, but watering with a dilution of liquid seaweed weekly will encourage good root growth and basal foliage. The plant will spend the first year in a rosette stage. Follow the directions on the fertilizer bottle for the exact amount to dilute in irrigation water. Apply it in a hose-end sprayer.
- 5). Stop fertilizing in early August to prevent the formation of tender new growth that might be damaged by frost. Water the bed only when it is dry once the plants are established. Mulch around them before the first frost. In springtime, remove weeds and continue cultivation until the plants flower. Allow them to self seed to perpetuate the flowers.
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