One package of each is more than enough for my cutting garden. Zinnias keep me with flowers the whole time! I call the Zinnia’s and Marigold’s the workhorse of the garden. Or just the bleach added to the water? ‘Benary’s Giant Lilac’ (pictured right) starts out a vivid lilac, and with time the outer petals fade to a cool pale lavender, giving it a haunting effect. WOW! It would give me all the zinnias I needed for church, a joy to look at from my home and all who pass by to enjoy too! Plants have long, wiry stems that make them well-suited for flower arranging. I’m going to pass that info on! Zinnias are annuals that grow for one season and then produce seeds. Cactus-flowered types: These fun novelties have the coolest twisted, shaggy petals and come in a wide range of colors including orange, pink, red, yellow, peach, and white. How far apart do you thin seedlings? They are my favorite. :). I’m in Albuquerque, NM and our extreme heat is difficult- out of packs of direct seeded zinnias last year, i got only one plant that grew and bloomed! I’m growing the unicorn zinnias this summer. I love to grow Zinnias because they are so easy and make the cutest bouquets! The problem that we have experienced with Zinnias is that they don’t seem to flower earlier than September. Thank you in advance for any help. Varieties: The giant dahlia-bloom has a compact flower head that grows up to six inches. Do you have to deal with that? I have your “ Cut flower garden “ book and love it! Giant Dahlia Flowered Zinnias The Giant Dahlia Flowered zinnias started off well, direct sowing easily and growing with the same vigor and speed as the Benary Giants. Looking forward to ordering seed for next season!!! With their petite stature, they resemble a bedding plant more than a cropping variety, but I think they deserve a spot in every cutting garden. Do any of your zinnias do ok in 10B? "Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow because seeds require only basic garden preparation to sprout and the plants flower in just a few … eCommerce by blubolt. are you able to obtain seeds from the flowers you have grown at the end of the season ?? They have the coolest antique cream colored single petaled cactus flowered variety that pops up every year. It’s ideal for wedding work, and floral designers love it! It is very helpful and I look forward to reading it and watching the videos. Looking forward to being as successful as you have been in growing them this year. It pairs well with both pastel and vibrant colors. As the plants grow, they push up through the grid of netting and get the support they need. Any other advise would be great. If the stem is stiff and remains erect, it is ready to harvest. You can always depend on them to be beautiful. Love it!! https://shop.floretflowers.com. Do you recommend any that are mildew resistant? I have sent it to a sick friend who loves her garden. The plants produce wonderfully for about a month, but then get burned by the first frost in early October. I just love your flowers! In addition to their special coloring, the Queen Series also produces vigorous plants with sturdy stems and tough flowers, a welcomed improvement to the zinnia family. Thank you for everything you all do to bring such ah-mazing flowers and information to beginning growers like myself. Stick all the saturated, stained-glass colours together (either in the garden or picked to make a bunch), but keep these well away from the pales. A dirty flower is one that will dirty up the water quickly – sunflowers and zinnia are examples of this. View our cookie policy to learn more, Posted in The cotton candy-pink blooms of ‘Benary’s Giant Bright Pink’ (pictured right) are as sweet as can be. love zinnias i just go by what you like never grew thembefore until last year. Should I use it for Zinnias as well? My first planting on May 5 of giant dahlia and Benary's giant (both from Johnny's Seeds) of about 30 feet of row has flowered. But I have never had much success with them. I look at it through the winter to remind me that there is life out there and will be here soon. The Zinnias are the stars of the garden for sure. It comes in a cheery mix including rose, purple, golden yellow, scarlet, orange, pink, and white. The Zowie are growing well and about 3″ tall – the other are half that height and I’ve only had 2 to come up for some reason…should I be taking the flat in at night? March, Our favorite Zinnia varieties are listed in our shop here: https://shop.floretflowers.com/collections/zinnia. The rows and rows of zinnias look gorgeous. Beautiful post! Lastly, if you find this information is helpful, I would love it if you would share it with your friends. If given good soil and a steady supply of water, plants can get huge and require some type of support. Any help with this? Zinnias like the heat, and it’s important that they are grown in full sun. Thanks so much for writing such a beautiful, helpful book! This trio is widely considered a cinch to grow, whether in a backyard cutting garden like mine or for those of you venturing into flower growing for a farmers' market or local floral design customers. I love Zinnias, so I appreciate this post. Did pinching reduce the possible size of the zinnia blooms? But, I fell in love with the Zinderella zinnias this year….and now I can’t stop purchasing all kinds of zinnia seeds! Learn more about soil preparation here. We recommend starting them 6-8 weeks before your last frost so they can be transplanted outside after the weather has warmed. First time growing these. hi, I’m stating this year to be a flower farmer! Wonderful varieties abound, but the Benary series was developed specifically for cut flowers. You recommend Floralife to aid in vase longevity for most flowers. Once the planting beds have been prepared, we lay down four lines of drip irrigation, roughly a foot (30.5 cm) apart, then the beds are covered with a layer of pre-burned landscape fabric to control weeds. Thanks for any help! The stems bend over completely while they’re still so young, sort of “snapping”. But I consider it quite an honor that she loves all of the flowers that I grow. Generally, Zinnias need 1½–2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of a 1-1-1 fertilizer. Look forward to hearing from you! After being inspired by your book last January we started a cut garden here in Middle Tennessee–Zinnias were the largest part of our crop and they were so well received. stress, including not getting enough water or too-high temps, they will start producing single flowers (pictured left). It truly is appreciated. A surprise frost comes late often enough that I usually wait until last week of May, meaning it’s quite a wait before blooms. If the stem is stiff and remains erect, it is ready to harvest. I live in New Orleans, and I have never been able to grow Green Envy. So, I haven’t had much success. ‘Oklahoma Ivory’ (pictured above) had been discontinued but, to the delight of countless growers and designers, was brought back by Frank Morton at Wild Garden Seed here in the Pacific Northwest. I am going to try growing zinnias this year if it is not too late. Water more in hot climates. Long stemmed varieties make great cut flowers. Thanks for all the info! It was so gratifying after having some germination challenges with other starts. Just scattering a handful of seeds adds a splash of color to the end caps or paint the orchard with dabs of color beneath the olive trees. My Zinnias were the best ever this year but for the fact that one day I went out and the center stems had been hollowed out by a pest but there was no trace of any. June, The frilly double blooms look like mini gerbera daisies or double-flowered echinacea. Netting is held in place by metal hoops that we made with our Johnny’s Quick Hoops Bender. This year the buds are stunted. As the plants grow, they push up through the grid of netting and get the support they need. Can zinnias go into the ground earlier if you put up frost cloth and warm the soil a bit with black fabric? I also raise dahlias and have one particular bed that is up against a barn wall and east facing. I planted a flower garden from seed tapes in April and have so many Zinnias, Cosmos and Tithonia blooming and more on the way! Should I attempt to keep them from getting so tall or let them continue growing? I would love to order some of your solid color varieties, for next year how early can I order them?thanks your info is so beautiful and helpful plus inspiring. To keep flowers blooming after you place them in a vase, keep cut flowers out of direct sunlight and drafts, change the water every other day, and make a fresh cut each time you change the water. I’m in Canada, not far from you, so should be able to follow your book easily. Whoa- they revert to singles in stress? So I turned my raised garden bed where I normally grow tomatoes into a zinnia patch this year. They’re starting to flower and the flowers are very small and petals minimal, hardly single in a lot of them. The mid-sized plant produces fun, campy double flowers with lipstick-pink centers and soft blush tips. I am thrilled to hear that they grow so well here in Western Washington. Best Cut Flower for Beginner Gardeners. Zinnias are a great choice for the beginner gardener and a long time favorite of all gardeners. We are really reading up on all of it. Zinnias seem to love the hot and dry summer climate up here in the northern Cariboo region of British Columbia. Zinnias are some of my favorite cutting flowers! I would like to try growing them from seed, Hi Ann, There are multiple pictures of my grandmother’s garden bursting with zinnias from back in the day, and my father has been growing from saved seed for years now. Thank you for all the tips especially the cutting tips, very interesting to learn at what stage we can cut them etc!! Anyways, this year I’m really excited to grow a few new (to me) varieties I bought from a different seed company: Uproar Rose and Art Deco. Thanks. In current shaky climate I am trying to save on greenhouse fuel, and in doing so fear I have some dampening off … but only on my most resilient little growers, my zinnias. Could you tell me why can’t I have the double bloom flower while the mother plant that I got the seed from is a double flower? What works for you? In addition to choosing a sunny spot, I always grow them in fabric for the added heat. Zinnias aren’t my favorite blooms ever, but I appreciate how easy they are to grow and their range of colors. I’m curious do you sow one seed per cell ? I love Magellan because it is so beautiful in arrangements with cool colors (not quite pink) and warm colors (not quite salmon) while staying bright and vivid. Simply grab the stem about 8 inches (20 cm) down from the flower head and gently shake it. I made sure to pick interesting varieties and our customers were just wowed by our selection. I thought they loved heat! Thin out the seedlings, so you end up with one plant every 12in (30cm) or so. To much cold early season and a bit to much shade so I avoided them because they were one of the most finicky. We always had trouble keeping zinnias happy in our nursery. Kim, I’m in Texas and have the same chalky-residue issue when we use our sprinkler system. I grow a lot of zinnias during the growing season. I’m a fan and always have been of peachy/salmon shades (since childhood). Additionally, zinnias make great cut flowers, which can either be sold in market for income or enjoyed on the dinner table at home. This year, I’d like to plant zinnias in one of our raised beds. Thank you for your practical, helpful guides and instructions, also tips for vase life. :) Last year my Zinnias that I planted in containers did not do as well as those that I planted directly in the ground? It pairs well with both pastel and vibrant colors. Left to right, below: ‘Giant Salmon Rose’, ‘Oklahoma Salmon’, ‘Lilliput Salmon’. Ours came from an ’Oklahoma Salmon’ mix from Floret. Bottom row, left to right: ‘Señora’, ‘Lilliput Salmon’, ‘Oklahoma Salmon’. What a dream to be able to work in such beauty everyday. Can’t wait to start cutting them and look forward to trying some of varieties you mention above. You’ve inspired me to try my hand at growing them! We do have a major issue down here in the south with Powdery Mildew, its so humid it has become a never-ending battle. As I’ve gotten into flowers this year, caring for a cut flower garden, the potential of an organically grown, highly marketable cash crop has not escaped me. And to provide additional nutrients through weekly seaweed tea. Knowing which varieties of flowers are the best to grow for long-lasting cut flowers is the first step. Thank you. Can never have enough of the beauties! I had been wondering why that was and will try a slightly coler spot for them next season, I am growing an annual cutting garden for the first time this year. This versatile color looks incredible when combined with rich foliage and blooms. This should help extend the amount of time you have flowers. Living in the Flint Hills of Kansas, we knew zinnias would be top of the list, as we tend to have very hot windy summers. or fertilization, etc.? Do you cut it under the net and pull it up through? Cut your zinnias early in the morning while the blooms are just beginning to open. on 1st March 2020. I’m in New Zealand on the east coast of the North Island. ‘Candy Mix’ (pictured above) is an improved mix that contains a higher percentage of double flowers in a warm, cheerful blend of scarlet, raspberry, rose, salmon, tangerine, gold, and cream. Definitely a must-grow! ^_^. It is a joy to see the pollinators flitting between Zinnia islands. As a consequence one of the plants has completely collapsed. My youngest daughter(she’s 17) asked that I grow the flowers for her wedding, which I hope won’t be for quite a while! Trying Bernary’s Giant Lime this year instead. What a nice article Erin on one of the best annual any gardener should sow every year!!! We use a layer of Hortonova netting stretched horizontally about 12 inches (30.5 cm) above the ground. Thank you so much. Start your zinnias from seed, either right in the ground or under lights. They make a bold statement when combined with acid green or deep maroon flowers and foliage. . Thanks for the tips about scabiosa varieties! I grew flowers for the farmers market this summer, zinnias being one of them(one of my favorites). Hello! Adding a bit of bleach or hydrogen peroxide to the water keeps the water cleaner longer with ‘dirty flowers’. I’m so glad you’ve found some zinnia varieties that you love! If i plant them closer together, will they be shorter? Such a wonderful flower. I have loved zinnias since I was a kid, thanks to my Dad. I am growing zinnias for sale as cut flowers. Here’s how it’s done: When plants are between 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30.5 cm) tall, take sharp pruners and snip the top 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm) off the plant, just above a set of leaves. Is there any way to combat or remedy for powdery mildew? This signals the plant to send up multiple stems from below where the cut was made, resulting in more abundant flower production as well as longer stem length. Thanks! Queen Series: Unlike other zinnias, this series includes the most unique array of unusual coloring including lime green, smoky apricot, dusty rose, and limey blush. Plants are best supported by individual stakes or, if being grown in a veg or cutting garden for picking, they look fine pushing up through nylon clematis or wire sheep netting, stretched horizontally one foot (30cm) or so off the ground and tied taut onto a series of canes. So excited! So stunning and the sizes ranger from 2″ to nearly 4″ wide. And there’s a huge range of shapes, sizes, and colors to choose from. Hope that helps! Yours are absolutely gorgeous After reading the post and seeing all the beautiful varieties, I was inspired to try again. Now I just get tiny blooms. We have reently had floods, then high winds and now a day of 32° heat. The stem is too weak to hold the plant up. Each glowing scarlet petal is tipped in gold for a fun twist. I love the ZOWIE series of zinnias, specifically Zowie Yellow Flame. The Queen Lime series are my favorites because their colors are so unusual. I’m hoping this is just an early awkward stage. Zinnias thrive in hot, dry conditions, so grow them in well-drained soil in a sunny border. I planted a few too many seeds really because I wanted to be sure to get some. With this selection, the necks are strong. "They are great for hot summer weather and gardeners in warmer climates," explains Dr. Gladys Mbofung-Curtis, a garden expert at Garden Safe. The other key fact I learnt in Sri Lanka was that, as well as plenty of sun and heat. Flowers make me happy – but if I wanted one mixed bouquet a week on the kitchen table, I’d be shelling out £40 a month. Zinnias have hollow stems below the flower, so weak necks, which bruise and break off all too easily as you arrange them, can be a problem. Are there any particular varieties that would work in containers on my west-facing balcony in Los Angeles? What kind of spray treatments do you do? I planted them in full sun (that’s 13+ hours of South Carolina heat, which I thought they could handle) I can’t wait to see what she grows this year. I’m on a well with high iron in water clogs up and last winter left out and animals chewed up. Take care. The easy to grow, heat-loving plants produce a bumper crop of sweet blooms on long, strong stems in shades of rose, carmine, orange, coral, white, yellow, and violet. These are hands down the most productive and floriferous zinnias I’ve ever grown. Great article. I’m in one of the milder parts of Montana (Zone 3+ or 4-), but I’ve struggled starting them in the greenhouse and had the best luck direct sowing once it warms up. Hello from West Richland, Wa. I grow them in Mogo . I did a double take before realising they were just the common or garden zinnia, ‘Dahlia Mix’. the photos of all those beautiful zinnias have me itching for Spring! MaryDana Baird . My daughter used to grumble a little when she got a package of zinnia seeds in her Easter basket and knew she would be expected to help plant them. I found the reverting to single flowers interesting too . I can’t imagine my garden without Lilliput Salmon or any of the Queen Lime series. I have been growing a few zinnias for years to make arrangements in our Episcopal Church Should I not pinch next year? Its a temperate climate with hot dry summers. I bought sooooo many zinnias from you guys this year. The bees and butterflies love them . I love what I can see of the colors, though! You are a one in a million I can’t thank you enough, stay safe be healthy I can’t wait for more❤️. I ordered your ‘Cut Flower Garden’ book and LOVE it! You site is beyond great! I cut the stems, leaving the branching for subsequent flowers. ‘Benary’s Giant Carmine’ (pictured right) has raspberry-pink blooms; as they age the outer tips of the petals fade, giving blooms a multidimensional quality. Also I had a lots of trouble with black spots on the leaves, maybe caused by insects- not sure if it affected the flowers or not. (I cut them all this year.. oops) I named my daughter Zinnia Raine in memory of my late grandmother and we grow tons every year! I am hoping these mix well in arrangements with my DA roses. Zinnias were my grandmother’s favorite flower. I’m new to your blog and website. These unique bicolor novelties are sure to catch the attention of everyone who sees them. Have always included them as such happy vibrant and easy to care for plants. Thank you so much for the tips when cutting. Congratulations on your first year being a flower farmer! When you say that plants are “spaced 9 inches (23 cm) apart,” do you mean that the rows are spaced 9″ apart, and the seeds within the rows are planted much closer? The petal tips of ‘Benary’s Giant Orange’ are edged with the tiniest hint of lavender, giving them an iridescent quality. Thank you so much! We love our Zinnias!! Actually, in a small rural town outside of Miami University. Do you pull them out of the ground after it’s autum?, fall, winter??? Knebels Knob Farm, Hi Barb, This signals the plant to send up multiple stems from below where the cut was made, resulting in more abundant flower production as well as longer stem length. Thank you for all the great information! I love Zinnias! We are starting small with a 1/2 an acre and building from there. In addition, when learning how to grow zinnia, remember that pinching back results in a bushie… I have planted zinnias for many years starting them from seed. The ‘Persian Carpet Mix’ (pictured above) includes adorable gold, cranberry, orange, and cream flowers. You are SO appreciated!! I am growing zinnia in containers on my patio for the first time. I love the look of the scabiosa zinnias but haven’t had as much success with them as I would like, it’s good to know that it’s stress that’s causing the single blooms! I put my Zinnias in the vegetable garden and we do not have a big bug problem. I grew zinnias last year and plan to grow them this year with some of your added tips! I’m considering starting zombie from seed instead of direct sowing. After reading this I want to grow fields of zinnias! The texture is just the same. So many fun varieties! Thank you for this really thorough exploration of varieties on offer! Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed, they grow quickly and bloom for long periods of time. <3 Australia . This adorable bloomer produces an abundance of petite, fully double, dome-shaped salmon flowers all summer long. How do you get water to your flowers? Thanks for your help! I am in Phoenix-super hot from June to September. Any ideas? I’m curious to know if you sell and ship the starter plants so I can get the variety I’d prefer? I’m hoping to grow the table flowers for my son’s September wedding. It is sometimes difficult to get the variety and color of flowers down here in the tropics, and zinnias help fill that void. I like how you are straight to the point and comprehensive without a lot of digressions or insufficient info. Single-flowered varieties are attractive to pollinating insects, particularly hoverflies. In this video we will compare Zinnias that have been pinched to zinnias that were allowed to grow normally. Maintain moderate soil moisture and fertilize lightly to maximize growth and blooms. Growers in Massachusetts have approximately 120 frost free days. I’m curious though, what other flowers or green foliage do you like to pair with zinnias for a pretty bouquet?? I live in Cincinnati Ohio. First off, we are super-excited about ‘Unicorn Mix’ (pictured above). All your pictures are lovely. Avoid overhead irrigation as it may damage the flowers by causing spotting, or may splash soil onto the foliage and promote disease. I bought them as healthy plug plants and pinched them when they go to a decent height to encourage more leaf growth. Thank you! I tried Fertilome Triple action, and fertilized with fish emulsion. My favorite is Benary Giant, and I love to mix them with snapdragons. Wow, breathtakingly beautiful! We’ve been growing zinnias since the beginning, and every year I fall more and more in love with them. Some of my friends liked them so much in pots, they are doing the same thing. I have too many seed variety for my garden space, so I’m trying to convince my husband to let me dig up some of our existing landscaping; we’ll see how that goes. I would estimate that I get anywhere from 12-25 stems per plant. Thank you! GARDEN GUIDE | Zinnias for cutting. In 2013, with four times the number of sunny, summer days in Sussex compared with 2012, the zinnias looked magnificent. Hi your flowers are so beautiful IAM litterly in shock from the beauty of your farms Zinnias. Of all the zinnias we grow, this might be my favorite. Zinnias have been a major part of my cutting garden for years and they are one of my favorite things to grow. That same daughter was expecting a baby girl in October of last year and asked me what the name of the flower was that we planned each year. The individual colors in this series are stunning, especially en masse. Our 2021 line of specialty seeds is available in. I live in Miami Florida and that means we are a unique micro climate with a 10B hardiness zone rating. ‘Oklahoma Salmon‘ (pictured above) has petite, double blooms that are a warm mix of salmon and peach and combine well with anything. Thank you for taking the time to put all of this information together to help aspiring flower growers like myself. Growing conditions may include the number of frost-free days in your area, your soil type, and sun exposure. After reading you article I’d really like to try them in my own garden! I’ve reduced it but not eliminated it by watering via a drip line. I have been so far. Zinnias have been in the family garden every year since before my dad was born. We have been growing and selling them for a year now in Florida. This makes me want to order some of every color! Where I live in central CA it is incredibly hot months on end and they are one of my favorite in the garden, and I must plant more this year! Growing zinnia plants benefit from deadheading and flower removal (used in cut flower bouquets). Available in a brilliant rainbow of colors, these happy blooms are a must-grow for any flower lover. This post is so helpful to know how to better care for them this year! #Gardening #GrowingFlowers #CutFlowerFarm GARDEN ANSWER made a video about it, so I guess I'll make a video about planting and growing zinnias too! These hardy flowers come in vibrant array of colors and are great additions to arrangements. With most zinnias, you’ll get at least a week in a vase if they’re kept cool. I am in love with these, along with the dwarf series, Profusion Coral Pink, Fire, and Orange. My other varieties of zinnias were beautiful, so I couldn’t figure out what the problem was. As one of the easiest cut flowers to cultivate, they are a perfect first crop for beginning growers and are reliable, prolific producers for most flower farms. And so many different colors. You mentioned starting flowers in the greenhouse several weeks before last frost, are your greenhouses heated? My husbands mom gave us a cheap packet of zinnia seeds last year to plant in the courtyard of our (first and new) home. Green Envy is not a Scabiosa type but maybe it’s the same issue…. Like every flower grown on our farm, we try to give them the best start possible. This would work better in my cutting garden. With proper placement and correct watering, zinnia plants provide long-term color and beauty in the summer flower bed. Benary’s Giant Series: The largest-flowered varieties in the zinnia family, plants often reach 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) tall and have a high percentage of huge double flowers. We are in western Indiana and are planting several Zinnias this year. Soil, Sunlight and Water Recommendations for Zinnias Zinnias are tough prairie plants. The photo above demonstrates pinching with another type of plant. Thank you for any answers you can give me! Annuals, The mostly double and semi-double flowers of ‘Queen Lime Blush’ (pictured above) are a stunning blend of green and purple, unlike anything we’ve seen. Perennials for Spring and Summer Planting. Registered in England & Wales #06694059. I’ve noticed that that they seem to like the larger, single zinnias of all colors. It’s a must-grow! Or do you mean that literally every seed or two should be 9″ from the next plant? Thank you for that valuable bit of info. I’ve heard of a ‘dirty’ gardener, but never a ‘dirty’ flower- I can’t even ‘google’ it! They have nice long stems and good disease resistance, and they come in a beautiful range of colors. Any type of stake, wooden or metal, will work just fine. I got the seeds that I get from my friend, I don’t what kind of the variety it is but when it bloom, I only get a single bloom flower unlike what my friend has. It’s ideal for wedding work, and floral designers love it! Most important, especially when you’re arranging, is to restrict the colour range. Photography: © Jonathan Buckley. What could this be? Water zinnias regularly, keeping soil moist, but avoid overwatering. Your garden sounds incredible! The Sunbow Series, available from Johnny’s Selected Seeds has been around for ages and has miniature 1- to 2-inch (2.5 to 5 cm) double blooms that ride atop long, sturdy stems. I wanted to hug those little guys! The smaller-flowered forms such as. Thanks for sharing and how often do you spray them? Do the smaller Lilliput varieties need to be pinched at a shorter height since their final growth height is shorter? I especially love the lillyputs they are so pretty. All make good cut flowers. Here’s more about this beautiful annual, plus how to grow and care for zinnias. Clipping the plant back often results in more abundant blooms. The whimsical colors and shapes just make me smile. The series boasts 7 colors including Oklahoma Salmon, Pink, Carmine, Ivory, White, Yellow, and Scarlet. Last year I was so excited to grow Zinderella Peach for the first time and was so disappointed with the results. I love most all zinnias and plant a mix if different variety of seeds.i am mostly partial to the California giants and the Lilliputians. It has been a trooper in my garden providing abundant beautiful blooms for much of the growing season. Winner of the Fleuroselect Novelty Award in 2012, this hardworking plant thrives in heat and is very easy to grow. ‘Benary’s Giant Coral’ (pictured left) is a glowing tropical coral-salmon variety and a long-standing customer favorite. The longest lastin bouquets ever are zinnias with statice, can maybe go two weeks! They are extremely easy to grow. I buy the giant variety at Walmart. I planted seeds years ago with success and I recently carefree planted some packets. That makes my day! Thank you Erin for such a credible overview of zinnias. We are in early spring here so other option would be to try and direct seed. Do not put them in the cooler since the flowers are very cold-sensitive. We carry them in our shop. The cactus varieties have a softer individual spine like petals. The best zinnias I’ve ever seen were lining a path to a primary school in Sri Lanka. He was an incredible gardener, and every year would plant a row of zinnias and a row of marigolds at the edge of our vegetable garden. Hopefully they’ll like this location better. I have been growing State Fair Zinnias for a few years, and they are stunning, multiple pinks, deep rose, yellow and a few white. So grateful!! Now just to keep the iguanas out of the flower beds (the eat everything to the ground and outsmart even chicken wire)… but another south Florida issue. Choosing only a few varieties was almost excutiating but I want to grow a little of everything so I have to be choosy with my limited space. So thankful to hear that zinnias like the heat! They are fabulously easy to make stunning cut flower bunches . I just discovered your site from this post. Thanks for your info . This explains why my “green envy” zinnias reverted to a pale yellow single petaled flower last year? Thank you for the article on zinnias, i have fallen in love with all the new colors an sizes. The Urban Flower Farm . I didn’t think I was a big fan of zinnias until I read your post about them (I love easy plants!) Would they do well in a sunny window sill, or do I need to use grow lights? We had a hot summer (for us) last year and the Zinnias loved it. I would love to hear your experience with this wonderful group of plants. Hi ! Someone said maybe they have aster yellows….they look super healthy from a distance but up close there some things that normally I wouldn’t pay any attention to…super tiny dots on the leaves, etc. I am one of those who has a hard time pruning the “center” out of the young plants, but when I do I am rewarded with taller plants and more blooms. My granddaughter was given the name of Zinya. The tips of my zinnia seedlings are dead and burnt looking..they have not been outside though or exposed to the sun. What did I do wrong? It is absolutely pouring here in the UK so this article was a magic pick me up. Left to right, above: ‘Lilliput Salmon’, ‘Giant Salmon Rose‘, ‘Oklahoma Salmon’. Now I can spend some time looking at the rest of the site. Hi Marianne, I ended up getting the queen lime, zinderella lilac and desert sunset mix. this year I will try for the first time the zinnia red spider. Ahhhh Thanks for all the great information on flower growing! Throughout the summer I probably cut more than 200-300 zinnia flowers off of these plants. He’s been gone for 23 years and I have never grown a vegetable garden, but I grow zinnias every year. They started throwing up long and strong stems at the end of June and continue to bloom until frost. Any suggestions for preventing this? I’m in Texas. !! Was the only nutrients for the growth period added during bed prep and during seedlings when you used compost tea? I was able to get some great photos that year. I love getting all this information from you! I especially love ‘Lilliput Salmon’ (pictured growing above). We direct sow a few times through the summer, but just one planting provides us with blooms for many weeks. Zinnia Pests & Diseases. This year I’m trying all seedings started from seeds indoors and will see how they do. Any ideas as to what could be happening and if I should pull them out? Top row, left to right: ‘Giant Salmon Rose’, ‘Zinderella Peach‘, ‘Queen Lime Orange’. I always seem to have this around the end of summer beginning of fall all my zinnias get PM. What an exciting time for you. This took 3 attempts. Thank you! Thank you for all the work you do to bring us gardener’s the info you have learned. I was so surprised at how well they did with so little care! The brilliant, eye-catching ‘Aztec Sunset’ mix includes a wide range of miniature bicolor blooms in shades of buttercream, gold, cranberry, rust, and merlot. I’ll be a little more careful with those this year :) Thanks for all the amazing blog posts! Oh my gosh, I am happy to share this on Facebook! I’m obsessed with them . Just loved this article and the photos. One problem with the zinnias, was having the stems collapse only hours after cutting- every single flower. Denise. what do you use in water of a vase for fresh flower food, I always love this flower as we call them margarita here. Zinnias are my favorite cutting flower mainly because they are so easy to grow and they’re very prolific. So you can see why its easy to plant too many. They come in a wide range of colors (12 total) and are known for their strong stems and good disease resistance. I love all of the information on zinnias. Everyone who sees them instantly falls in love. Inspiring stories, profiles & advice from 45 flower growers from around the world, Join the Floret newsletter and stay in the loop on all the exciting happenings here on the farm. I tried the pinching trick on almost all of mine. If the stem is droopy or bends, it is not ready to cut. Zinnias are a staple at garden centers and also incredibly easy to grow from seed. I have been gleaning every tidbit of wisdom you have to share from your site as well as your book as I start my flower farming journey. This is so helpful! during this time we all need it. The secret to getting the longest stems from your zinnias is pinching them when they are young. There’s no better late-summer plant, with a brilliant range of colours and flowers that look as though they’ve been cut from velvet-coated cardboard. They are one of my favorite flowers and I always try to have a bunch somewhere in my gardens for me to enjoy. I will experiment with part shade this year to see if it makes a difference. There is an unbelievable number of zinnias to choose from in every shape, color, and size imaginable. Selecting Cut Flowers to Grow. Zinnias need to be picked when they are fully ripe, otherwise they won’t last in the vase. ‘Mazurkia’ brings a new twist to zinnias and is a Fleuroselect Winner for good reason. Our concern/question is: Will we be successful if we direct seed/plant in the holes we burned in our landscape fabric? Floral, Garden Writer March 23, 2019 garden, growing guide 1 Comment. I look forward to receiving your I’m just down south of Auburn WA, Thank you for sharing such wonderful Info and beautiful pictures. Do you sell packages of seeds or could you tell me where I can buy seeds of your giant zinnias? Their petite flower size makes them ideal for flower arranging. These gorgeous novelties are sought out by designers for their unique coloring. I can’t wait to start them… keep up the good work :). I love Zinnias. If so, how often and with what product? I learned so much reading this blog Thanks so much for your help! warm peachy color is so versatile and softens with age. Also, our tend to get very tall (we live in the south and have a long growing season). The mix has medium-sized, mostly double blooms in an enchanting range of vivid sherbet tones including raspberry, tangerine, magenta, lemon, apricot, dusty lilac, and blush with striking lavender centers. I am growing the Zindarellas this year for the first time and I can’t wait! I’ve not gotten any normal flowers. The entire bed is just full of all types of beautiful, colorful zinnias just like my grandma loved. They are the last thing I pull out of the garden because I want to enjoy them to the end. Beautiful photos. I’m soo enjoying all the Zinnia talk . Why grow your own cut flowers? I have tried staking to hold it up, but it no looks dry like its dying. They come in a wide range of colors (12 total) and are known for their strong stems and good disease resistance. I’ve never grown zinnias before, but I just started a flat of the Queen Series today. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, for young plants. Stripping the leaves off will keep the flowers looking nicer since the leaves will droop and wilt before the flower does. If so, what are your favorite varieties, or what new treasures are you adding to your wishlist?