Renee's Garden - These lovely dahlia-flowered zinnias are wonderful cut flowers for summer-long bouquets, and bees and butterflies of all kinds love to visit them. Blooming nonstop with long-stemmed, densely petaled fully double flowers, they will stand up to summer rain and heat. Their radiant clear colors delight the eye in warm scarlet, bright orange, sunny yellow, pure white, rose pink and rich magenta. Plants bloom early and last all season until frost.
Characteristics:
Heirloom
Butterfly & Hummingbird favorites
Pollinators & Beneficials
Annual
Summer/fall bloom
Frost tender
Instructions - To start in the garden, sow seeds in a well-worked seedbed in full sun when the danger of frost is past and the weather is warm and above 50° both day and night. Space seeds 3 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, cover about 1/2 inch deep, and gently firm the soil. Keep soil evenly moist while awaiting germination.
To start early indoors, four to five weeks before the last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 3 inches apart in a container of seed starting mix. Keep warm and moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant outside when temperatures rise above 50° day and night.
Space seedlings 12 inches apart when large enough to handle to give plants room to mature and provide good air circulation. Zinnias grow readily in ordinary garden soil in full sun. For large and abundant flowers, thin before seedlings get crowded; adequate spacing and regular, even watering help keep zinnias productive and discourage mildew. Pick when flower blossoms first open and petals are tight for the longest vase life. Cut long stems well back into the plant to keep plants branching low and producing the best blooms for summer-long bouquets.
- Plant in: May-June for cold winters; April-June for mild winters
- Full sun
- Sow seeds 2-3" apart; 1/2" deep
- Days to germinate: 7-10 days
- Mature Height: 3-3.5 feet
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
