When to sow zinnia?
You can plant the zinnia in the spring, but since this flower does not like the cold, it is best to sow it under cover when temperatures are below 18 ° C.
Under shelter, you can perfectly start the culture at the end of March.
In the open ground, wait for the month of May, the soil has had time to warm up and the temperatures are more pleasant.
Which varieties to choose?
There are 20 species of zinnias and many cultivars. All varieties have a long bloom that extends from June to October. Most of the time, zinnias are marketed as a mixture of different varieties.
The big zinnias
- The zinnias elegans with double flowers : it is the oldest variety, it presents flowers of average size. It has a height of between 70 cm and a meter.
- Zinnias elegans with chrysanthemum flowers They measure between 70 and 90 cm, they are not vigorous, but very decorative.
- Zinnias with fleur de scabieuse they are smaller since they measure 50 cm, they present very bright colors. They are perfect for making very nice bouquets of fresh flowers.
The dwarf zinnias
- The Lilliput it has a height of 30 to 40 cm and flowers smaller than other varieties.
- The Devil : it is perfect in edge or in pot with its pretty flowers with pompoms. They measure between 20 and 30 cm.
- The Rambo : it presents big double flowers which are not without evoking the dahlias. These plants measure between 25 and 30 cm.
- The zinnia of Mexico it is found in the form of a bushy habit. It has bright flowers and the plant is about 50 cm tall.
What to do before sowing zinnia?
Start by preparing your soil is essential before planting or sowing your zinnias.
We must start by removing all weeds, roots and other plant detritus by digging well your land.
Then you incorporate some compost if the soil is poor.
On heavy clay soils, you need to put some river sand mixed well with the soil.
How to sow it?
The sowing of zinnia:
From the end of March, you can sow it in a box in a warm shelter.
- You fill the boxes with a mixture of vermiculite and potting soil, or you can use the special potting mix you buy.
- Tamp the mixture or potting soil well to obtain a sowing board.
- Sow the seeds aerated, they should not overlap.
- Cover them with a thin layer of 50 mm soil.
- It must then be watered in fine rain so that the soil is perfectly moist.
- Then keep the soil wet until emergent.
- Seed the seedlings in individual buckets when they reach a height of 5 cm.
- Water immediately and install a chassis to protect them until recovery.
- You will open the chassis from time to time to acclimatize on sunny days.
- Put them in the ground in May when there is no risk of freezing.
From mid-May, sowing in open ground :
- Prepare the plank for sowing by tamping the soil well. You will have previously dug the soil on 20 cm and add compost well decomposed.
- Level the earth and smooth it with a rake.
- Sow on the fly and rake lightly to cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
- Water in very fine rain and do not hesitate to iron several times to be certain to have thoroughly moistened it thoroughly.
- Thin out by keeping the most beautiful plants and placing them every 30 and 40 cm.
- Surround the seedlings with a string of chimney ash or straw the feet to avoid snails and slugs.
If you want to get a longer flowering, do not hesitate to stagger your seedlings.
Multiplication of zinnia
- It is possible to multiply the zinnia by harvesting the seeds on the flowers that you have taken care to let dry.
- You can keep these seeds for 5 years, they remain germinative during this time. Keep them in a paper envelope.
- If you leave your feet in place, you get spontaneous seeding from one year to the next.
- Know that in all cases, the plants that you will get are not identical to those of departure.
Zinnia plantation
Wait until mid-May before planting your zinnia seedlings purchased in a garden center.
- Put them in the hottest place in the garden, they are fond of heat.
- Mix the garden soil with potting soil, special flowering plants.
- Space the zinnias from 35 to 40 cm for large flowers and 25 cm for dwarf varieties.
- Water generously after planting.
Where to plant zinnia?
You denichere a hot place and well exposed, because the zinnia appreciates the heat and the sun. It does not support negative temperatures.
You can perfectly grow it in pots or planters, but also in edge or in solid.
Our advice : do not hesitate to plant nearby lavatères, worries, cosmos or carnations, he appreciates their company.
How to maintain it?
Zinnia is a simple plant to grow and requires very little maintenance:
- Just bring flowering plant fertilizer for the bloom to be abundant.
- Remove the faded flowers, this results in stimulating flowering.
- For proper branching and flowering, you can pinch the main stem as soon as the first button is formed.
- You will mulch the foot to help keep it fresh.
If you want the bloom to be even more abundant: do a monthly watering with comfrey manure.
You prepare it with this recipe:
- Collect a kilo of comfrey leaves.
- Chop them and mix them in 10 liters of rainwater.
- You will let this mixture macerate by mixing regularly, in a container, but not in metal. Small bubbles rise to the surface. Your manure is ready when the fermentation stops and the bubbles do not rise again. The liquid must be clear without any unpleasant odors.
- Filter the mixture.
- Dilute the mixture in the water of irrigation with two liters of manure for 10 liters of rainwater.
This plant does not resist frost, it will be torn off and thrown to the compost from the first frost. Before you shake the plants to leave the seeds on the ground and cover them with a good layer of dead leaves, it is very possible that they will grow again from year to year.
You can enrich the plants with fertilizer for flowering plants during cultivation, so you will have a longer flowering and vibrant flowers.
If you wish to have more flowers, faded flowers should be removed regularly.
How to water zinnia?
As soon as the heat is present and if in addition the drought is prolonged, it is essential to water them regularly. It must be done in the evening and without touching the leaves to avoid powdery mildew.
Harvest zinnia: when and how?
The tall varieties of zinnias are perfect for making very nice bouquets, you can perfectly cut them in the morning preferably with a pruner and at ground level, during the late spring, summer and the beginning of autumn. These are flowers that fit perfectly in vase.
Zinnia diseases and what to do?
Zinnia is particularly sensitive to powdery mildew. Be careful not to touch the foliage and water the foot well.
- Once the plant is reached, it must be pulled out and burned.
- Baking soda can help you fight preventively.
- 10 grams of baking soda must be mixed with 40 ml of mild soap such as Marseille soap and 4 liters of water.
- Spray the solution on the leaves.
Plant other flowers:
