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It’s best to postpone sowing seeds until the soil has consistently warmed. In Central Virginia, zinnia seeds can be planted in late May, late June, and even late July. The zinnia is one of the easiest and most satisfying flowers to grow.
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 come back year after 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.
Should I 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 late can you plant zinnia seeds?
I plan succession plantings commencing in late May and continue through about the first week of July. This guarantees showy blooms through late September. It is not too late to plant a few zinnia seeds for late summer color that will last until the first frost.
How do you start zinnia seeds?
Zinnias don’t transplant well, but can be started indoors, if necessary, in peat or coir pots, 6-8 weeks before planting out. Maintain a soil temperature of 21-26°C (70-80°F). Seeds should germinate in 5-24 days. Just cover Zinnia seeds, and aim for a final spacing of 25-30cm (10-12″) between plants.
Are zinnias native to Virginia?
Native to the U.S. southwest, Mexico and Central America, zinnias grow well in rich soil that gets full sun. Zinnias can be started from seed in early spring–either indoors or out–and will bloom continuously from mid-summer to the first frost. There is even a green zinnia.
Can zinnias survive 40 degrees?
Warm-season annuals, like zinnias, should only be planted outdoors after the last frost date for your specific area. The plants, typically summer- or early fall-blooming species, can sometimes survive night temperatures in the 40 to 50 F range.
How many zinnia seeds are in a hole?
Plant seeds 1/4″ deep and 24” apart, using 3 seeds per hole. Keep the soil evenly moist until the seeds germinate in 8 – 10 days. Once the seedlings reach 2″, thin out so you have individual plants spaced 24” apart. Water regularly allowing the soil to go nearly dry between each watering.
Do hummingbirds like zinnias?
Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to its showy blooms. Zinnia, one of the most popular annuals, is easy to grow from seed and thrives in zones 2 to 11. Hummingbirds and other pollinators love the bright blooms, which also make for great cut flowers.
What grows well with zinnias?
Here are just some of the many different plants that you can grow with the zinnia. 1 – Vegetable Garden. The zinnia is by far one of the best companions for your vegetable garden. 2 – The Purple Fountain Grass. 3 – Mealy Cup Sage. 4 – The China Aster. 5 – The Dahlia. 6 – The Toothpick Weed.
Do deer eat zinnias?
Zinnias attract butterflies and beneficial pollinators from summer to frost. These easy to grow flowers will provide plenty of cut flowers. Zinnias are deer resistant, too!.
Do zinnias grow through mulch?
While zinnias can grow well in average soils, Mbofung-Curtis says they’ll perform better with the help of compost, fertilizer, or mulch. Zinnia seeds can also be sowed directly into one to two inches of organic mulch that will provide nutrients throughout the season as the mulch breaks down to form compost.”Oct 8, 2020.
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.
At what temperature do zinnias germinate?
The ideal soil temperature for zinnia seed germination is 70°–80°F. When to start inside: 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Transplant outdoors after last frost. Zinnias do not benefit from being planted early; wait for warmer weather.
Can I plant zinnias now?
Zinnias are a popular addition to spring cutting gardens but most people don’t realize that zinnias can be planted into the late summer and enjoyed throughout the fall. Zinnias thrive in hot weather and germinate easily from seed.
Can I start zinnias in July?
Not many flowers are grown from seed these days, but zinnias are worth the effort. Last year I got a late start on my summer flower garden, not planting my zinnia seeds until July. The recommended time is May or June so that plants can become established before the intense summer heat.
