The best way to Develop Zinnias | BBC Gardeners World Journal

Zinnias are principally annual crops, common due to the colorful, daisy-like flowers. Native to Mexico, there are 18 species and a whole bunch of cultivated kinds, that are grown as annual bedding crops. Flowers are available in vivid colors from crimson, orange and deep pink to inexperienced, with a stunning lengthy flowering season from summer time to the primary frosts. Zinnias are good for filling gaps within the border and in addition work nicely in container shows. Lengthy stemmed varieties make nice minimize flowers.

Zinnias thrive in sizzling, dry situations, so develop them in well-drained soil in a sunny border. Single-flowered varieties are engaging to pollinating bugs, significantly hoverflies.

Observe our sensible information to rising zinnias, under and watch our video with David Hurrion above, the place he reveals the best way to develop zinnias from seed and the best way to look after zinnias.

The place to plant zinnias

For finest outcomes develop zinnias in well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered spot.

The best way to plant zinnias

Zinnias might be sown indoors from February till April, or sown open air instantly into the soil in Could. If sowing in trays or modules, ensure you use free-draining compost, so seedlings do not endure from dampness, and transplant seedlings as quickly as they’ve a pair of true leaves.

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Propagating zinnias

It is best to develop zinnias from contemporary seed yearly, additionally to make sure the color mixture of your chosen cultivar. However if you wish to save seed for enjoyable or thriftiness, you may choose just a few blooms to depart for harvesting. When the flowers have pale, you may discover the seeds in simply behind the bottom of the petals. Retailer the seeds in an hermetic container till you’re able to sow as above in spring.

Zinnias: downside fixing

Zinnias might be liable to powdery mildews, mould and leaf spot, however haven’t any issues with pests.

Taking care of zinnias

Decide zinnia flowers repeatedly to maintain extra coming, and apply liquid feed by the rising season.

Zinnia varieties to strive

• Zinnia tenuifolia ‘Purple Spider’ – a compact zinnia, with wide-spaced, spidery petals, rising to a peak of 60cm
• Zinnia haageana ‘Soleado’ – often called the Mexican zinnia, this species has smaller leaves, making it extra tolerant of sizzling dry situations and winds. ‘Soleado’ bears lots of single orange flowers on sturdy, stems. Crops are straightforward to develop, proof against rain and flower till the primary frosts
• Zinnia elegans ‘Queen Purple Lime’ – the crimson flowers have lime-green tricks to every petal. Grows to 60cm
• Zinnia elegans ‘Envy’ – with uncommon semi-double, lime inexperienced, dahlia-like blooms on lengthy stems, that is extra tolerant of shade than different zinnias. It additionally makes a wonderful minimize flower
• Zinnia elegans ‘Orange King’ – a tall-growing zinnia, rising to 75cm, the flowers are showy, semi-double orange blooms. It’s preferrred for utilizing to fill gaps within the border, and in addition works nicely in container shows
• Zinnia elegans ‘Purple Prince’ – a really tall-growing zinnia, as much as 90cm, bearing placing double flowers in magenta with a lime inexperienced centre. It’s good for rising in casual, naturalistic conditions with grasses and different tall-growing annuals
• Discover extra vibrant zinnias to develop