What month do you plant zinnia seeds?
Here at Two Sisters Flower Farm, we typically start our zinnias indoors and transplant them once the risk of frost has passed. Our last frost date usually falls around mid-May, so we sow our seeds indoors in early April. 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.Zinnia plants will last until either a hard freeze kills them off in the fall, or they come to the end of their natural lifespan. Since they are annual plants, their lifespan is generally about one year.Zinnias are best started directly outdoors in locations where spring warms up early. They are classed as tender annuals and can be directly sown into the garden after all danger of frost is over and daytime temps are at least 50°F and above.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.
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. 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.You can sow zinnia seed indoors from February until April, or sow zinnias outdoors directly into the soil in May. If sowing in trays or modules, make sure you use free-draining compost, so seedlings don’t suffer from dampness, and transplant seedlings as soon as they have a pair of true leaves.While zinnias are somewhat drought-tolerant once established, container-grown plants dry out much faster than those in the ground, and need more consistent care.The lifespan of a zinnia plant is typically one growing season. As annuals, they sprout, bloom, set seed, and die within a single year.
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. Can zinnias grow in pots? Yes, Zinnias can be easily grown in pots. 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.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. Make sure to add more water every day as zinnias drink a lot of it.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.The best time to plant zinnias is late April or early May, when there is no more frost and the temperature is over 50 degrees. You can plant them into the beginning of July.
What should you not plant next to zinnias?
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. Zinnias are annuals, so they’ll grow for one season to produce flowers and seeds, but the original plant will not come back in subsequent years. They have bright, solitary, daisy-like flower heads on a single, erect stem, which makes them great for use as a cutting flower or as food for butterflies.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.Late-Season Sowing for Fall Blooms Even if it’s late in the season, you can still plant zinnia seeds and enjoy their beautiful blooms before the first frost. Zinnias grow quickly, so as long as there’s enough time before your first frost date, late planting can still work.Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to water at the base of the plants. 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.Snip off the flowers, then take them indoors to pluck the petals and seeds. Mature seeds will be dry, firm, and brown. Separate out the seeds and store them in an envelope in a cool, dry spot until spring. Label the envelope with the date and type of zinnia.
Do zinnias regrow every year?
Zinnias are annuals, so they’ll grow for one season to produce flowers and seeds, but the original plant will not come back in subsequent years. They have bright, solitary, daisy-like flower heads on a single, erect stem, which makes them great for use as a cutting flower or as food for butterflies. Blooming from mid-summer until frost, Zinnias are some of the easiest wildflowers to grow, adding their bright, cheerful color to any sunny spot with enthusiasm.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.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.Zinnias typically take around 2 months from seed to flower, although this can change depending on weather conditions. Here are some additional tips to grow zinnias: Choose a bright and sunny spot for your zinnias. Cover zinnia seeds with just ¼ inch of soil because they need light to germinate.The Short Answer. Absolutely! With similar growth requirements, zinnias and marigolds are perfect together in a cut flower garden, landscape, or in a pot.
Do zinnia return every year?
Zinnias are annuals and complete their life cycle in one season. They do not return the following year. Wait until spring to sow zinnia seeds. Zinnias are warm-season annuals that thrive in warm soil and won’t survive frost. Planting in the fall risks seeds rotting or being damaged by winter weather.Zinnias will bloom repeatedly throughout their growing season if properly cared for. This means they could bloom multiple times from spring until the first frost.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 a plant that is “cut and come again. The more you cut them, the more they produce because it’s the plant’s job to go to seed and create another plant.