One of my favorite garden tasks is caring for a cutting garden that produces fresh flowers all year long. Most people are unaware that zinnias may be planted into the late summer and enjoyed until the fall, despite the fact that they are a popular addition to spring cutting gardens. Zinnias grow well in hot climates and are simple to grow from seed. Because the temperature is typically a little dryer in the fall, zinnia growing conditions are ideal. I advise sowing zinnia seeds by August 15th to enjoy them all fall long. After the first frost, they will go extinct.
Full sun and well-drained soil are preferred by zinnias. Sow seeds 9–12 inches apart. Pinching zinnias when they are young is beneficial when they are grown for cut flowers. Longer flower stems and branching are encouraged by pinching. When the second or third true leaf set occurs, pinch off the new growth. Only one pinch is necessary. Additionally, zinnia cuttings encourage additional branching and flowering. I advise deadheading the spent flowers if you’d rather leave them on the plant. Deadheading is the process of removing wilted flowers to promote new growth and prevent disease.
Although zinnias can withstand short periods of drought, they occasionally need irrigation. Keep overhead irrigation to a minimum. Use a drip tape, a soaker hose, or just let your hose drip at the plants’ bases. The spread of illness can be stopped by watering the plants at their bases. Those who have ever raised zinnias are likely to have encountered zinnia leaf spots. Leaf spots on zinnias begin at the plant’s base and progress up the leaves, finally killing the plants. Different fungus diseases can cause zinnia leaf spots, which can be treated with fungicide sprays. Since you will have plenty of time to enjoy zinnias before the spots take over, I often advise against spraying them. However, if you must, consider rotating mancozeb with myclobutanil (Spectracide Immunox) every seven days to ward off the spots.
Although there are numerous zinnia seed variations available online, I find that whichever variety the neighborhood garden center provides works just as well. I suggest giving them all a try! Old favorites include The Benary Giant, State Fair, and Cactus Flowered Mix. Good fortune!
Is August too late to plant zinnias?
Zinnia seeds can still be planted now for late summer color that will endure until the first frost. Additionally, they produce stunning cut flowers with a lengthy vase life.
Even the most inexperienced gardener should grow zinnias because they are one of the tried-and-true garden flowers. My first memories of gardening are when I first encountered zinnias. The bush beans and tomatoes set aside for zinnias were a constant source of conflict. My favorite annual flower is still the zinnia, and they now have a prime location next to my back deck where I can enjoy them in the warm weather.
Growing zinnias is simple; they prefer full sunlight and well-drained soil. They may be planted directly in the garden or transferred. Plant them in a peat pot that can be placed directly into the garden or planting bed if you decide to have a head start and want to transplant so as to avoid disturbing the roots.
There are many different types of zinnias. They come in sizes ranging from 6 inches to nearly 4 feet, from dwarf to enormous. The flower heads are available in many different forms, including single and double flowers, spidery shapes, and domes.
The amazing variety of hues is the best feature. The palest pastel hues to the brightest hues are all available in zinnias. They come in solid, multicolored, striped, and specked patterns.
Dead heading zinnias is advised by Michigan State University Extension to ensure flowering from early summer through frost. Zinnias are encouraged to continue performing by dead heading throughout the season. But because zinnias fatigue, I advise putting them in succession every two weeks. I intend to plant in succession beginning in late May and continuing until the first week of July, roughly. This ensures spectacular blooms through the end of September. It’s not too late to plant some zinnia seeds for color that will persist through the first frost in the late summer.
In addition to their amazing garden display, zinnias make fantastic cut flowers and may be used anywhere you need a splash of color. Many zinnia cultivars can stay in a vase for seven to twelve days. The mainstay of the farmer’s market is zinnias as well. Flower farmers would tell that zinnias are one of the most profitable flowers to grow due to their vibrant colors, ease of maintenance, and extended vase life.
The zinnia variants “Benary’s Giant” and “Cut and Come Again” are two of my favorites. Their surnames are biographical. On tall stems that stand between 40 and 52 inches in height, “Benary’s Giant” has huge blooms and dazzling flowers. Cutting the stem just above a bud junction will encourage “Cut and Come Again” to produce continuously throughout the growing season, as will all zinnias.
Is it too late to plant flowers in August?
When designing your garden, consider using fall flower plantings. Perennial and annual flowers also enhance the beauty of the autumn environment, which is appreciated for its trees and shrubs with vibrant fall foliage. Fall flowers are available in a variety of hues, forms, and sizes that complement any garden design. When many other plants have finished for the season, hardy perennial fall flowers begin to bloom. Hardy selections might last the longest, but you should also consider include some colorful, delicate plants, such as violas or New England asters, which only bloom in the fall.
Your garden will benefit from fall plantings since the warm soil fosters root growth up until the ground freezes. Compared to a plant that is just getting started in the spring, the roots are well developed by early spring. In the fall, unsold annuals are also for sale. If you put them in your garden, they won’t survive for very long, but you can prepare them indoors for your garden the next spring by overwintering, dividing, or taking cuttings.
Tip
As long as it isn’t still too hot for the plants to avoid heat stress, mid- to late August is frequently a great time to grow fall flowers. However, if you wait too long to plant, you won’t have much time to appreciate your blooms. Check each plant’s growing requirements.
What kinds of flowers may I plant in August?
3. Substitute perennial flowers Some annual flowers may appear a little worn out towards the end of the summer. Put fresh, ready-to-bloom cool-season annual flowers in your pots and planters to give them a facelift. These blooms will extend the color display throughout the fall. Simply remove any dead or dying annuals, mix in some new dirt, and plant the replacements. It’s that simple! Trial Garden Tip: Use your imagination when choosing new annuals. This is your chance to try something new that you have never grown before and see how it works for you.
4. Pot indoor plants It’s likely that your indoor plants responded by producing a lot of new growth if you gave them a summertime outdoor vacation. If that’s the case, August is the ideal month to transfer them to a bigger container with new potting soil. This allows the plants time to adjust to their new environment before the fall’s arrival of cool temperatures. Examining the drainage hole in the pot is one of the greatest ways to determine if your plant is prepared for transplanting. Your plant is getting too big for its container if roots are hanging out of the drainage hole. Choose a new pot that is just a little bit bigger than the old one. Use a soilless potting mix while planting, per this trial garden tip. Use garden soil sparingly since it has an unfavorable soil structure for container culture and may be contaminated with disease-causing organisms or weed seeds. Learn how to repot indoor plants!
5. Fight the weeds August is the perfect time to start working on any garden weeding tasks you’ve been putting off. The reason for this is that both annual and perennial weeds begin to release hundreds of seeds as the growing season comes to an end, which will germinate in your garden the following spring. These bothersome invaders become very challenging to get rid of if not stopped. After a shower, when the ground is still damp, is the ideal time to pull weeds. If there isn’t much rain, fully irrigate your garden the night before you launch your attack. Weeds can be removed using a hoe or by hand. Just be certain to get rid of the roots. Crabgrass and purslane are two weeds that quickly reappear from any roots that remain in the soil. As soon as the weeds are eliminated, spread a thick layer of compost, straw, leaves, or crushed bark over the area. Trial Garden Tip: Keep the edges of your weeding equipment sharp at all times. Keep a file nearby, and every time you work, sharpen your hoe. The faster and easier the task is completed, the sharper the blade is. Find out more advice about preventing weeds in your garden.
Choose perennials and shrubs to plant. In many locations, late summer is the ideal time to plant perennials and flowering shrubs. They’ll establish themselves over the cool, wet fall months and be ready to blossom the next spring and summer. Plants like hydrangeas, daylilies, lilies, sedum, decorative grasses, peonies, and bearded iris are excellent choices to make now. Simply make sure to water your new plants frequently if the climate is hot and dry. The beds’ mulching also aids in retaining soil moisture. In the first winter after planting, protect new plantings in northern states by covering them with a layer of leaves or straw. Don’t cover until the ground has frozen in late October. Trial Garden Tip: Keep plant tags in a secure location so that you can identify your perennials as they emerge from dormancy the following spring. Learn about planting perennials!
7. Evergreens in water Keep evergreen trees and shrubs hydrated if rainfall is low. Yew and arborvitae are examples of plants that never totally go dormant, therefore to assist the plant survive the drying winter winds, especially if you reside in the North, you should keep the roots of these plants slightly damp. Evergreens will have plenty of soil moisture around their roots if you start watering them now, before freezing conditions make irrigation difficult. Ensure that newly planted evergreens receive at least an inch of water per week because they are especially vulnerable to dry soil. Soaker hoses are a fantastic way to water newly planted evergreens, according to a trial garden tip. There is no wasteful runoff since the hose allows water to slowly absorb into the soil.
8. Pick Herbs The oils that give herbs their strongest flavor and perfume are at their zenith in late summer, just before the plants flower, even though herbs can be gathered all throughout the year. After the dew has dried but before it becomes too hot, trim the leaves in the early morning. Herbs can be stored in ice cube trays filled with water after being rinsed under cold water, chopped finely, and placed. After that, just put the trays in the freezer and remove the frozen herbs as needed. Trial Garden Tip: At least a month before your last anticipated frost, stop pruning perennial herbs like tarragon, lavender, sage, oregano, and thyme. Pruning promotes new growth that won’t have a chance to harden before the arrival of the cold season.
9. Think about fertilizer Gardeners in the north should cease fertilizing perennial flowers, trees, and shrubs right away. Feeding your plants in the fall and late summer promotes new growth that most likely won’t endure the winter. Your plants will become tougher before the temps drop by going on a diet now. Gardening Pro Tip: If you reside in the Deep South, continue fertilizing your garden to encourage blossoming into the late fall.
10. Harvest the potatoes and onions As soon as the plants’ foliage turns brown and collapses, potatoes and onions are ready for harvest. Lift the crop from the dirt by carefully excavating the area surrounding each plant. After digging, remove the dead foliage using pruning shears. After that, transfer the potatoes and onions to a shaded, well-ventilated area to cure for one to ten days. The skin becomes tougher and has a longer shelf life after curing. Carefully remove any remaining extra soil from the skin after healing. Potatoes should be kept in dark, well-ventilated baskets or bins. The potatoes that are being stored will turn green and become useless if they are exposed to light. Mesh bags suspended from the ceiling in a cold, dark space can be used to keep onions. Trial Garden Tip: When the room’s temperature stays between 35 and 45 degrees F, both potatoes and onions last longer in storage.
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What month should zinnias be planted?
Light: Full sun is ideal for zinnia growth and flowering. Even in warmer climates with afternoon shadow, they can flower there, but they may be more prone to disease and produce fewer flowers.
Soil: Organically rich, fertile soils with good drainage are ideal for growing zinnias. Because zinnia seedlings are susceptible to rotting in cool, damp soils, having well-drained soil is crucial.
Plant zinnia seeds in rows or clusters spaced a few inches apart. Once the plant has four leaves, thin to 8 to 18 inches apart, depending on the variety.
Planting: Plant zinnias in the spring, just about the time you plant tomatoes, when all threat of frost has passed. Growing zinnias from seeds straight in the garden is simple. Start seeds inside four to six weeks before to your last frost date for earlier flowering.