IS IT EASY TO GERMINATE ZINNIAS?

Summer Zinnias

Yes!  I think Zinnias are the easiest flowers I’ve ever started from seeds.  Zinnias are also some of the most vibrant and colorful flowers blooming from spring to fall.  They make a splashing entrance when their petals start to unfold.

Zinnas thrive in full hot sun so if you live in a hot climate this is one of the most heat tolerant flowers you can find.

I started out with one seed package many years ago which is all you need to summer blossoms for years to come. 

If you are a novice gardener or just a lazy gardener, Zinnias will impress with how easy they are to grow.

The blossoms attract a variety of pollinators – bees, butterflies and Humming birds.  

ORIGIN

Native to Mexico, Central America and the Southwestern United States.  The Aztecs called the flowers “plants that are hard on the eyes” because of their bright and brilliant colors.  Zinnias come in all colors except blue.

The name Zinnia was adapted after Johann Gottfried Zinn, a German Botany Professor brought Zinnias back to Europe in the 1700’s.

Burst of Colors

VARIETIES

There are more than 20 known species of Zinnias which are from the Aster family.  There are three different varieties of Zinnias, they are:

Single Flowered – blossoms have only one row of petals and the center of each flower is exposed.

Semi Double Flowered – blossoms have several to many rows of petals but the center is exposed and fully visible.

Fully Double Flowered – blossoms have many rows and the center is hidden by the petals.

GERMINATION AND CARE

Spread the seeds on fresh soil after last frost and cover very lightly with soil, enough so the seeds won’t blow away or rake seeds into soil gently, any deeper than ½ inch and they will not germinate.

Zinnias require at least 6 full hours of sun each day.  They also require regular watering; daily in the heat of the summer.  I give my plants a fertilizer about once every two weeks.  Keep in mind that the plants do require enough air circulation between them to keep from getting powdering mildew. 

To have continual blossoms from one plant, deadhead regularly.  Doing that will also allow for fuller plants.  I let some of my blossoms dry on the plant instead of deadheading, then I cut them off and sprinkle on the ground where the others are already blooming.  In the heat of the summer you can just water them into the soil and they will germinate.  The seeds are truly some of the easiest to grow! 

They also re-seed themselves from year to year.  The flowers will bloom until the first frost in the fall.  I let all my blossoms dry on the plants before the first frost, then I harvest them and save in a paper bag to plant the following spring. 

So easy to germinate, so little maintenance and such gorgeous arrays of color make them one of my favorite summer flowers!