Growing Zinnias

​Oh, how I love zinnias! With their bright, bold colors and their long vase life, they are a wonderful cut flower to have in the garden. Zinnias are one of the first plants I ever grew from seed and I cannot imagine not seeing them bloom in my fields every year. They are also very easy to grow, which makes them a great choice for first-time growers. If you'd like to add some color to your garden, you should give them a try!

Colors & Varieties

Zinnias come in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. Over the years on the farm, I have trialed several different varieties, and I can say that I have never been disappointed in any of them. With the hopes of inspiring you to try zinnias this season, I'd like to share three of my all-time favorites.

1.) Benary's Giants: These beauties are the largest variety in the zinnia family. With a look similar to dahlias, these zinnias have large double blooms and strong, sturdy stems. Benary's Giants can grow up to 4-5 feet and have blooms that are 3-6 inches across. Some of my favorite colors include lime, golden yellow, orange, salmon rose, purple, scarlet and wine. ​

​2.) Oklahoma: With their prolific double and semi-double blooms, the Oklahoma series is the perfect addition to bouquets and arrangements. Their smaller flowers are easy to work with and stand up well in the garden. This variety also comes in a range of colors including salmon, pink, scarlet, yellow, ivory, and (my favorite) carmine.

​3.) Queeny: This series includes the most unique, antique-looking flowers in a stunning combination of colors. I absolutely love their sophisticated, classic look. Some of my favorite colors include lime with blush, red lime, and lemon peach. With mostly double and semi-double blooms, the Queeny variety produces a prolific amount of cut-and-come-again flowers throughout the season.

Starting Zinnias

Zinnias are one of the easiest cut flowers to cultivate. They can be directly seeded in the garden or planted out as a transplant. They can also be planted in containers. Zinnias are heat lovers that will not do well in the least bit of cold, so they must be planted in the garden after all danger of frost has passed. Here on our farm, we like to wait until a couple weeks after our last frost dates to get them in the ground. There is nothing more upsetting than starting tiny plants from seeds, tending to them for several weeks, transplanting them into the garden, and then having an unexpected freeze come through and wipe them all out. Trust me, it's better to wait until the weather has warmed up completely.

In the Garden

Zinnias grow best in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. You should plant them in a spot that ideally gets around 6 hours of direct sunlight. Be sure to amend your soil with compost, if needed. Zinnias can be planted closely together, about 9-12 inches apart. Once planted, keep seedlings well watered as they continue to grow. You do not want to overwater, just be sure to keep the ground moist. Make sure to water at the base of the plant, as overhead watering can lead to leaf diseases. Zinnias grow at a fast rate and will get quite large. For this reason, some type of support should be used to keep them upright during harsh winds and summer storms. We use rolls of commercial netting, but for the home grower, simple garden stakes will work. You can get those at your local garden center.

Pinching

"Pinching" is a technique that many growers use to essentially get more blooms from certain plants. To pinch a plant, you remove the growing tip of the main stem. This, in turn, encourages the plant to produce more stems. More stems equal more flowers. Plants that have been pinched at the right stage turn into bushier, fuller plants. It is important to note that not all flowering plants should be pinched. For instance, single-stemmed plants (like single-stemmed sunflowers) should never be pinched. Please do your research on what you are growing before you pinch your plants. With that said, zinnias are one of the flowers in the garden that benefit from being pinched. When your plants are about 12 inches tall, you can take a pair of garden snips or your fingers and gently pinch off the top part of the stem, just above a set of true leaves. Your plant will now get the signal that it is time to grow more branches.

Pests & Potential Problems

​Like almost all cut flowers, zinnias are occasionally bothered by pests in the garden. Insects like aphids, spider mites, and flies can be an issue, especially during the dog days of summer. Fortunately, on our farm, we have never had a problem that we couldn't handle with just a heavy spray of the garden hose or with a few summer rains. The biggest issue with zinnias is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a common plant disease that appears as white spots on the leaves and stems. It usually hits later in the growing season but can be avoided by not watering plants overhead and by planting at the right spacing.

Harvesting

Zinnias grow pretty quickly. You should start to see your first blooms appear around 80-90 days after planting from seed. They truly are cut and come again flowers, so know that the more you harvest them, the more they will grow. If you are not harvesting them regularly, be sure to remove (deadhead) any dead flowers so the plant will spend its energy creating new blooms instead of going to seed. When harvesting, you must make sure that your flowers are ready to be cut. If picked too soon, zinnias will flop over and die. To be sure, you must use the "wiggle test". To do this, you hold the stem about an inch from the bloom and give it a little shake. If it stands firm, it is ready to cut. If it is overly "wiggly" and bends easily, it is not quite there. Zinnias have a long vase life and should last about a week, if properly cared for.

​Do you grow zinnias in your garden? What are your favorite varieties? If you're not growing them yet, are you planning on giving them a try? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with this favorite summer bloom!

Happy Growing!
XOXO