Your garden sounds incredible! I’d love to try the Oklahoma series, as that’s where I live. I just watched my seeds pop up after only a few days of being sown. Growing Cut Flowers for Weddings. They don't require special attention or conditions, just full sun and good soil. The flowers change form so much as they mature and stages are fascinating . I do cut the flowers a lot which i know causes more the grow. Once the planting beds have been prepared, we lay down four lines of drip irrigation, roughly a foot (30.5 cm) apart, then the beds are covered with a layer of. In a window they can tend to get leggy, but if you plant them outside fairly quickly, or take them out to get sunshine during the day, they should do really well for you. I’m so glad you mentioned that Scabiosa varieties revert to single flowers under stress. I did not know that there are a lot of varieties until I saw and read your blog. She gave me some seeds once and I have grown them ever since… I can’t believe how many colors and sizes you have it’s so much fun! I love your taste in flowers if I had a acreage I would grow each variety you offer :). Like every flower grown on our farm, we try to give them the best start possible. Bottom row, left to right: ‘Señora’, ‘Lilliput Salmon’, ‘Oklahoma Salmon’. Hi your flowers are so beautiful IAM litterly in shock from the beauty of your farms Zinnias. If the evening temperatures are chilly enough to have you reaching for the blankets to eat supper in the garden, then it’s still too cold. Thank you for your tips on these. That hedge taught me what zinnias truly like – not always easy to provide in Britain, but still possible. I love getting all this information from you! One package of each is more than enough for my cutting garden. But it’s hard not to love them all! The knowledge I am gaining is awesome. Growing zinnias from seed might be one of the easiest gardening tasks of the year. As zinnias are considered prolific bloomers does that mean you can cut stems every week when conditions are good? Best Cut Flower for Beginner Gardeners. This took 3 attempts. We recently moved to a house with a smaller yard and so I have less space to plant in. Sow two or three seeds 2in (5cm) apart at 12in (30cm) spacing. Our concern/question is: Will we be successful if we direct seed/plant in the holes we burned in our landscape fabric? Like every flower grown on our farm, we try to give them the best start possible. Thanks for all the info! 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 our plants in 72-cell trays in the greenhouse 4 to 6 weeks before our last spring frost. This is so helpful! Zinnias thrive in hot, dry conditions, so grow them in well-drained soil in a sunny border. They are simply gorgeous, breathtaking! Avoid overhead irrigation as it may damage the flowers by causing spotting, or may splash soil onto the foliage and promote disease. If you plant them in full sun, give them adequate spacing and water at the base, they should all be quite mildew resistant. Especially being stuck in my home I have so many seeds & I can’t wait to get busy. Not sure why…take care and thank you for the post!! As the plants grow, they push up through the grid of netting and get the support they need. I bought them as healthy plug plants and pinched them when they go to a decent height to encourage more leaf growth. This makes me want to order some of every color! Every year about 1/2-3/4 through our zinnia season the leaves start to get very chalky and ugly. Do the smaller Lilliput varieties need to be pinched at a shorter height since their final growth height is shorter? March, Last year I had s really difficult time with my zinnias initially. I ordered your ‘Cut Flower Garden’ book and LOVE it! Would it be best to give zinnias some shade in the afternoon? The zinnia is the grand old lady of the garden to me. My husbands mom gave us a cheap packet of zinnia seeds last year to plant in the courtyard of our (first and new) home. ‘Benary’s Giant Coral’ (pictured left) is a glowing tropical coral-salmon variety and a long-standing customer favorite. Another Floret introduction, ‘Golden Hour’ is a beautiful collection of warm buff, honey, and soft apricot blooms started from two single plants we discovered in our fields. Zinnias are so easy you can direct sow them, or start them inside under lights or in a southern facing window. I tried the pinching trick on almost all of mine. The easy to grow, heat-loving plants produce a bumper crop of sweet blooms on long, strong stems in shades of rose, carmine, orange, coral, white, yellow, and violet. We are starting small with a 1/2 an acre and building from there. To tell whether a zinnia is ready to harvest, use the “wiggle test.” Simply grab the stem about 8 inches (20 cm) down from the flower head and gently shake it. Sadly this means I can’t grow most anything from my native NW. Even better, zinnias come in just about every color (except blue). Mexican zinnias: While plants themselves are compact, they churn out an abundance of stems for cutting from midsummer to early autumn. Thank you for sharing your favorites. This should help extend the amount of time you have flowers. If the stem is droopy or bends, it is not ready to cut. They are so carefree in our east Texas sandy loam that I use Zinnias as row markers in the orchard. Some of my friends liked them so much in pots, they are doing the same thing. I am hoping these mix well in arrangements with my DA roses. Giant Dahlia Flowered Zinnias The Giant Dahlia Flowered zinnias started off well, direct sowing easily and growing with the same vigor and speed as the Benary Giants. Zinnias are a staple at garden centers and also incredibly easy to grow from seed. We always hope bouquets last a full week there. I learned so much reading this blog But I have never had much success with them. Any type of stake, wooden or metal, will work just fine. Long stemmed varieties make great cut flowers. I especially love ‘Lilliput Salmon’ (pictured growing above). With most zinnias, you’ll get at least a week in a vase if they’re kept cool. I have been gleaning every tidbit of wisdom you have to share from your site as well as your book as I start my flower farming journey. Zinnias are a great choice for the beginner gardener and a long time favorite of all gardeners. To choose the most successful cut flowers for your business consider your general growing conditions, technical capabilities, and your market. Plants have long, wiry stems that make them well-suited for flower arranging. In 2013, with four times the number of sunny, summer days in Sussex compared with 2012, the zinnias looked magnificent. Thank you so much. The best zinnias I’ve ever seen were lining a path to a primary school in Sri Lanka. The plants are now setting new flowers. It is absolutely pouring here in the UK so this article was a magic pick me up. ( I’m going to try to save from it this year. Hi Marianne, during this time we all need it. Thank you so much! We start all of our seeds indoors to extend the season by a couple months. Beautiful photos. I wanted to hug those little guys! Thank you again for just the push I needed! Zinnias have been in the family garden every year since before my dad was born. I’m curious though, what other flowers or green foliage do you like to pair with zinnias for a pretty bouquet?? All the zinnias I just read about are beautiful…I’m going to need heavy medication and counseling. It’s a must-grow! Do you recommend a heat mat? The plants, spaced 18in (46cm) apart, had merged into a hedge standing over 4ft (122cm) high and were massively flowery and luxuriant. Adding a bit of bleach or hydrogen peroxide to the water keeps the water cleaner longer with ‘dirty flowers’. With your colours carefully chosen, zinnias will give you the best ever September bunch of flowers. I have loved zinnias since I was a kid, thanks to my Dad. I am in zone 5b, Wisconsin. The frilly double blooms look like mini gerbera daisies or double-flowered echinacea. New South Wales . Your website is stunning!!! Zinnias have been a major part of my cutting garden for years and they are one of my favorite things to grow. Would you consider having a mixed color selection in the cactus and benary’s zinnias? And then I would have fresh seeds every year and no waste. I buy the giant variety at Walmart. If so have you seen them ‘grow out of it’, or otherwise recover? My Zinnias were the best ever this year but for the fact that one day I went out and the center stems had been hollowed out by a pest but there was no trace of any. The mid-sized plant produces fun, campy double flowers with lipstick-pink centers and soft blush tips. Here’s how it’s done: When plants are between 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30.5 cm) tall, take sharp pruners and snip the top 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm) off the plant, just above a set of leaves. This year I’m trying all seedings started from seeds indoors and will see how they do. Thank you so much for all the wonderful information and photos that you provide I really appreciate it! Plant zinnias in spring by sowing the seeds about 1/4-inch deep in the soil and space each seed about a foot apart from the next. We’ll have them in the shop starting January 6th for next season. Thank you for all the work you do to bring us gardener’s the info you have learned. If the stem is stiff and remains erect, it is ready to harvest. Take care. First off, we are super-excited about ‘Unicorn Mix’ (pictured above). We have reently had floods, then high winds and now a day of 32° heat. There is a zinnia for just about every occasion, making them a useful cut for arrangements ranging from country to classic. Once the planting beds have been prepared, we lay down four lines of drip irrigation, roughly a foot (30.5 cm) apart, then the beds are covered with a layer of pre-burned landscape fabric to control weeds. Congratulations on your first year being a flower farmer! If given good soil and a steady supply of water, plants can get huge and require some type of support. Netting is held in place by metal hoops that we made with our Johnny’s Quick Hoops Bender. What works for you? Oklahoma Series: These are hands down the most productive and floriferous zinnias I’ve ever grown. It is a joy to see the pollinators flitting between Zinnia islands. Thanks for the tips about scabiosa varieties! It would give me all the zinnias I needed for church, a joy to look at from my home and all who pass by to enjoy too! Zinnias need to be picked when they are fully ripe, otherwise they won’t last in the vase. If the stem is droopy or bends, it is not ready to cut. I used to be a huge zinnia snob, feeling like they were second class to dahlias, but now I’m a total convert. Hi Mary, Is there any way to combat or remedy for powdery mildew? Zinnias seem to love the hot and dry summer climate up here in the northern Cariboo region of British Columbia. This versatile color looks incredible when combined with rich foliage and blooms. What a nice article Erin on one of the best annual any gardener should sow every year!!! The flower bed was small 4’x6′ near my driveway in Houston TX. Thanks. You are SO appreciated!! How to Make Cut Zinnias Last Longer. I just wanted to come back to thank you for this post. Thanks for your info . A cream variety such as ‘Oklahoma Ivory’ is beautiful mixed with the green (‘Benary’s Giant Lime’) and a white (‘Benary’s Giant White’), but the pales look all wrong mixed with dark reds and oranges. We always had trouble keeping zinnias happy in our nursery. These fun novelties have the coolest twisted, shaggy petals and come in a wide range of colors including orange, pink, red, yellow, peach, and white. We had a hot summer (for us) last year and the Zinnias loved it. The seeds for the varieties listed here are in our shop: https://shop.floretflowers.com/collections/zinnia. Annuals, You are a one in a million I can’t thank you enough, stay safe be healthy I can’t wait for more❤️. I tried numerous things, nothing seemed to help, but gradually the flowers started lasting a week or more. View our cookie policy to learn more, Posted in I bought sooooo many zinnias from you guys this year. Similarly, the red and purple tones (‘Benary’s Giant Purple’ and ‘Benary’s Giant Wine’) are lovely with the contrast of a splash of rich vermilion-orange (‘Benary’s Giant Coral’), magnificent against petrol blue or rich, dark green; and the rich pinks (such as ‘Oriola’ or ‘Benary’s Giant Pink’) are marvellous with any of the reds and oranges, calmed down by ‘Envy’ green. I’m just down south of Auburn WA, Thank you for sharing such wonderful Info and beautiful pictures. Throughout the summer I probably cut more than 200-300 zinnia flowers off of these plants. Thank you! I have cut hundreds of flowers from the 80 or so seedlings. Knowing which varieties of flowers are the best to grow for long-lasting cut flowers is the first step. There’s nothing else like it on the market. I would love to order some of your solid color varieties, for next year how early can I order them?thanks your info is so beautiful and helpful plus inspiring. What kind of spray treatments do you do? It pairs well with both pastel and vibrant colors. They are such a cheerful flower. I got the seeds that I get from my friend, I don’t what kind of the variety it is but when it bloom, I only get a single bloom flower unlike what my friend has. petite stature, they resemble a bedding plant more than a cropping variety, but I think they deserve a spot in every cutting garden. Sometimes when a perennnial is done blooming for the season in spring I will throw in a pack of zinnias for color the rest of the summer and have had a lot of success with that. This post is so helpful to know how to better care for them this year! I was so excited to see your beautiful varieties! The Zinnias are the stars of the garden for sure. Whoa- they revert to singles in stress? I live in UK and grow zinnias small and benary every year with great success in my garden which is clay-based soil they are very tolerant with our very changeable climate and make a show-stopping display. We recommend starting them 6-8 weeks before your last frost so they can be transplanted outside after the weather has warmed. I planted 12 Zinnia plants at the beginning of the summer. As I’ve gotten into flowers this year, caring for a cut flower garden, the potential of an organically grown, highly marketable cash crop has not escaped me. I have ordered from you ever since and shared your farm and seeds with all of my own sisters and friends. After a lot of research and emails back and forth with the breeders, I believe that if plants undergo any stress, including not getting enough water or too-high temps, they will start producing single flowers (pictured left). Hi! Any suggestions for preventing this? Do any of your zinnias do ok in 10B? Anyone out there? I think I’m starting to see buds on my main stem but the plants are about 5-6 inches. Thanks for this lovely article! As flowers bloom on your zinnia plants it is important to cut them so that they continue to multiply and bloom. Zinnias are kind of a hot-button topic for most people - even if you hate zinnias and won’t grow them, you’ll have a very definitive reason as to why - but most people, especially flower farmers love zinnias and grow boatloads of them all season long. Thanks for the great info. As the plants grow, they push up through the grid of netting and get the support they need. Water more in hot climates. Cactus-flowered types: These fun novelties have the coolest twisted, shaggy petals and come in a wide range of colors including orange, pink, red, yellow, peach, and white. To keep flowers blooming after you place them in a vase, keep cut flowers out of direct sunlight and drafts, change the water every other day, and make a fresh cut each time you change the water. The individual colors in this series are stunning, especially en masse. Tip. We are in early spring here so other option would be to try and direct seed. I’ve never grown zinnias before, but I just started a flat of the Queen Series today. The only problem I had was they got to large at late season but still beautiful, This year I am doing the same thing. hi, I’m stating this year to be a flower farmer! I sow them with Marigold’s and Cosmos’s. The more the merrier! Growing my own flowers was an idea that started in a supermarket, three summers ago. Should I pinch them at this height or wait? IAM hoping to grow some someday but I would okay to just come visit your farm and get some cut flowers. I planted them in full sun (that’s 13+ hours of South Carolina heat, which I thought they could handle) I love Zinnias! The ‘Persian Carpet Mix’ (pictured above) includes adorable gold, cranberry, orange, and cream flowers. I grow a lot of zinnias during the growing season. As one of the easiest cut flowers to cultivate, they are a perfect first crop for beginning growers and are reliable, prolific producers for most flower farms. I’ve noticed a lot of people asking recently about the best or favorite zinnias to grow. That's a lot! The problem that we have experienced with Zinnias is that they don’t seem to flower earlier than September. Absolutely beautiful! I’m growing the unicorn zinnias this summer. I have been growing State Fair Zinnias for a few years, and they are stunning, multiple pinks, deep rose, yellow and a few white. Thank you! I started some Floret Zinnia seeds in March and they began blooming in May. MaryDana Baird . I call the Zinnia’s and Marigold’s the workhorse of the garden. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!! Flowers make me happy – but if I wanted one mixed bouquet a week on the kitchen table, I’d be shelling out £40 a month. So excited! on 1st March 2020. For weddings, Polar Giant is my go-to. If you live in a part of the country where supper outside is a once-every-five-years experience, then sadly zinnias are not for you, although you could try growing them in a greenhouse or polytunnel. Zinnias are considered a “dirty flower” and benefit from a drop or two of bleach in their water. Growing zinnia plants benefit from deadheading and flower removal (used in cut flower bouquets). It seems you are sold out on most of the zinnia varieties I would like. Whenever I touch the petals, I’m straight back to Fuzzy Felt as a child. The stems bend over completely while they’re still so young, sort of “snapping”. CONTACTS | Seed suppliers. Now I can spend some time looking at the rest of the site. It’s a must-grow! This signals the plant to send up multiple stems from below where the cut was made, resulting in more abundant flower production as well as longer stem length. Left to right, below: ‘Giant Salmon Rose’, ‘Oklahoma Salmon’, ‘Lilliput Salmon’. or fertilization, etc.? Maintain moderate soil moisture and fertilize lightly to maximize growth and blooms. Normally I find them very easy to grow. Benary’s Giant Series: The largest-flowered varieties in the zinnia family, plants often reach 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) tall and have a high percentage of huge double flowers. ‘Zinderella Lilac’ (pictured above) is a lovely mix of blush and soft lavender, accented by a striking dark center. I was able to get some great photos that year. One important thing to know about them is that, from the moment of germination right through their life cycle, they’re particularly prone to damping off and botrytis. It comes in a cheery mix including rose, purple, golden yellow, scarlet, orange, pink, and white. I am going to try growing zinnias this year if it is not too late. i have never heard of these before but have bought some seeds but will wait for the weather to warm up at night in bc. In addition to their special coloring, the Queen Series also produces vigorous plants with sturdy stems and tough flowers, a welcomed improvement to the zinnia family. I have cut off brown dry buds and some are starting to open and the top of them is weird and dry…..and the few that bloomed have just a couple petals and look like a flower at the end of it’s life. I have sent it to a sick friend who loves her garden. I can’t wait to start them… keep up the good work :). Thank you for the great tips on how to grow these amazing hearty flowers! One point to note is that many growers in warmer climates have noticed that they don’t get the same high percentage of doubles with scabiosa types (doubles pictured right) that we do here in the Northwest. Zinnias famously hate root disturbance, so it is best to. I’m hoping to grow the table flowers for my son’s September wedding. I’ve always grown a few flowers, but not for a special occasion. Zinnas are a favourite to grow in bulk in my gardens but unfortunately the fabulous range shown aren’t so available here. The flower heads vary in size from 3″ to 5″ across, which yields a nice variety for arrangements. I was so surprised at how well they did with so little care! Thanks! The rows and rows of zinnias look gorgeous. They come in a wide range of colors (12 total) and are known for their strong stems and good disease resistance. Such a wonderful flower. Australia . I’ve heard of a ‘dirty’ gardener, but never a ‘dirty’ flower- I can’t even ‘google’ it! I either mangle the cell or the seedling…..help. Here’s a great example of the different size options available in one color. The cotton candy-pink blooms of ‘Benary’s Giant Bright Pink’ (pictured right) are as sweet as can be. Katie. It truly is appreciated. The smaller-flowered forms such as. There is an unbelievable number of zinnias to choose from in every shape, color, and size imaginable. I love zinnias. The frilly double blooms look like mini gerbera daisies or double-flowered echinacea. Registered in England & Wales #06694059. We are based in cool upstate New York and have a climate similar to yours, I believe! Thin out the seedlings, so you end up with one plant every 12in (30cm) or so. Now you’ve introduced many others…so I’m ordering more! Zinnias like the heat, and it’s important that they are grown in full sun. If you had to advise us on 5 to plant, which five would you suggest? Zinnias were my grandmother’s favorite flower. Someone said maybe they have aster yellows….they look super healthy from a distance but up close there some things that normally I wouldn’t pay any attention to…super tiny dots on the leaves, etc. What kind of sprays do you use? Because of you I am learning more about Cosmos and trying these out as well. I have about 200 feet of row. Thanks & Love your work! Color. Miniature flowered types: The old-fashioned ‘Lilliput Mix’ (pictured above) deserves a spot in every cutting garden. The largest-flowered varieties in the zinnia family, plants often reach 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) tall and have a high percentage of huge double flowers. (I cut them all this year.. oops) I named my daughter Zinnia Raine in memory of my late grandmother and we grow tons every year! Thank you for any answers you can give me! Thanks so much for writing such a beautiful, helpful book! ‘Benary’s Giant Lilac’ (pictured right) starts out a vivid lilac, and with time the outer petals fade to a cool pale lavender, giving it a haunting effect. But I consider it quite an honor that she loves all of the flowers that I grow. I also raise dahlias and have one particular bed that is up against a barn wall and east facing. In this video we will compare Zinnias that have been pinched to zinnias that were allowed to grow normally. Could you tell me why can’t I have the double bloom flower while the mother plant that I got the seed from is a double flower? It is very helpful and I look forward to reading it and watching the videos. In addition to choosing a sunny spot, I always grow them in fabric for the added heat. Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed, they grow quickly and bloom for long periods of time. I am growing the Zindarellas this year for the first time and I can’t wait! I look at it through the winter to remind me that there is life out there and will be here soon. What an exciting time for you. Thank you for this really thorough exploration of varieties on offer! I hadn’t changed any of the cutting or sterilization methods, so now I’m clueless what made the difference. love zinnias i just go by what you like never grew thembefore until last year. Do not put them in the cooler since the flowers are very cold-sensitive. I’m so glad you’ve found some zinnia varieties that you love! The flowers growing now are coming along well. The bees and butterflies love them . For this reason, you’ll find that lots of zinnia seeds are sold ready-coated with fungicide. I’m a fan and always have been of peachy/salmon shades (since childhood). Did not know these were available. Love, love, love the amazing flower growing wisdom you impart. Receive emails from us & get 15% off your order, © 2020 Sarah Raven. Perennials for Spring and Summer Planting. I’m in Ohio, and am anxiously awaiting the time I can dig in the dirt! I have your “ Cut flower garden “ book and love it! I lost most and the others bent broke what flowers were still alive. Could the pH of the soil or water make a difference? These reliable bloomers are a great addition to the cutting garden and the front of the flower border. Queen Series: Unlike other zinnias, this series includes the most unique array of unusual coloring including lime green, smoky apricot, dusty rose, and limey blush. I will definitely be using the pinching technique to encourage more blooms. Where would you recommend we purchase the zinnias from? the photos of all those beautiful zinnias have me itching for Spring! If so, how often and with what product? If the stem is droopy or bends, it is not ready to cut. No matter what your needs are, there is definitely a zinnia for you. I have been so far. How far apart do you thin seedlings? I love Zinnias of all types and sizes and colors! I lost all first 2 rounds to rain. The series boasts 7 colors including Oklahoma Salmon, Pink, Carmine, Ivory, White, Yellow, and Scarlet. Thank you. Thanks! Each glowing scarlet petal is tipped in gold for a fun twist. Fantastic! We are so pleased to offer this variety, treasured for its versatile creamy ivory color and pretty double blooms. Varieties: The giant dahlia-bloom has a compact flower head that grows up to six inches. You site is beyond great! Water zinnias regularly, keeping soil moist, but avoid overwatering. I just love your flowers! Even if your plants are not going to reach Sri Lankan heights, they benefit greatly from growing straight early on. Facebook 0 Twitter … What is the trick to getting seedlings out of the 72 count cell trays? Plants are spaced 9 inches (23 cm) apart with five rows per bed. Zinnias keep me with flowers the whole time! The brilliant, eye-catching ‘Aztec Sunset’ mix includes a wide range of miniature bicolor blooms in shades of buttercream, gold, cranberry, rust, and merlot. We’ve been growing ‘Macarenia’ for years and have found that people either love it or hate it. Thank you Erin for such a credible overview of zinnias. Would they do well in a sunny window sill, or do I need to use grow lights? Do you have to deal with that? Hello there! Hope that helps! It’s ideal for wedding work, and floral designers love it! So many fun varieties! For example, if you’re looking for flowers in the peach-salmon range, look at how many choices there are! The Urban Flower Farm . Plants are tucked into the field around mid-May, once the weather has sufficiently warmed up and all danger of frost has passed. Thank you for the article on zinnias, i have fallen in love with all the new colors an sizes. Can you please share your source for these varieties. "They are great for hot summer weather and gardeners in warmer climates," explains Dr. Gladys Mbofung-Curtis, a garden expert at Garden Safe. Kim, I’m in Texas and have the same chalky-residue issue when we use our sprinkler system. I take them to my Mogo Nursery , people love them . We are in western Indiana and are planting several Zinnias this year. I’m curious to know if you sell and ship the starter plants so I can get the variety I’d prefer? I grow and sell sweet peas and the little Lilliputs look so pretty with them. I love the look of the scabiosa zinnias but haven’t had as much success with them as I would like, it’s good to know that it’s stress that’s causing the single blooms! I love Zinnias, so I appreciate this post. I look forward to receiving your We succession sow zinnias every 2 to 3 weeks in order to have a steady stream of these beautiful blooms all summer long. :) Maybe next year! ‘Candy Mix’ (pictured above) is an improved mix that contains a higher percentage of double flowers in a warm, cheerful blend of scarlet, raspberry, rose, salmon, tangerine, gold, and cream. And there’s a huge range of shapes, sizes, and colors to choose from. I planted a flower garden from seed tapes in April and have so many Zinnias, Cosmos and Tithonia blooming and more on the way! I cut the stems, leaving the branching for subsequent flowers. GARDEN GUIDE | Zinnias for cutting. The Sunbow Series, available from Johnny’s Selected Seeds has been around for ages and has miniature 1- to 2-inch (2.5 to 5 cm) double blooms that ride atop long, sturdy stems. Any advice would be appreciated! It was amazing to see them continue to grow! warm peachy color is so versatile and softens with age. Email each time. May, The cactus varieties have a softer individual spine like petals. First time growing these. Roll on summer and thank you for all the advice. I can’t imagine my garden without Lilliput Salmon or any of the Queen Lime series. Thanks! How do you get water to your flowers? Should I just direct seed next year? Their petite flower size makes them ideal for flower arranging. This will be my first year growing Zinnias. They only have a limited variety. The plants produce wonderfully for about a month, but then get burned by the first frost in early October. I tried Fertilome Triple action, and fertilized with fish emulsion. Growing conditions may include the number of frost-free days in your area, your soil type, and sun exposure. We succession sow zinnias every 2 to 3 weeks in order to have a steady stream of these beautiful blooms all summer long. The photo above demonstrates pinching with another type of plant. Of all the zinnias we grow, this might be my favorite. Hi ! We love your farm and hope to visit someday. No matter what your needs are, there is definitely a zinnia for you. I made sure to pick interesting varieties and our customers were just wowed by our selection. To much cold early season and a bit to much shade so I avoided them because they were one of the most finicky. These unique bicolor novelties are sure to catch the attention of everyone who sees them. We would love to be able to harvest blooms earlier in the summer — do you have any recommendations for “speeding up” the growing process? All your pictures are lovely. Are there any particular varieties that would work in containers on my west-facing balcony in Los Angeles? Also I had a lots of trouble with black spots on the leaves, maybe caused by insects- not sure if it affected the flowers or not. love the zinnias have never grown them before good to know about the bleach also i guess it was to cold here in abbotsford bc to plant when i did i have never seen them come up so i bought more for myself and sister hers are up but i dont see mine, Hi there! What could this be? ^_^. Thank you for everything you all do to bring such ah-mazing flowers and information to beginning growers like myself. The tips of my zinnia seedlings are dead and burnt looking..they have not been outside though or exposed to the sun. Available in a brilliant rainbow of colors, these happy blooms are a must-grow for any flower lover. I love all of the information on zinnias. Every Sunday from May through October. Knebels Knob Farm, Hi Barb, I’m in one of the milder parts of Montana (Zone 3+ or 4-), but I’ve struggled starting them in the greenhouse and had the best luck direct sowing once it warms up. He was an incredible gardener, and every year would plant a row of zinnias and a row of marigolds at the edge of our vegetable garden. I only have what is offered at the big box stores in my area. Or do you mean that literally every seed or two should be 9″ from the next plant? The other key fact I learnt in Sri Lanka was that, as well as plenty of sun and heat. Zinnias are my favorite cutting flower mainly because they are so easy to grow and they’re very prolific. It gets extremely warm with heat reflecting off the barn and the dahlias did not like it even with twice daily watering. They are fabulously easy to make stunning cut flower bunches . My favorite is ‘Señora’ (pictured above), which has warm salmon-apricot, quilled blooms and produces a bumper crop of large flowers that have long, strong stems. They last best on a short stem, with one flower arranged in a single-stem vase, or poked through a wooden grid to support the flowers just out of the water. I think it’s a type of mildew when leaves are wet overnight. Hello, I’m from Cambodia. Thank you again, its very informative post, but i feel post harvest handling and harvesting methods are missing, also tell me favorable storage temperature for zinnias and we also face a difficulty on our farm after harvesting when temperature raises above 40 degree centigrades, which factors we do for freshness of zinnias. Thanks. I have 2 varieties that I have received from floret and I’m quite excited to see the colors of the Queen lime orange. Just love them. We’ve found that using a butter knife to gently loosen them out of the tray works really well. Zinnias are one of the flower types we grow the most of each summer. Thank you for all the tips especially the cutting tips, very interesting to learn at what stage we can cut them etc!! Can zinnias go into the ground earlier if you put up frost cloth and warm the soil a bit with black fabric? Stay safe. Zinnias famously hate root disturbance, so it is best to sow directly into freely drained soil with a fine tilth. Thank you for sharing all of these! In a damp, cool year, with high air humidity, plants can get a plateau of mould, which sits on the growth tip and rots down into the heart of the plant. The series boasts 7 colors including Oklahoma Salmon, Pink, Carmine, Ivory, White, Yellow, and Scarlet. With this selection, the necks are strong. (I learned that technique from you, thank you.) They are not quite big enough to pinch, but I am very hopeful they will produce well. !! Why grow your own cut flowers? They are one of my favorite flowers and I always try to have a bunch somewhere in my gardens for me to enjoy. Look forward to hearing from you! Zinnias aren’t my favorite blooms ever, but I appreciate how easy they are to grow and their range of colors. Here are four tips for growing these super-premium zinnias: 1. I’m trying Zinnia’s from seed this year – Zowie Yellow Flame from Johnny’s and seeds I harvested from a friend’s zinnia bed last fall. They are extremely easy to grow. He’s been gone for 23 years and I have never grown a vegetable garden, but I grow zinnias every year. Zinnias were introduced to me by my mother-in-law when I was a young mom trying to find easy beautiful things to plant. When you need dependable, low-maintenance cut flowers, think zinnias. WOW! Zinnias are annuals and will die with the first hard frost of fall. Hi – what is meant by a “dirty flower”? Have a bunch of seeds started in the greenhouse now. Floral, Garden Writer March 23, 2019 garden, growing guide 1 Comment. Decisions, decisions….now I am seriously considering sticking with one flower..ZINNIAS!…and filling my entire yard with them, all the different, gorgeous varieties. Thank you for sharing! Zinnias come in a plethora of colors (except blue) and in several petal shapes. I’m obsessed with them . Do you grow zinnias or plan to add them to your garden this coming season? Also, our tend to get very tall (we live in the south and have a long growing season). #GrowingFlowers #Gardening #GrowingZinnias UPDATED ZINNIA VIDEO - https://youtu.be/POOG1xeHfoE SUPPORT THE CHANNEL - TRY OUR SOAP! "Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow because seeds require only basic garden preparation to sprout and the plants flower in just a few … After trying them and cutting them and re-seeding I was hooked! They’re starting to flower and the flowers are very small and petals minimal, hardly single in a lot of them. ‘Benary’s Giant Carmine’ (pictured right) has raspberry-pink blooms; as they age the outer tips of the petals fade, giving blooms a multidimensional quality.