It seems gardening is enjoying a resurgence in popularity during 2020. And for good reasons. Many people found themselves with more free time during the quarantine period. And gardening is a hobby that almost anyone can accomplish and it gives a lot back in return. In this unsettling and stressful season of life, time outside in the sunshine and dirt can be very relaxing and centering. Plus, there’s a lot of satisfaction in growing something whether that is flowers, veggies or a houseplant.
But looking at those insta-gardens can be overwhelming! Where do you start to get those beautiful flower gardens? I have the perfect flower for you to start with! Zinnias!! If you have been wanting to start a flower garden of your own you won’t be disappointed with Zinnias.
Zinnias are easy to grow in a bed or in a planter. They sprout up quickly and you will have flowers in a matter of a few weeks. So, if you are anxious to see quick results, zinnias won’t disappoint. Plant zinnia seeds in the spring and you will have blooms all the way through summer until the first frost in fall! That’s a lot of blooms for your buck!
Zinnia Facts:
- Zinnias are from the daisy family and from the same tribe as sunflowers
- They are native to the Americas and grow in all USDA zones in the United States
- Zinnias can take the heat! They are fairly drought tolerant.
- These beauties come in various sizes, shapes, and heights. They can be grown as a border plant (dwarf varieties) or as tall flowers for cutting.
- They are considered a companion plant which means they go well with your vegetables. Companion plants benefit the plants around them. Zinnias attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies which adds even more beauty to your garden. I have even had hummingbirds visit my zinnia patch!
- Zinnias don’t like to be transplanted very much. They do best by directly seeding them in their forever home.
- Many varieties are “cut and come again”. The more you cut the blooms to enjoy in a vase or keep the spent blooms trimmed, the more blooms you will have. That’s what I call a winner!
- They produce a LOT of seeds so you can have free zinnias for years to come!
Planting Zinnias:
You don’t need much space to get good results from zinnias. Pay attention to the type of seeds you are buying. If you buy the taller ones (California Giants, Cut and Come Again are popular ones) you will want to plant them where they don’t overtake other plants near them, but if you buy the dwarf seeds you can plant them as a border. To plant the seeds just loosen the soil down to about 3 inches and scatter your seeds on top. Then gently cover the seeds with a layer of soil (just enough to cover them well). No need to press them down. Then give them a good drink of water. Keep the seeds moist until they sprout! Then water as needed. You can also sow zinnia seeds in a pot or planter to enjoy on your porch, balcony or patio. You won’t regret including them where you can sit and enjoy the view daily.
I have enjoyed my patch of zinnias this year and I am now saving loads of seeds to sow in the spring. I will enlarge my area so that I can have more blooms to share next year!
Saving Seeds
If you want to save your seeds hang on to some flowers until they dry thoroughly. Then gently pull the petals off and you will see the seeds on the ends of the petals in some cases. Or in a tight bunch in the center. Just gently pull them off of that center pod and save them until next year. Or you can just save the entire dried flower and when you are ready to plant the seeds just rub it between your hands and watch the seeds fall out. Do this directly over your garden patch and you just completed the first step of planting! It is best to store seeds in something that won’t collect moisture (paper bag, envelope, etc) so that they don’t develop mold.
In the photos above (left to right): saving dried flowers; loose petals with tiny seeds attached; center pod of a dried flower with some seeds still attached; large pile of seeds ready to save for next season.
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Zinnias are the best for southern heat and keeping good pollinators in the garden! I always seem to overlook them but every spring we get random flowers popping up from last year’s seeds! Truly am amazing workhorse to keep on hand.
I totally agree, Stephanie! They do tend to pop up in random places and I love the happy surprise. The blooms are happy little flowers!
Zinnias do seem to thrive in the heat! That is a great reason to add them to a southern garden. I’m looking forward to planning a new garden.