Sow zinnia seeds indoors: 4 to 7 weeks prior to your last spring frost in cell packs or flats, press into soil and lightly cover. Kept at 75°F., seedlings emerge in 3 to 10 days. Stress from transplant shock may cause double-flowering zinnias to temporarily produce single flowers. Transplant zinnia seedlings well before they become root bound, and avoid disturbing zinnia roots.
Sow zinnias seeds outdoors: in spring after all danger of frost into prepared beds in ¼ in. deep furrows, 4 to 6 seeds per foot. Cover and keep soil surface moist. Thin seedlings to 9 to 24 in. apart depending on the type of zinnia grown. Zinnia plants started from seed in midsummer put on an impressive fall display.
Grow Zinnias:Full sun. Best zinnia performance in rich, well-drained soil with regular water. Easy to grow, plants love the heat, will tolerate drought, and are resistant to deer and rabbits. Bloom is continuous over an extended summer and fall season, and the bright flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies galore!
Zinnias are among the finest of cut flowers, and mix well with other traditional flowers in a homegrown arrangement. Typical vase life is 7 days, which can be extended further with the use of flower preservatives.
