Start seeds in potting soil and peat pots about a month before the last frost. There’s no rush to separate the seeds out, so if practical, leave them be. The seeds and petals will start to fall out as they dry and get a bit messy, so it’s good to lay them on something that has sides to contain them. Seeds from hybrid plants typically do not come true to the parent plant, so if you love a specific attribute of the zinnia, such as its double flowers or special colorings, you might be disappointed by the offspring of hybrid zinnias. Maintain moisture and they will easily sprout in about 8-10 days. If sowing outdoors the seeds need to be sown thinly in a sunny position. When the flower has turned brown and dry, you can cut it off just below the base of the head (no stem). These extra poufy zinnia will provide dozens of seeds per head (ideal for seed-saving!) You can cut the flower at this stage, but don’t expect all that dries to be viable seeds. Also keep in mind, that dried petals don’t always turn brown. I often harvest the last seed heads from my zinnia’s when I pull them up after a frost, and they produce just fine. If they are flat and thin, they have not developed sufficiently. Allow the seed head to dry completely, then start to pull off the individual petals that are left on the seed head. For more details, see our, Wait for the Zinnia Flowers to Dry Before Harvesting, How to Save Tomato Seeds to Grow Next Year, Seed Saving - Quick Tips for Saving Your Garden Favorites, How to Save Lettuce Seeds From Your Garden. You can collect seeds any time after zinnias have been blooming long enough for the flowers to die and develop seed heads. They can retain some of the original color after the head has dried and still set good seeds. Leave the bag on until the flower is done blooming. Your email address will not be published. A closet is ideal. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email. Keep the varieties separate. I placed a sheet of paper next to my dish of seeds and carefully picked each one out. The seeds of zinnia’s have a unique arrow shape. You don’t need to let them all go to seed at once – continue to deadhead to keep the plant producing buds and flowers throughout the summer, while selecting a few to leave on for seed production. The process of saving zinnia seeds to use next year is quite easy. Allow flowers to dry out on the plant until they are brown and petals are crunchy. If you have a lot of space--like a farm--plant one variety per half-mile. The seeds from inside have turned brown and are acceptable. See the seed on the bottom center of the photo? Zinnia varieties that grow more than 60 cm tall require 45 cm between plants.

(see Reference 1)There are 20 species of zinnias. And they produce many seeds per plant, so you shouldn't have to purchase seeds or nursery plants if you want to continue growing zinnias. Once the soil is warmed enough for zinnias, you can plant the entire pot in the ground for an easy transition. I prefer to leave the seed and petal attached for storage so I don’t disturb the seed structure. Zinnias are one of the most popular garden annuals. But if you want to harvest zinnia seeds, you have to let the old flowers fade, turn brown and dry out on the plant so they can produce those precious seeds you will be planting next year. They may appear as dry as they will ever be, but it’s a good precaution to let them air out completely just in case there is moisture retained within the structure. Seeds from open-pollinated plants, though, will grow true to the parent plant, so it makes sense to harvest those seeds. If sowing indoors, sow the seeds into trays in the windowsill or greenhouse. Notes To harvest zinnia seeds, allow some of the best flowers to remain on the plants until their petals wither and turn brown. Let the entire blooms dry on the plants until the seed pods are ready to harvest. What might seem like quite a chore, really is not at all.When the colorful Zinnia blossoms have a dried out look, snip off the flowers from the stems of the plant. These are some green seeds that I saved a few days ago from my ongoing indoor zinnia project, and an earlier photo showing some zinnia petals with good green seeds and empty green seeds. Can I harvest the seeds after a hard frost ? Cut flower off of plant. As an amateur zinnia breeder, I save seeds only from selected "breeder" specimens. Towards the end of summer and beginning of fall, I stop deadheading altogether. While zinnias will produce more flowers if they are deadheaded, towards the end of the season is a good time to save seeds. Read our, You can opt-out at any time. Hi Scott, I have an example picture below of what I would consider acceptable to harvest, even though all the petals have not turned brown. If you're interested in harvesting your own zinnia seeds to plant next year here are 5 tips to get you started. You can make removing the seeds a fun winter project. Hi Elaine, Tip #1 - Start with flowers that have dried naturally. Make sure to keep varieties separated and labeled, unless you don't mind a mix full of surprises! There are also a few green seeds in the photo that I will not keep. In the spring, plant the petal/seed mix directly in the ground after danger of frost 1/2-1″ deep. It’s also fun to share them and see yours growing in others’ yards. Colleen Vanderlinden is a freelance writer and the author of Edible Gardening for the Midwest. The seed will be on the tip of the petal. There are different shapes of roundness, length or thickness depending on the flower variety. For most of us, though, that's not feasible. After the seeds have dried, place them in a paper envelope or bag for storage. It is easy to harvest zinnia seeds from your favorite plants and grow new plants. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. The Zinnia seed should be black on one end. How to Remove Zinnia Seeds: Zinnias are a great plant to harvest seeds from if this is your first-time collecting seeds and are great for kids and grandkids! It’s really the same basic thing for harvesting most flower seeds. When they are ready, you can gently pull the dried petal and the seed will release from the center of the flower head and be attached to the end of the petal. You will have to put up with some unsightliness as you wait for the flowers to dry on your plants, but that's how you allow the seeds to ripen. How To Harvest. If you have purchased zinnias from a local nursery and … Some might still be attached to the base of a petal. You can go ahead and harvest the seeds from the dry ones, by just squeezing the base of the bud and cracking it open. Can Old Vegetable and Flower Seeds Still Be Planted? https://extension.sdstate.edu/saving-seed-will-seed-produce-plants-similar-plant-it-was-collected. Don’t disturb the main root and keep them moist until established if you use this method. The seeds are small and arrow-shaped. Does the color of the flower correspond with what color the seed will produce next year. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. Commonly called creeping zinnia or Mexican zinnia, Zinnia angustifolia is another popular zinnia variety easily grown from seed. So glad to have helped! Zinnias are annuals, native to Mexico belonging to the daisy family. Thanks. I cast my seeds over an open area and then dig up the seedlings in groups when they are about 2-3″ high and replant in other areas. Here is a resource I hope you find helpful. With the exception of the Profusion varieties, deadheading is necessary to prolong blooming and encourage branching. I’ve used ziplock bags, brown paper bags, or bags with zippers that you buy blankets in. The first step is to make sure that you are cutting dried heads from healthy plants. The Zinnia seed should be black on one end. Here is the process: The green seeds are not fully ripened and I doubt they will mature at this point. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. How to save zinnia seeds. If you're waiting until later in the year to harvest seeds, stop deadheading the plants several weeks before the first frost in the fall. Zinnia seeds are some of the easiest to save, and can provide a fun learning experience on how these seeds are formed. Spread some paper towels over a clean, flat surface where you can work to gather the seeds. compared to the lesser amount found in the zinnia flower shown in the photo above. Zinnias are colorful annuals that bloom prolifically from spring to frost. Aim to save seeds from plants that display qualities you enjoy, such as an ideal bloom color or optimal plant height. Harvesting (saving) zinnia seeds. Thin to 30 cm apart in all directions for dwarf varieties. Poke seeds into the soil about 1 cm deep and 8 cm apart. Here are the steps. Zinnia tenuifolia ‘Red Spider’ – a compact zinnia, with wide-spaced, spidery petals, growing to a height of 60cm; Zinnia haageana ‘Soleado’ – known as the Mexican zinnia, this species has smaller leaves, making it more tolerant of hot dry conditions and winds.‘Soleado’ bears masses of single orange flowers on strong, stems. That frost will end my Zinnia crop. Make sure to keep varieties separated and labeled, unless you don't mind a mix full of surprises! ***I harvest the seeds before we get a good hard frost here in my area of Western Mass! These plants are a great addition to a summer garden as they produce brightly coloured flowers on long stems. Hi Carolyn, A zinnia petal that still has its color can have a viable "green" seed … You will get much better flower production during the season if you immediately clip spent flowers, but I go somewhere in between to get the best of both. Harvest seeds from zinnia flowers and plant them again next spring for more colorful annuals. Hi Kathryn, That lets you minimize the chance that seed eating birds will eat the seeds and avoid your seeds sprouting in the zinnia heads during an extended rainy season. Enjoy your zinnia’s! But you will have some unique variations that are delightful surprises each year! If that’s the case, gently pull off the seed. Look for the “plump” ones that are well formed because these have the baby zinnia. Is this a reasonable possibility?   Once the zinnia flowers are dry, cut or pull them off the plant. Grasp the dried petals and gently pull them from the flower head exposing the seed. Zinnias are among the quickest and easiest flowers from which you can harvest and save seeds. Zinnia seeds should germinate within 10 to 21 days. A word of caution – these seeds are prime winter food for rodents, so be sure that they are stored somewhere where they will not become winter sustenance for critters. Each flower will be dark brown and dry to the touch when it is ready to harvest. Even in my heavy clay soil, they are easy to grow and maintain. Enjoy your flowers for years to come. Start zinnia seeds indoors or in the garden. Lay the flower heads in single layer on a cookie sheet or shallow pan or bowl and set it in an open place to dry completely for 2-3 weeks. Label each envelope, so you remember what's in it. Trying to harvest a flower too early will result in immature seeds that won't germinate.Once the zinnia flowers are dry, cut or pull them off the plant. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. The first thing to do is pick off the dead blooms, and the ones that are dying. If the plants have mildew, are insect infested or weakened by drought, chances are the flower heads are suffering from the same malady, and are not desirable. Some prefer to save the seeds in the refrigerator in a jar. Place a paper plate on the area, and label the variety name directly on the plate with a marker. Example will a seed from a red flower produce a red flower? The height of the plant varieties varies from 4 inches to 40 inches depending on the variety. Instead, bag or cage several flower buds before they bloom to prevent accidental cross-pollination. Deadheading keeps the zinnia plants blooming all season. thank you for your advice – I plan on doing this ,so I dont have to keep buying seeds every year.Elaine. How to Grow Colorful Zinnia Flower Varieties. Since I make large batches with lots of different flowers I get a good colorful mix and flower variety each year. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Place the harvested seed heads on a screen so that they dry thoroughly on all sides. Moreover, if you have a large garden bed, you can opt to save seeds from plants away from the edge of the bed, so the drying flowers are less noticeable. This may take up to a week, depending on the seed head and moisture level. Your email address will not be published. The petals should be crisp and brown to the touch. You can remove the rest of the flowers before they turn unsightly. The seeds fatten from the bottom of the flower upwards as they dry on the plant. The good news is for an average-size garden, you will generally only need a few blooms' worth of seeds to have enough to plant the next year. There will also be plenty to share with friends who were envious of your beautiful zinnia’s last year! Got some great high quality zinnia seed ("Elegans Lilliput Mix") and I thought I read that one could sow direct to soil in the fall. To save Zinnia seed (or other flower seed) I usually leave the spent flowers on the stems until they are dry, or pretty close to it. Julie Thompson-Adolf is a master gardener and author with 13+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening, seed starting and saving, growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals, and sustainable and urban farming. Zinnia seeds are located in a closed pod that develops at the base of each flower. Lost your password? Learn how to grow zinnias and how to choose the best types, plus get … Most likely you will not have an identical color match in uncontrolled conditions due to cross pollination. It’s one of the most colorful and versatile ways to share nature’s beauty and garden the earth. HARVEST: Fresh: Harvest before flowers are completely open. Repeat this process with all of your dried flowers, discarding the petals and only keeping the seeds. Make sure to select plants that are healthy--powdery mildew can transfer to seeds, so don't save seeds from plants with disease. Once they begin to germinate thin the seedlings until they reach the spacing of between 30 and 38cm apart. Zinnia flower seeds can actually be harvested all through the growing season, especially if you’re focused on a particular color. Once the danger of frost has passed for the next growing season, you can sow your seeds outdoors. Also, avoid watering the flower bed before harvesting seeds, or the seed heads will need more time to dry. If you want a jump on the growing season for some early spring color, you can get around zinnia’s aversion to transplanting. You also might have enough seeds that you could consider giving away some as gifts. Starting Seeds Indoors . Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Basket or other container for harvesting flowers. Beds, borders, and mass plantings. However, seed saving requires a little planning if you want to make sure that your open-pollinated seeds remain pure, since zinnias can be cross-pollinated by insects from different varieties. They came from the flower that wasn’t totally dried up. Zinnias Sowing Seeds – How To Grow & Plant Zinnia From Seed To Flowering. If the flower has matured and lower petals are producing dried seeds, can the flower be cut to finish drying indoors? It will be very disappointing to pull your seeds out in the spring and find they have been completely destroyed by mold. The seeds are located at the center and protected by the petals. Then, place the seed envelope in a lidded glass jar, and store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sun. Seeds from hybrid zinnias will not produce the exact same type of plant, but will produce variations of the parent plants. The holes should be about a quarter of an … But I mostly do this at the end of the season just before the first frost, before doing the complete garden clean-up process. Each seed will look like that. You don’t have to wait for the head to dry out completely and turn entirely brown, although it is ideal. Before you begin, it's important to know whether your zinnias are open-pollinated plants or hybrids. Also, can anyone confirm that zinnia will reseed and thus return year after year? In fact, you can collect and save the zinnia seeds for planting the following year by harvesting the dried blossoms from the plants in autumn. This will help to prevent them from rotting or molding in storage. All the color does not have to be gone, but the objective is that the seeds inside the head have turned brown and are not white or cream colored, as these are not mature yet. You can even see a few seeds with the pink petals still attached. Clip off the flowers and remove the small, arrowhead-shaped seeds from between the zinnia petals. Zinnia. Choose the healthiest most robust flower heads, but they don’t necessarily have to be the biggest. Plant zinnia seeds a quarter inch (.6 centimeter) deep. Cut these pods off the plant stems after the flower petals are dried up and the pods themselves turn fro… It’s advantageous to leave the flower to dry on the plant for higher yield and robust seeds. You could have saved green seeds before the freeze. Now that Autumn is here, it's time to save the Zinnia seeds from this year's crop! The seeds are located there. Please enter your email address. But if you want to harvest zinnia seeds, you have to let the old flowers fade, turn brown and dry out on the plant so they can produce those precious seeds you will be planting next year. You know when poppy seeds are ready to harvest when the pods dry out, and then their little “top hat” lifts up to expose a ring of open holes around the top of the pod. The following zinnia varieties are open pollinated, meaning they will grow to look the same as the parent plants from which their seeds came: Allow the zinnia flower heads to dry completely on the plant. Then they can sit for a couple more weeks to dry completely. You can even see a few seeds with the pink petals still attached. A seed is "good" if it contains a viable embryo, which makes it somewhat plump and heavy. Use your fingers to make small holes in the ground. Each seed will look like that. Deadheading keeps the zinnia plants blooming all season. Trying to harvest a flower too early will result in immature seeds that won't germinate. Existing buds will keep flowers coming, but this is the time you want to see some good zinnia seed production in progress before frost. They are formed at the center of the head, at the end of the petals. A cool dry place is ideal. Healthy nicely formed small flower heads also produce seeds that propagate just fine. If you have multiple zinnia varieties, use separate envelopes for their seeds unless you don't mind mixing them in your garden. Since I have to compete with yellow finches for seeds, I let them have the top flowers and leave some of the lower ones amongst the branches to dry out. If you are saving a lot of them, you can store the heads with petals in a bag and gently crush or shake the bag to allow the seeds to settle at the bottom. You can pull the petals out individually or gently roll the heads and the seeds and petals will fall out on their own. If insects or birds are a problem or you wish to harvest a lot of seeds, you can cut the heads when you can see the petals fading and the center start to dry out and separate. For best results, aim to use your seeds within three to five years. I would not be concerned about one hard frost where the temperatures return above freezing again the next day. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Zinnia spp. Required fields are marked *, HTML tags allowed in your comment:

. University of Florida Extension Website. Take a dry zinnia flower, and "flail" the seed head--hit it gently to release the seeds, or pull it apart or rub it between your fingers over the paper plate to release the seeds. How to harvest zinnia seeds.

If you're waiting until later in the year to harvest seeds, stop deadheading the plants several weeks before the first frost in the fall.Let the entire blooms dry on the plants until the seed pods are ready to harvest. In fact, the most difficult part is in waiting for the flowers to dry out! Spread out the seeds and let them air dry uncovered for a few days. Each seed is attached to the base of a petal. Zinnias are members of the aster family (marigolds, cosmos, daisy) and are the largest family of flowering plants. USES: Taller varieties make excellent cut flowers. Zinnia Seeds Germination. The ones that are not good and dry need to air dry for at least a couple of days or so. Turn them every few days for a couple of weeks so they dry on all sides.