General
These big, handsome zinnia plants come into their own through August and September with their blooms that last until frost. They belong in the cutting garden, or along the driveway for a splash of summer colour.
Latin
Zinnia elegans.
Asteraceae family.
Difficulty
Easy.
Season & Zone
Season: Warm season.
Exposure: Full-sun.
Zone: Hardy from zone 3 to 10.
Plant Type
Hardy Annual (HA)
Planting
Direct-seed mid-May through mid-June. Plant every 2 weeks to ensure flowers until frost. Barely cover the zinnia seeds. Germinates in warm soil in 5 to 21 days. Always water from below to avoid fungal diseases infecting your Zinnia seedlings.
You can also raise transplants to set out mid-June, about 45cm (18") apart.
Diseases & Pests
Dense planting of Zinnias and high humidity seem to predispose these plants to a flower and stem fungal disease. Dispose of the diseased tissue carefully and prune so that the branches produce more flowers.
Growing Tips
Cut flowers before they are completely opened.
