Zinnias cannot tolerate low temperatures, so bring them indoors if the daily or overnight forecast is below freezing. Once all true leaves have emerged, thin the seedlings by removing and discarding all but the largest, healthiest plants.Ībout 7-10 days before you plan on planting your Zinnias outdoors, bring them outside during the day to “harden them off.” Place them in a warm, sunny spot outside protected from wind and wild animals for a few hours every day, gradually increasing the amount of time they spend outside over the next few days. The tops of the plants should never be any closer than 4 inches away from the grow light.)Ī few days after emerging, the first true leaves will begin to unfurl. (Keep in mind when germinating under a grow lamp that you must move the lamp upwards as the plants grow to prevent burning them. At this point, remove the plastic cover and place the seeds in a warm, bright spot either in a sunny window or positioned under a grow light placed 5 to 6 inches above the soil. Under ideal conditions, the zinnias will begin to sprout within 4-8 days of planting.
Optionally, you can place them on top of a heating mat set to between 70 to 75 degrees to encourage germination. You can check this by inserting a finger into the soil to gauge the dampness. Moisten with the spray bottle or watering can whenever the top layer of soil dries out. (Check yours against a ruler to ensure accuracy.)Īfter planting, cover the seeds with a thin layer of potting soil and moisten them with a spray bottle filled with water.Ĭover the seeds with a dark plastic cover (a standard black trash bag will do) and place them somewhere warm and quiet to ensure germination To help you estimate what this looks like, the distance between the first and second knuckle on your middle finger is approximately 1 inch. Plant the seeds ¼th of an inch deep into sterile potting soil. In Minnesota, this means that you should sow seeds into indoor pots or trays in late February or early March. When starting your Zinnias from seed, it’s best to start them indoors for four to six weeks before planting them in the ground outdoors. Decorate a cake with them, freeze them into ice cubes, or simply serve the petals mixed into a light garden salad. Besides the pop of color they add to the landscape of your home garden, Zinnia’s are popular cut flowers, and their blossoms are edible, if a bit bitter. There are hundreds of different cultivars, including some developed right here and at the University of Minnesota. Native to Mexico and Central America, these heat-loving annuals thrive in Minnesota’s warm summer weather. These make beautiful fresh cut flower arrangements.Pretty, prolific, and a magnet to native pollinators like Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies That’s Zinnias! Popular both in flower boxes, pots, and in-ground gardens, Zinnias come in nearly every color of the rainbow and several combinations therein. But if our wanting more bushy plants and more flowers pinch back at 18 inches.Įnjoy fabulous giant blooms all summer long. Water plants as necessary to keep soil moist, but not wet.įor Large single blooms leave as is. Wait until all danger of frost has passed. If started indoors, transplant zinnias to a sunny location when they are approximatelyģ inches high. Outdoors gently water the seeds without disrupting the germination process.
Pinch back plants when they are 18 inches tall to encourage more branching.Keep the soil evenly moist during germination. Water plants as necessary to keep moist but not drenched. When zinnia’s are 2-3” high and all danger of frost has passed transplant zinnia’s to a sunny location. Once zinnias have sprouted take off cover. Open and check daily for moisture and sprouts. To help with germination you can put some clear wrap or clear plastic cup around the top of the pot to create a greenhouse effect. Place under grow lights or on a sunny window where they will get 6 hours of sunlight. Indoors, plant one seed in each pot with seed starting mix. Seeds spacing is 1 to 2 inches apart and cover with 1/2 inch of soil. Outside planting you can, choose a sunny location. Start zinnias before frost indoors or direct sow after frost in a prepared soil or container.
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