What month is best to sow zinnia seeds?
Our last frost date typically falls around May 15th (sometimes earlier), so we plant our zinnia seeds indoors in early April. By the time our seedlings are ready for the garden—around mid-May—they have a strong root system and are ready to take off in the warmer temperatures. Zinnias thrive in full sunlight and should be planted at the beginning of the warm weather season. They are short-day plants that flower when the day length is less than 11 hours; therefore, they are perfect for early spring planting when the nights are longer, Mbofung-Curtis says.Zinnias are fast-growing, long-blooming annuals that are practically made for container gardens. Growing zinnias in pots is one of the simplest ways to create a colorful summer display on a small balcony, lining a patio, or adding a pop of color to your front steps.Zinnias are annuals and will die with the first hard frost of fall. However, if you want them to reseed, let the last flowers of the season mature fully and scatter their seeds.Zinnias are considered a “dirty flower” in that they make vase water dirty, so you can either add a drop or two of bleach in with your flower food or change out the water every couple of days.
How many years will zinnia seeds last?
Let the flowers mature, collect them, let them dry, then break them apart and keep the seeds in containers. Discard mushy or moldy pieces, and separate them from the healthy parts you’re saving. A healthy zinnia seed will last for three to five years. Zinnias are annual plants, meaning they complete their life cycle in one growing season. They will bloom continuously throughout the growing season, which can last several months, as long as the spent flowers are deadheaded regularly.A general-purpose fertilizer with equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should be incorporated into the soil at the time of planting. After planting, zinnias should be fertilized monthly using a fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content than nitrogen to promote new blooms.So, just how many blooms can you get from a zinnia plant? By following these tips to maximize your blooms, for every 10 or so blooms that you remove from your plant, you’ll see about 10 or so more waiting to bloom. Isn’t that amazing? So if you didn’t believe me before, please believe me now.Water zinnias when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry and apply 1 inch of water per week. Avoid overwatering as it can lead to root rot. Deadheading & Pruning: Deadheading (remove) and pruning the spent flowers will encourage a long blooming season.
Can zinnias be grown from seed?
Many gardeners in warmer parts of the world are able to successfully direct-seed their zinnias straight into the field, but here in cool Washington we start seeds in 72-cell trays in the greenhouse 4 to 6 weeks before our last spring frost. When it comes to saving Zinnia seed, I wait till the flower heads are brown on the plant, snip off, let dry inside a few more days and I toss in a brown paper bag to save for the next season. I let the Zinnias go to seed in the fall- usually late August in preparation for a mid October frost.No, soaking zinnia seeds before planting is not necessary. Zinnia seeds germinate readily when planted directly into moistened soil and providing warmth, sunlight, and keeping the soil moist during germination is sufficient. Can zinnias grow in pots? Yes, Zinnias can be easily grown in pots.Saturate the potting mix with water and then place two zinnia seeds into each planting cell or pot. Press into the soil for good seed-to-soil contact and then cover with approximately half an inch of the potting mix.Saturate the potting mix with water and then place two zinnia seeds into each planting cell or pot. Press into the soil for good seed-to-soil contact and then cover with approximately half an inch of the potting mix.Direct Sowing Zinnia Seeds For direct seeding, the best time to sow is generally a couple of weeks after the last frost date. Zinnias love warm temperatures, so it’s important not to plant them too early. Wait until the daytime temperatures are about 70°F. In my zone (5b), this is generally around early- to mid-May.
What month do you plant zinnia seeds?
Anywhere that has full sun and a large enough pot will do! To plant potted zinnias, sow your seeds in a container indoors in the late spring (around April). Then, move them outside once outdoor temperatures reach about 70°F during the day. Plants Not To Grow With Zinnias Zinnias also do not grow well in shade and may become leggy and weak without adequate sunshine. Avoid planting them with shade-loving plants like hostas, ferns, hellebores, lobelia, and impatiens.Watering: Zinnias need moist soil to grow their best. This is especially true of young plants. Water deeply a few times a week so the soil stays moist 6 to 8 inches deep. Don’t overwater because zinnias can also succumb to rot diseases especially on wet, clay soils.Zinnias like the heat, and it’s important that they are grown in full sun. In addition to choosing a sunny spot, I always grow them in fabric for the added heat.Zinnias are low maintenance. Since they’re fast-growing, they shade out weeds. They don’t require much in the way of fertilizing (just an occasional well-balanced mix), and they don’t need mulching. Deadheading helps to produce more flowers.Plant after the last frost in spring when soil has warmed. Direct sowing is simple and effective. Do zinnias come back every year? No, zinnias are not perennials and must be replanted each year.
Will zinnias come back every year?
Zinnias are annual plants, which means they do not come back year after year. They complete their life cycle in one growing season, then die off. Zinnias bloom continuously all summer and into fall until the frost kills them off.I plant zinnias late April, late May, late June, and late July. This makes for a continuous supply of good quality blooms all season.After the zinnias flower, cut off the old flowers (a process called deadheading) to encourage more flowers to form. Zinnias are annuals and will die with the first hard frost of fall. However, if you want them to reseed, let the last flowers of the season mature fully and scatter their seeds.Zinnias are suitable for cutting patches, borders and for growing in containers. If you don’t have free-draining soil in full sun or you have problems with slugs and snails eating your seedlings, your zinnias are likely to do better in pots rather than in the ground.So the short answer is yes! Scatter those seeds or space them. It’s truly up to you and the look you are going for. The zinnias will still do their thing.
Can I sow zinnia in September?
Zinnias won’t tolerate cold so need to be sown in spring not autumn. Late spring sowings help avoid frosts. Plants should be planted outdoors only when all danger of frosts is past, normally June. You can direct sow zinnias anytime after your last frost date, but to ensure blooms, aim to plant at least 90 days before your first autumn frost—the typical time zinnias need to reach maturity. Seeds planted too late may not have enough time to grow and bloom before colder temperatures set in.Personally, I find Zinnias grow faster, and are more productive and healthier when they are direct sown. I’ve done trials, planting 4 week old transplants on the same day as direct sowing seeds. Within 2 months, the direct sown plants were BETTER than the transplanted plants.Zinnias typically take around 2 months from seed to flower, although this can change depending on weather conditions.Step Three: Store dried zinnia flowers over winter You can remove the petals and store your seeds inside seed-saving packets, or you can leave the dried petals attached and simply store the intact blooms in a Ziploc bag.It is essential to properly space zinnias, whether growing from seed or transplants, as overcrowding increases disease incidence. Dwarf cultivars should be planted or thinned 8 to 9 inches apart, whereas taller 2- to 3-foot zinnia cultivars should be spaced a foot apart.
Do I need to soak my zinnia seeds before planting?
No, soaking zinnia seeds before planting is not necessary. Zinnia seeds germinate readily when planted directly into moistened soil and providing warmth, sunlight, and keeping the soil moist during germination is sufficient. Deadheading for Continuous Blooms: To keep your zinnias blooming all season long, regularly remove spent blooms (deadheading). This signals to the plant to keep producing new flowers rather than setting seed. Plus, deadheading ensures fuller plants, longer stems, and a longer vase life for your cut flowers.When it comes to saving Zinnia seed, I wait till the flower heads are brown on the plant, snip off, let dry inside a few more days and I toss in a brown paper bag to save for the next season. I let the Zinnias go to seed in the fall- usually late August in preparation for a mid October frost.Zinnias are annual plants, which means they do not come back year after year. They complete their life cycle in one growing season, then die off.If you’re nearing fall but still want to enjoy some zinnia blooms this year, you can plant one round of seeds if you still have at least 60 (preferably 75) days before your first frost. Pick a spot in an in-ground pollinator garden, a flower bed, or your raised garden beds that gets full sun.Zinnia Deadheading and Pruning. To get the most blooms on your zinnia plants, start with pinching off the top when the plants are small. Cutting off the top above a leaf node will force the plant to send out new side branches. It sounds counterintuitive, but to keep zinnia plants blooming, cut off flowers regularly.