Zinnia seedlings - 19 steps from planting seeds to flowering in a permanent location

To ensure zinnias begin blooming in your flowerbed as early as possible, you should plant their seeds indoors. First, we start with seedlings, then transplant them to their permanent location once the weather settles. Let's look at how and what to do correctly. But first, let's look at sowing timing, as it's important to consider several factors:

• lunar calendar 2024;
• the region in which you live;
• crop variety;
• Weather forecast from meteorologists for the near future.

The process itself is quite simple if you follow the rules and mistakes described at the end. Even a beginner can handle it! We guarantee it!

Description

This annual flower belongs to the Asteraceae family. The plant is native to Mexico, which largely determines its care requirements. Height and leaf color vary depending on the variety, as does early maturity.

The photos confirm the diversity of species and varieties of this crop:

Planting zinnias from seeds at home is more common, as it results in lush and beautiful flowering, and most importantly, the earliest possible flowering.

Naturally, sowing the crop directly into open ground in mid- or late May (since it's susceptible to recurrent frosts) is much easier. However, flowering will begin later (in August) and be more sparse.

The best time to transplant seedlings to their permanent location is late May to early June. By this time, stable temperatures will have set in throughout the country. It's recommended to check weather forecasts beforehand.

Lunar calendar recommendations

If you additionally follow the recommendations of the lunar calendar for 2024, the likelihood of growing beautiful, strong seedlings increases. The influence of the Moon on all life processes on Earth has been known since ancient times.

Regional dependence

Zinnias bloom 60-80 days after germination. Based on this, it's easy to calculate the sowing period for any location.

1. In Moscow and the Moscow region, and in the Central Belt, sowing begins in mid-March.
2. The climate in the Leningrad region is harsher, so work begins at the end of March.
3. In the southern regions, zinnias are sown as seedlings from February and in open ground from the end of April.
4. In cold regions (the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East) – in late March or early April. Transition to June. Priority is given to early-ripening species and varieties.

It would also be a good idea to check weather forecasts to ensure that young plants are not damaged by sudden cold snaps.

Unfavorable days

The New Moon and Full Moon periods are unfavorable for any work. No earthworks should be performed during these periods, as well as the days before and after them.

This year, it is:

• February: 9-11, 23-25.
• March: 9-11, 24-26.
• April: 7-9, 23-25.
• May: 7-9, 22-24.

All other dates are neutral.

Tips for growing flowers

Zinnias aren't everyone's cup of tea, as they have a unique structure and demanding growing conditions. Inclement weather (cold or frequent rain) can quickly deteriorate their appearance.

Suitable soil

Zinnia requires fertile soil at all stages of its development. It should be loose and allow oxygen to pass through freely. For vigorous growth, the plant requires high humidity and a pH of 7.0-8.0.

For proper development, the plant requires nutritious soil with plenty of fertilizer. The best option is to add liquid fertilizer for ornamental flowers to the water every two weeks when watering.

Rules for sowing seeds

The prepared soil is poured into deep (at least 10 cm) and spacious containers. The flower seedlings are large, so space the seeds about 2 cm apart. The planting depth is 1 cm.

After sowing, thoroughly moisten the soil. Cover the container with glass or film until the first shoots emerge. The greenhouse effect will speed up germination.

Caring for seedlings

If you provide the majors with the necessary growing conditions, then care will be reduced to simple agricultural measures.

Water the plants as the soil dries out. After seedlings emerge, mist the soil around the seedlings with a spray bottle. Avoid overwatering the flowers to prevent blackleg or other fungal diseases.

During the seedling growth period, apply three additional fertilizers, every 2-3 weeks. Use ready-made complex fertilizers with a minimal amount of nitrogen.

If the seeds were sown in a common container, the seedlings are transplanted into individual containers when they reach 10 cm in height. These flowers dislike this procedure and are sensitive to any root damage.

To improve and stimulate tillering, pinch the plant above the fourth pair of leaves. Harden off the plant 10-14 days before transplanting to its permanent location. Every day during warm weather, take the flower containers outside.

Planting flowers in a garden bed

The soil in the flowerbed should also be fertile and loose. If the soil is not very nutritious, add humus. The location of the flowerbed should be chosen depending on the variety.

1. Tall varieties (California zinnias) can easily hide unsightly areas of the garden. They are placed in the background.
2. Medium-height varieties can be placed anywhere. They are most often planted in the center of the garden. These are the species that thrive in pots.
3. Low-growing border varieties are planted in the foreground. These species grow well on balconies.

Since the bushes branch, leave 30-35 cm between seedlings. This will ensure the plants have enough nutrients and make care much easier. For low-growing varieties, use a different pattern: leave 15 cm between flowers.

If seedlings are initially grown in peat pellets, the transplanting process is simplified. The seedling is placed in the soil along with its pot. To prolong the flowering period, use a little trick: when transplanting the seedlings to their permanent location, sow the remaining seeds nearby. Flowers planted from seedlings will bloom in midsummer, while those sown from seeds will bloom in late August or early September.

Follow-up care

Once transplanted to its permanent location, care won't be difficult. It's important to ensure timely and abundant watering. If there's frequent rainfall, water less frequently. Zinnias dislike both drought and waterlogged soil.

After watering, remove weeds and loosen the soil. The crust that forms after rain will impede oxygen supply to the roots. If the seedlings weren't pinched before transplanting, do so after the flowers have established themselves in their permanent location.

During the summer, be sure to feed twice:

1. Fertilizers are applied after transplanting the seedlings to a permanent location.
2. Zinnias are fed again during the period of bud formation.

To stimulate the process of formation of new flowers, old faded inflorescences are removed as necessary.

Common mistakes

To avoid mistakes when growing zinnias, follow all recommendations. The main rule is to ensure favorable growing conditions. If you're having trouble getting beautiful seedlings, you should review your care.

• Seedlings are stretching. The main reason is insufficient light for the flowers. In this case, add a layer of soil around the stem. This will stimulate the formation of adventitious roots, which will strengthen the plant. Another cause of stretching is improper temperature conditions. If the temperature is high, place the seedlings near a window. Pinching the tops can also help.
• Flowers can be susceptible to gray mold, powdery mildew, and fusarium wilt. These diseases develop due to improper watering. To prevent this, avoid watering with cold water.

To prevent fungal diseases, 2-3 fungicide treatments are carried out throughout the season.

• If young seedlings become infected with a fungal disease, they are pricked out. During this process, the diseased seedlings are removed, and the roots and soil are treated with a potassium permanganate solution.