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How do you know if zinnia seeds are good?
How can you tell if a green zinnia seed is viable? To find out if a green zinnia seed is viable, first pinch the seed between your finger and thumbnail. If it feels hard, you may have a viable seed.
What do healthy zinnia seeds look like?
The seeds will be arrowhead-shaped, pointed on one end and broader on the other, each having a raised spine running up its back. They will measure about 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, if harvested from medium-sized zinnias, and usually slightly less than 1/4 inch across at their widest point and brownish in color.
How do you harvest zinnia seeds?
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. The seeds are small and arrow-shaped. Some might still be attached to the base of a petal. If that’s the case, gently pull off the seed.
Should you soak zinnia seeds before planting?
It is recommended that you only soak most seeds for 12 to 24 hours and no more than 48 hours. After soaking your seeds, they can be planted as directed. The benefit of soaking seeds before planting is that your germination time will be reduced, which means you can have happy, growing plants faster.
How long do zinnia seeds take to germinate?
Growing Zinnias From Seeds Plant the seeds only about ¼-inch deep. You’ll see seedlings sprout in four to seven days. Once the seedlings reach about three inches tall, thin them so that they’re 6 to 18 inches apart to maximize air circulation, a key to keeping zinnias looking good all season.
What month do you plant zinnia seeds?
Planting: Plant zinnias in spring after all danger of frost has passed, around the same time you’d plant tomatoes. Zinnias are easy to grow directly-seeded into the garden. For sooner blooms, start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date.
Do zinnias reseed themselves?
Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) reseed easily, creating a cut-and-come-again garden each summer, says the University of Wisconsin Extension. Heirloom varieties, cultivated for more than 50 years, are open pollinated and grow into plants identical to their parents.
Do zinnias come true from seed?
If you save seeds from hybrids, they usually do not come true to the parent. And for zinnias this means the flowers you grow from those saved seeds may be different than you are expecting.
Do zinnias come back every year?
Zinnias work year after year. It’s easy to save zinnia seeds. Simply let the flowers dry fully on the stem, then collect the seedheads and lightly crush them in your hand to release next year’s seed crop.
How long are zinnia seeds viable?
Zinnia seeds will remain viable for 5-6 years if stored properly. So be sure they are fully dried out before storing.
Do zinnia seeds need cold stratification?
The ancestors of our hybrid garden zinnias (Zinnia spp.) are plants native to Mexico, Central America and South America. They grow in hot climates without cold winters, so seeds don’t need cold treatment to germinate. Rather, they need warm temperatures, plenty of moisture and sunshine to germinate and grow well.
Do zinnia seeds need darkness to germinate?
Zinnias are very low-maintenance and simply need lots of sun, warmth, and well-drained soil in order to thrive and can be enjoyed from summer until the first heavy frost of fall. Cover zinnia seeds with just ¼ inch of soil because they need light to germinate. • Keep soil moist as the flowers develop.
Should seeds float or sink?
There are two easy tests you can take to check to see if there is life left in your old seeds. Water test: Take your seeds and put them in a container of water. Let them sit for about 15 minutes. Then if the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, they most likely will not sprout.
Can you direct sow zinnias?
When & How to Plant Zinnia Seeds 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 50F and above. In cooler climates, start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your area’s average last-frost date.
How many seeds do you put in each hole?
Don’t exceed three seeds per hole. If more than one germinates, snip off extras at the soil line also. This prevents disturbance of the seedling roots on the one you’ll continue growing out when thinning. Don’t add more than one large seed to a hole.
What happens if seeds are planted too close together?
Overcrowded plants must compete with each other for soil nutrients, which can result in increased fertilizer needs. Plants suffering from nutrient deficiencies may develop weak or yellow foliage, grow poorly, or they may fail to fruit or flower well.
How big should zinnia seedlings be before transplanting?
Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days. Thin seedlings to stand 8-24 inches apart, depending on the variety, when they are about 1-2 inches tall.
