Growing zinnias in your summer garden is a great way to incorporate bright pops of color, attract pollinators and enjoy cut flower bouquets all season long!
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Are you on the lookout for a stunning, hearty flower that’s easy to grow and inexpensive to plant? If so, Zinnias are a foolproof seed to add to your next garden! I have found so much joy with this low maintenance variety, and have enjoyed cutting lovely bouquets to share all season long.
The best part of growing zinnias in your summer garden:
- Zinnias are heat and drought tolerant. Our yard has little to no shade and the garden gets full sun all day throughout the summer. We are in zone 5B and during July and August often have temps of high 90’s or even 100 degrees. We go for weeks or sometimes months without any rain. My zinnias have always grown so well despite these conditions!
- Zinnias are super low maintenance and easy to grow. I planted all my zinnias by seed. You can plant them with the scratch and scatter method, which is raking up the dirt a bit and scattering the seeds. Then you simply top the seeds with a light layer of soil and water. Another way I plant them is by making little trenches in my garden beds and planting them in a line. I have had success with both methods!
- Another favorite about zinnias is that the more you cut them throughout the summer, the more blooms you’ll get! To encourage new booms see pruning and cutting tips below.
- One of the best things about including zinnias in your yard or garden is that they attract pollinators! We see butterflies, hummingbirds and bees all season on our zinnias. They add the most beautiful pop of color to the garden and give plenty of pollen and nectar for our tiny beneficial insect friends to enjoy.
Growing zinnias in your summer garden: favorite varieties
Here is a list of the zinnia seeds we have experimented with. I love each them! There are SO many different zinnia varieties, unique colors and fun shapes and sizes.
Tips for planting and caring for zinnias:
Zinnias can be started indoors but I prefer to direct sow them in my beds in the spring. I have always had great success with this method. As stated above, you can scatter or plant in rows in 1/4″ deep soil. For healthy growth and plenty of air flow to the stems, thin plants to be about 6″ apart and space rows 10-12″ apart. If zinnias are too crowded, they will still grow but the blooms will be much smaller.
I like to plant my seeds in rich soil containing natural, organic fertilizer. This year I used this soil for my beds and my plants and flowers grew so healthy and full!
Zinnias do require full sun to be happy and grow big. Be mindful not to plant your seeds in an area near a fence or a place that will get a lot of afternoon shade. You want to make sure they’re getting lots of sun (I would say 6 hours minimum) and they will give you big, layered, beautiful blooms!
Zinnias are a drought tolerant plant, but I try to keep mine watered at least 3-4 times a week. They grow happiest when they are watered consistently. If your zinnias are planted in pots or raised garden beds, be sure the soil is able to drain well. Wait to water again until the soil has dried.
Zinnias prefer to be watered at the base of the stem vs overhead. Watering them with a drip line works great but hose watering at the base works well, too. Watch them to be sure the soil is draining and not growing any powdery mildew or disease.
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Do zinnias need to be fertilized?
Zinnias love to be planted in rich, healthy soil. If you can, treat your garden with organic compost, or feed the soil with a healthy fertilizer. I really like this organic raised bed mix or this organic all purpose plant food. I only had to fertilize my zinnias once through the season. Our growing season is end of May or first of June-September or October, so if you have a longer season you may need to fertilize more than once.
Pruning and cutting Zinnias for continuous blooms
One of the best things about zinnias is that the more you cut and prune them, the more they will blossom and bloom!
Pinch your zinnias when the very first buds appear in the spring! This might feel hard to do, but it is very worth it to encourage more growth and bushier plants.
If you are not regularly harvesting your zinnias, be sure to deadhead spent blooms to encourage more growth and new blossoms all season long.
When is a zinnia ready to be cut for a bouquet?
Only harvest zinnias that have a stiff, firm stem. If the stem is wobbly, they are NOT ready to be cut yet!
Prune zinnia stems back where the main stem splits into 2 other branches. That will leave you a large stem but encourage the growth of two new split branches and buds.
After cutting, I then strip my stem of its foliage and add to a vase of cold water. The florals will last a very long time (up to 10 days sometimes!), especially if you give them fresh water every couple of days.
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