Planting and caring for zinnias
Easy to grow & ideal for beginners
Zinnias are among the most opulent summer flowers of all and the new varieties can certainly keep up with dahlias. Large, densely filled flower heads in fantastic colours make them a real eye-catcher in the garden. They also tolerate drought very well and, alongside perennials, are the best flowering plants in the garden in dry summers. Even if you only have a balcony, it’s worth growing them, as they also grow wonderfully in planters.
The most important facts in brief
- particularly easy to grow
- are ideal for gardening beginners
- annual cut flower
- sunny location & sandy-loamy soil
- drought is tolerated
- dark germinator
- sow indoors from February, outside in the garden from May (with frost-free soil)
- pinching for higher flower production & bushier growth
- regular pruning stimulates the formation of buds
- suitable for beds, tubs and pots
- insect pasture
Sowing zinnias
You can start sowing zinnias indoors as early as March. Zinnias like it warm and should be grown on a light windowsill and protected at this time. Their ideal germination temperature is 15-25° C. The soil should always be kept moist, especially if the zinnias are in a very sunny spot. After about 10 days you can expect the first green leaves. It is a real pleasure to observe this every time. Only when no more night frosts are expected the young plants can be placed outside.
Direct sowing in the garden is possible from May (as soon as the soil is frost-free). You can then place the seeds in the soil at a planting distance of approx. 20-30 cm. The same applies here: Moisten regularly at the beginning!
It takes around 75-90 days from cultivation to flowering.
Location & soil
To develop their full beauty, zinnias need a sunny, warm location that is protected from the wind.
Ideally, the soil should be clayey-sandy and fresh to dry. However, make sure to avoid waterlogging at all costs, as zinnias tend to die very quickly if they get too wet. Periods of drought, on the other hand, are tolerated very well. Zinnias are not only ideal for summer beds, but also grow wonderfully in pots and containers. So whether you have a lot of space or less, zinnias are definitely the right choice. Perfect for sunny balconies, too!
Caring for zinnias
When the zinnias have reached a height of approx. 20-30 cm, the main shoot should be cut off to allow greater branching and a higher number of flowers.
In order to be able to enjoy the beautiful blaze of colour throughout the summer, wilted flowers should be cut off regularly. It is important not only to remove the flower heads, but to always cut them off just above a pair of leaves with shoots. This will stimulate bud formation and you can expect an abundance of flowers until early autumn. Also treat your zinnias to a good, high-quality liquid fertiliser at regular intervals (about every 14 days). The nutrients provide additional support for growth. It is advisable to use a support for higher-growing zinnia varieties.
Cutting zinnias for the vase
Zinnias with their fireworks of colour are ideal as cut flowers for the vase.
You can easily test whether the zinnias are ready for the vase: carefully shake the stem about 8-9 cm below the flower. If it can be bent, then wait a while. If the stem is firm and remains upright, they are ready for harvesting.
Choose stems that are as long as possible and cut them preferably far down above a pair of leaves using a sharp knife or flower shears and place them in water immediately. You can enjoy them for up to 10 days if you cut the stems regularly and change the water
