00:01Zinnias are a summer garden staple for good reason. They come in a wide range of
00:05colors, bloom all summer long, butterflies love them, and they are so
00:09easy to grow. Even beginners can grow loads of beautiful zinnia blooms. This
00:15is Laura from Gardening Know How and today I'm going to show you how to grow
00:18zinnias from seed. Zinnias are annual flowers that grow in full sun and well
00:24drained soil. They don't mind heat and tolerate drought well. Zinnias range in
00:30height from 6 inches to over 4 feet tall. Their flowers can be striped, speckled, or
00:36solid in a variety of colors from pastel to bright vibrant hues. Zinnias also come
00:42in a variety of flower forms from single bloom to beehive, button, and cactus. They
00:48make wonderful cut flowers that can last in a vase for a week or more and if
00:53dead-headed, they can bloom from early summer until frost, but we'll talk about
00:57that later. Zinnias prefer to be sown directly into the garden, but you can
01:02start seeds indoors and transplant them later. Start zinnias seeds in peat pots
01:07or another form of biodegradable pot. When seedlings are a few inches tall, plant
01:12them, pots and all, in the garden to avoid disturbing the seedlings tender roots.
01:17The easiest way to grow zinnias from seed is to plant them straight into the garden.
01:22Spacing depends upon the variety you wish to grow. Look at the back of your seed
01:27packet for instructions specific to your type. I'm planting giant cactus zinnia
01:32flowers, which will grow two to three feet tall. Once all chance of frost has
01:37passed, plant seeds six inches apart and a quarter of an inch deep.
01:55Lightly cover the seeds with soil and give them a good drink. Keep soil moist but not soggy.
02:02Zinnia seeds should germinate in five to ten days.
02:09Some zinnias benefit from staking. Use garden supports to keep tall zinnia
02:15varieties from flopping over. Or plant them next to a trellis, mailbox or lamp post.
02:21You can also create your own zinnia supports with strong vertical stakes and some twine.
02:27Weave twine into a grid like you see here when plants are still small and your zinnias will grow
02:32right through. Deadheading helps zinnias bloom all summer long. Once flowers fade, cut or pop the heads
02:40off your zinnias. Cutting flowers for bouquets also encourages more blooming, just like deadheading.
02:47Another option is to let faded flowers remain and go to seed,
02:51then save the seeds to grow in next year's garden.
02:56Succession planting is another way to extend zinnia blooming.
03:00Starting in late spring, plant zinnia seeds in the garden every two weeks until mid-summer to ensure
03:06fresh blooms through fall. Zinnias are very low maintenance. However, they can encounter some
03:13problems. Common zinnia pests include spider mites, grasshoppers, and bud worms. Zinnias can also develop
03:21powdery mildew, but thanks to breeders, many new cultivars like the Magellan series are more resistant
03:27to this problem. Just to be safe, avoid overhead irrigation and water early in the day to keep
03:34foliage dry. Space plants far enough apart to allow for good airflow and you should have no problems.
03:41Now you have the know-how to grow your own zinnias. Have fun and happy gardening!
03:49We'll see you next time!
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