If you're interested in growing zinnias from seed, we'll show you how to do it easily and without much hassle. Zinnias are beautiful flowers, with a wide variety of shades. Blue is the only color not seen in nature, but all other colors are present. They're used to decorate flowerbeds and for cut flowers (tall specimens last a long time in vases). Varieties range from dwarf to magnificent giants, reaching almost a meter in height. A member of the Asteraceae family, zinnias thrive on warmth. Water generously, but infrequently, avoiding standing water, which can be detrimental to flowering.
Look, How to plant lilies in open ground, they will complement zinnia perfectly.
The advantages of growing zinnias in your garden include:
- A variety of colors.
- Excellent combination with other flowers such as peonies and lilies, creating great variety and color payoff.
- Minimum hassle - maximum results.
- It attracts bees and birds, which is important for the area.
- It blooms for a long time – one flower stays on the stem for more than a month.
- When cut, it can delight you with its beauty in your home for up to two weeks.
How to grow zinnias from seeds
This flower can be planted directly from seeds in the ground or through seedlings. For southern regions, an easier method is to sow the seeds directly into the garden bed in April, when frost is no longer expected, as this flower is very heat-loving and absolutely cannot tolerate even light frost. In northern regions, it's best to plant from seedlings, which will allow for beautiful blooms as early as June.
The soil needs to be well-drained and fertile, so before planting, take the time to fertilize it and dig it over. If the soil is compacted, add sand to prevent waterlogging, which, like excessive drought, is detrimental to zinnias. Suitable fertilizers include compost, fallen leaves, humus, superphosphate, and nitrophoska. After applying the fertilizer, dig the bed to a depth of 10 cm, and then plant the seeds, burying them 4-5 cm apart, 30 cm apart. Zinnias simply love light and open space, but the site should be protected from strong winds, which could break their straight, rigid stems.
You can plant hydrangea in open ground — and get together with zinnias an amazing carpet of beautiful flowers.
Planting seeds in the ground
After fertilizing the area as described above, plant 2-3 seeds per hole; they should sprout in about a week. If the weather is still a bit chilly, cover the plants at night to prevent frost damage until they've established themselves and the temperature has stabilized. In a couple of months, you'll be delighted with a carpet of zinnias blooming, and after another two months, you can collect seeds for future planting.
Once the plants begin to grow, feed them with urea (just one spoon per bucket of water). Once budding begins, feed the zinnias again. You can use "Rainbow" fertilizer, sprinkling them with wood ash beforehand. When the buds open, feed them again, spraying the plants with "Buton."
Growing through seedlings
In early April, soak the seeds in a damp cloth; they will sprout within a week. Plant them in peat pots or a box, then transplant 2-3 plants into individual pots. By the end of May (earlier in southern regions), harden them off a couple of times, and then you can plant them in the ground, following the same guidelines described above for sowing seeds in the ground, using the same fertilizer and spacing. To ensure a bushy bush, pinch the plant after 3-4 leaves appear.
Collect the seeds after the bud turns brown. Cut them from the stem, scrape the seeds onto paper, and store them for next spring. This way, you can collect a whole assortment of seeds in different shades and grow a beautiful flowerbed that will complement your perennials and create a delightful garden decor. They are excellent for planting. perennial phlox – paired with zinnia they will create a simply magical riot of colors!
Zinnia elegans, growing from seeds