how to grow zinnias

How to Grow Zinnias

1. Light: Zinnias grow and flower best in full sun. ...
2. Soil: Zinnias grow best on fertile, well-drained soils high in organic matter. ...
3. Spacing: Plant zinnia seeds a few inches apart in rows or clumps. ...
4. Planting: Plant zinnias in spring after all danger of frost has passed, around the same time you'd plant tomatoes.

1. Do zinnias come back every year?
2. Do zinnias need full sun?
3. Do zinnias need sun or shade?
4. What month do you plant zinnias?
5. Do zinnias like lots of water?
6. Do zinnias do well in pots?
7. Do you deadhead zinnias?
8. Should I soak zinnia seeds before planting?
9. What is the best fertilizer for zinnias?
10. Is Epsom salt good for zinnias?
11. Are zinnias self seeding?
12. Why are my zinnias not blooming?
13. Why are my zinnias dying?
14. How long do zinnia plants last?
15. Do rabbits eat zinnias?
16. When can I plant zinnia seeds outside?
17. Can you overwater zinnias?
18. How tall do zinnias get?

Do zinnias come back every year?

Zinnias are annuals, so they'll grow for one season and produce seeds, but the original plant will not come back in subsequent years. They have bright, solitary, daisy-like flowerheads on a single, erect stem, which makes them great for use as a cutting flower or as food for butterflies.

Do zinnias need full sun?

Zinnias' pointy seeds, shaped like little arrowheads, require only basic garden prep to sprout: sow them in well-drained soil, where there's full sun and lots of summer heat, and you'll have tiny seedlings in days, with flowers powering up in just a few weeks.

Do zinnias need sun or shade?

To prevent problems, grow zinnias in full sun with plenty of air circulation. They don't like to be crowded. 2 It's best to water in the morning so the leaves dry out quickly in the sun. If watered in the evening, the leaves will stay wet all night and be more prone to fungal problems.

What month do you plant zinnias?

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 like lots of water?

Cover the seeds with a quarter-inch of potting soil and pat gently. ... Once they are 3 to 4 inches high, water them deeply a couple of times a week, depending on weather. Zinnias aren't drought tolerant, but they like their soil a little on the dry side. The soil should not be continuously wet.

Do zinnias do well in pots?

Zinnias are colorful additions to any flower garden, they're great for cutting, they are easy to grow and start from seed, so they make a great choice for container gardening.

Do you deadhead zinnias?

Deadhead Zinnias to prolong blooming time. Zinnias flourish when they are deadheaded and it encourages the flower to continue to bloom. Once the flower begins to fade, remove it from the stem. You can either pinch the flower off or use a small pair of garden shears to cut them off.

Should I soak zinnia seeds before planting?

Seeds can be planted indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and the seedlings can be easily transplanted into your outdoor garden later on. Remember that germination is less successful in cold soil. Moreover, it is best to soak dried seeds in water for 4-6 hours before planting.

What is the best fertilizer for zinnias?

Zinnias are heavy feeders, so plan to fertilize them regularly and often, as this will encourage lush, colorful blooming. Use a balanced 10-10-10 or 6-6-6 fertilizer, applying about one pound per 100 square feet for a first spring planting application.

Is Epsom salt good for zinnias?

Feed plants with nitrate-based fertilizer at 200- to 250-ppm nitrogen. Interveinal chlorosis may indicate magnesium deficiency; supplement with MgSO4 (Epsom Salts) at 16 ounces/100 gallons. If grown on the lean side and too dry, zinnias may flower prematurely.

Are zinnias self seeding?

Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) reseed easily, creating a cut-and-come-again garden each summer. ... Zinnia haageana "Persian Carpet" and Zinnia elegans "State Fair" and "Liliput" are a few of the heirloom varieties that grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 1 through 10 and reseed each year.

Why are my zinnias not blooming?

There are several possibilities I can think of right away: one is that they are still too young to bloom, another is that they are not receiving enough sunlight, and the third is that they have been provided with too much nitrogen. (Over feeding will result in lots of lush leaves and very few flowers.)

Why are my zinnias dying?

A: Zinnias can be prone to several bugs as well as the most common problem -- powdery mildew, which is a disease that turns the leaves whitish, then brown. The holes could be due to Japanese beetles or to a couple of other smaller beetles that sometimes eat zinnia leaves.

How long do zinnia plants last?

In addition to zinnias' spectacular garden show where ever you need a burst of color, zinnias are an incredible cut flower. Many varieties of zinnias will last from seven to 12 days in a vase.

Do rabbits eat zinnias?

Common zinnias (Zinnia elegans) and lower-growing creeping zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia) are among the plants that rabbits avoid. ... Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10 but generally grown as annuals, are another species that rabbits avoid.

When can I plant zinnia seeds outside?

Where spring warms up early, wait until the last frost has passed before directly sowing zinnia seeds outside. Plant the seeds only about ¼-inch deep. You'll see seedlings sprout in four to seven days.

Can you overwater zinnias?

Zinnias are somewhat resistant to dry conditions, but will only grow well if watered regularly. Supply at least an inch of water every week during dry, hot weather. When watering, soak the soil so that it is moist, but not soggy. Never over-water because this will cause water-logging.

How tall do zinnias get?

Height/Spread:

Varies by type. There are dwarf varieties 6 to 12 inches tall and wide, and others grow up to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide.