10/12/2023 0 Comments Growing zinnia from seed indoors![]() Zinnia elegans ‘Purple Prince’ – a very tall-growing zinnia, up to 90cm, bearing striking double flowers in magenta with a lime green centre.It’s ideal for using to fill gaps in the border, and also works well in container displays Zinnia elegans 'Orange King' – a tall-growing zinnia, growing to 75cm, the flowers are showy, semi-double orange blooms.Zinnia elegans ‘Envy' - with unusual semi-double, lime green, dahlia-like blooms on long stems, this is more tolerant of shade than other zinnias.Zinnia elegans 'Queen Red Lime' – the red flowers have lime-green tips to each petal.Plants are easy to grow, resistant to rain and flower until the first frosts ‘Soleado’ bears masses of single orange flowers on strong, stems. Zinnia haageana 'Soleado' – known as the Mexican zinnia, this species has smaller leaves, making it more tolerant of hot dry conditions and winds.Zinnia tenuifolia 'Red Spider' – a compact zinnia, with wide-spaced, spidery petals, growing to a height of 60cm.Seeds will germinate in 4-8 days at 70-75☏ After germination, cultivate plants at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Zinnias require darkness to germinate, so if feasible, use a black plastic cover. I find that both my vegetables and zinnias are healthier when planted together. Cover the planting tray with plastic to keep the seed and medium wet. ![]() Water: Zinnias do need regular watering especially if you are growing zinnias in containers.įertilizing: Zinnias should be fertilized at least twice during the growing season with a balanced NKP (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (K), and potassium (P)) fertilizer with a formulation of 20-20-20.Ĭompanions: Zinnias can be interplanted within a vegetable garden to attract pollinators or as a row along a vegetable garden. closer than recommended on the seed package). To encourage longer stems, plant zinnias closer together (e.g. Spacing: Follow the guidelines on the back of the seed package for plant spacing. Soil should have a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. It is best to work compost into the soil in the fall for a spring planting. For information on making compost at home, reference my blog titled “ Recipes for Compost”. Depending on the type of zinnia, it takes roughly 5 to 24 days to grow zinnia from seed indoors before you can transplant them into your garden. Compost can be made at home or purchased from a garden center. Soil: Zinnias prefer a soil that is fertile, well-drained and amended with organic matter (e.g. Light: Zinnias like full sun with at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. For a full guide on starting plants from seeds, see my blog post titled “ The complete guide to starting plants from seeds indoors”. ![]() Hardening off can be done in a cold frame or by simply placing the plants outdoors for a couple of hours each day for one to two weeks. Hardening off is the process of gradually acclimating the plant to the outdoors. It is also important to ‘harden off’ the transplants before being planted in the ground. You can plant the seeds in a seed starter kit and follow instructions there, or use anything that gets good drainage. Seed starting mix has the correct balance of growing material and nutrients. Use a seed starting potting mix, not regular soil or potting mix. This ensures that the roots have a good amount of space to grow before being transplanted outdoors. Start seeds six to eight weeks before the last frost date. ![]() When I grow the 3-4-foot variety, I start my seeds in 2×2 inch containers. If starting seeds indoors, chose the size container based upon the grown height of the zinnia. Once the seedling emerges, it will take anywhere from 1-3 months for the flowers to appear. When the soil reaches a minimum temperature of 60☏., zinnias can be planted outdoors. Zinnias will germinate in five to seven days in temperatures above 65☏. They can either be started indoors from seed (4-6 weeks before the last frost) or directed seeded outdoors after danger of frost has passed. One of the reasons that zinnias are so popular is because they are easy to grow and will bloom all summer and into the fall until the first frost.
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