When To Plant Zinnia Seeds In Missouri

D. Trinklein

Published: July 10, 2017

Zinnia is one of the top candidates when looking for an annual flower that can withstand the rigours of a regular Missouri summer. Due to its low maintenance requirements, heat and drought tolerance, and availability in nearly every colour of the rainbow, it is a common sight in annual beds and borders.

The main drawback of zinnia for many years had been that it was prone to powdery mildew. Thankfully, plant breeders have made significant progress in enhancing zinnia’s resistance to the bothersome disease while enhancing its beneficial traits. If you haven’t recently grown zinnias, you’re in for a treat. In other words, the zinnia of today is not the flower that grandma grew.

The common garden zinnia (Zinnia elegans) is a native of Mexico and belongs to the sunflower (Asteraceae) family of plants. It appears that the Spanish explorers who first came across zinina were not overly impressed because they gave it the term mal de ojos, which is literally translated as “disease of the eye.” Thankfully, not everyone agreed with their assessment of the flower. Zinnia entered the gardening world in the 19th century because to the efforts of European plant breeders, who started choosing zinnias for their attractive traits. It bears Johann Gottfried Zinn’s name, an anatomist and botanist who lived in the 18th century.

Around 1920, the Bodger Seed Company unveiled a variety called “Giant Dahlia,” which catapulted zinnias into the national spotlight as a garden flower. The name alludes to the fact that zinnias can be found in the dahlia and cactus flower shapes. The ray florets (petals) on zinnias with dahlia flowers are broad, closely packed, and lean slightly downward from their tips. Zinnias with cactus-like flowers feature petals that resemble quills and have reflexed downward edges.

Zinnias come in every size and colour imaginable because to plant breeding. It’s a little difficult to believe that towering giants like “State Fair Mix,” which easily reaches a height of three feet and produces flowers with a diameter of six inches, and small variations like “Thumbelina,” are members of the same species. The latter rarely grows taller than six inches and produces flowers with a diameter of an inch and a half.

For various reasons, zinnias are excellent garden flowers in Missouri. First of all, they love the heat, which is great for garden plants in the “Show Me” state in July and August. Second, depending on the cultivar choose, they can be used in beds or borders in the garden with equal success. Additionally, for those looking to improve their interior design, the taller, larger-flowered cultivars make superb, long-lasting cut flowers. Finally, they are easy to grow and “user-friendly”. One of the few garden flowers that will grow just as well from seeds planted directly in the ground as from transplants purchased, is this one. If one wants to direct seed, they need wait until the soil has warmed up, which in Missouri is May.

A well-drained garden loam with moderate fertility is preferred by zinnias. Space allocated based on variety. Although they are naturally strong, various pests like to assault them. Spider mites can be a problem, as well as eating insects like grasshoppers and “bud worms” Although powdery mildew is by far the most prevalent disease, plant breeders have made strides in eradicating it. A few of the more recent cultivars, including the “Magellan” series, seem to be more resistant to mildew than the more established varieties. In all circumstances, maintaining as-dry-as-possible foliage (do not overhead irrigate) and separating plants for adequate air circulation can aid in the management of the illness. Powdery mildew management fungicides can also be employed as a prophylactic measure.

There are plenty new types to try for those looking to reacquaint themselves with this obliging guest to Missouri gardens. Highly recommended is the aforementioned “Magellan” series. It boasts plants that mature to a height of 12 to 14 inches and are robust and uniform. It produces huge, completely double flowers that are of remarkable quality and vibrancy.

The ‘Profusion’ series (Zinnia x hybrida) and the ‘Zahara’ series are two further entrants to the zinnia globe (Zinniamarylandica). Both have large, colourful flowers that range in size from two to three inches. Plants are exceptionally disease resistant and grow to a height of 12 to 18 inches. These two zinnia species offer a virtual riot of colour in the garden with little maintenance, but not being particularly successful as cut flowers due to their small size. All American Selection (AAS) winners can be found in each series. The latter comprises “Zahara” starlite rose, “double fire,” and “double cherry,” as well as “Profusion” orange, white, red, double hot cherry, and double deep salmon.

Crystal White is a different new zinnia that is worth trying. It is also an AAS winner and belongs to the lance-leaf zinnia species (Zinnia angustifolia). It is the perfect option for edging because of its small, spreading habit and summertime blooms that have a two-inch diameter. Both its ability to withstand heat and its resilience to disease are high. There are other innovative and fascinating zinnia variants. In times of uncertainty about which to try, look for AAS winners.

When it comes down to it, few garden plants are as simple to cultivate, as much fun to grow, or as diverse in terms of colours, sizes, and varieties as zinnias. If you haven’t recently given this lover of the hot, muggy summers in Missouri a try, you’re in for a nice surprise.

What month should zinnia seeds be sown?

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.

When growing zinnias from seed, how long does it take?

Beautiful flowers like zinnias are ideal for novice gardeners! These annual flowers come in a wide range of hues and variations, adding a vibrant pop of colour to your yard and making them ideal for bouquet-making. Zinnias require only plenty of sun, warmth, and well-drained soil to thrive and can be grown without much care from summer until the first hard frost in the fall. They don’t have any significant pest issues and can draw lovely butterflies to your garden.

Depending on your location, the growing strategy may change slightly. When the temperature starts to rise, zinnia seeds can be sown immediately into the garden in warmer climates. Here in New England, it takes longer for the temperature to rise, so if you can keep the soil between 70 and 80 degrees F, you can start the growing process about a month before the final frost is predicted. Since zinnias dislike being transferred, sow seeds in peat pots that can be placed straight in the garden. From seed to flower, zinnias normally require two months, though this might vary depending on the weather.

Here are some more hints for growing zinnias:

For your zinnias, choose an area that is sunny and bright.
Zinnia seeds require sunshine to sprout, so only cover them with 1/4 inch of dirt.
Keep the soil damp while the flowers grow.
Thin seedlings to 6-8 inches apart for small varieties and 1 foot apart for large varieties when they are 2-3 inches tall.
Avoid drowning the zinnias in water. Water intake of 1 inch per week is advised.
To encourage the zinnias to generate more blooms, remove any faded or dead flower flowers. Deadheading is the term for this.

Before planting zinnia seeds, should I soak them?

If you’re raising zinnias from seed for the first time this year, you might still have some concerns. Here, I’ll address them for you.

How do you germinate zinnia seeds fast?

To hasten the germination of zinnia seeds, keep the seed trays warm. The biggest effect will be made by heated mats and a warm environment. Zinnia seeds can germinate in as little as five days when the soil is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal temperature for germination.

Should I soak zinnia seeds before planting?

Before sowing, zinnia seeds don’t require soaking. The seeds of zinnias are designed to sprout quickly when exposed to water since they are warm-season annual flowers that are indigenous to hot climates like Mexico and the southwest of the United States. The seeds only need to be sown and watered for germination to begin.

How long do zinnia seeds take to germinate?

The normal germination time for zinnias is 5 to 10 days. Seeds sown in trays with the soil kept warm at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit using heat mats will germinate more quickly than seeds sown in cold soil, which could take up to three weeks.

Do zinnia seeds need light to germinate?

Zinnia seeds should be placed with 1/4 inch of dirt on top of them because they don’t require light to germinate. The seeds will require intense light in the form of a shop light or grow light as they begin to germinate and break the soil’s surface.

At what temperature do zinnias germinate?

Zinnia seeds should be germinated at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The soil will reach these temperatures with the help of a heat mat put beneath the seed trays. In soil that is colder than 70 degrees, the seeds will still germinate, but it will take longer.

Do zinnia seeds need cold stratification?

Cold stratification, which involves chilling seeds prior to sowing, is not necessary for zinnias. The seeds of zinnias are designed to germinate without being exposed to cold because they are warm-season annuals that are native to hot climates.

Can I merely sprinkling zinnia seeds?

Every summer, I overflow my gardens with flowering flowers that last until the fall. It’s lovely, reasonably priced, and best of all, requires little upkeep!

The Zinnia is my secret flower; it’s a magnificent, robust flower that looks fantastic in the garden and makes quick bouquets.

In the spring and summer, you can purchase zinnia plants at nurseries, but it would cost hundreds of dollars to get the same level of coverage as I do with only $15 in seeds! Park Seed sells packets of 50 seeds for $3, and I’ve always had success with them sprouting.

This post is not sponsored, please note. I’ve been a customer of this business for 5 years and am a big fan.

Zinnias are surprisingly simple to grow from seed and require very little maintenance once they are established. Despite the harsh sun, the clay soil, and my inability to water them frequently, they thrive in my front garden.

Early summer to fall, they are in full flower. On November 1 of the previous year, my garden was still partially coloured. In my garden, the Zinna Park’s Pick Mix variety grows 4 to 5 feet tall.

Another advantage? They draw butterflies and birds. The Monarch Butterflies (an endangered breed), Swallowtail Butterflies, and Goldfinch birds have been my garden’s most thrilling guests.

Even planting is a simple operation. I lay down new mulch before scattering the Zinnia seeds in the desired locations. I just spread them; I don’t think about spacing or anything. I add a tiny bit more mulch to the area as cover once the seeds are planted. If there isn’t enough rain, I do water them every few days for about a month or two until the seedlings are well-established.

What Seeds Are Best?

Pick of Zinnia Park Mix the tallest, strongest, and simplest to grow Zinnias. These are positioned behind the house in the garden since they can grow to a height of five feet. Great around fences as well.

I planted a small “dwarf variant” of Magellan Mix Zinnia Seeds around the front of the garden. The bushy, 1.5-foot-tall blossoms are short and slender. fantastic along borders and pathways.

To create the most beautiful zinnia garden:

Because the leaves are prone to mildewing, water beneath the foliage with a soaker hose, or water in the morning.
Remove the dead flowers to promote new blooming (called “deadheading)
To improve plant spacing, transplant some seedlings after they have grown. (I don’t do this all the time.
To maintain the garden neat, think about staking the tallest plants. The strongest ones can be staked first, followed by tying up the weaker ones with twine along a line that extends to the stake. If they grow too big, they may topple over, and they may appear unkempt, as they did in my garden last summer:

Ordering now will ensure that your seeds arrive by April. Try just one package of seeds for now if you’re unsure. Although seeds can be started indoors, I’ve never been good enough to keep them alive. A few weeks after the last frost, I simply planted the seeds in the ground. In the VA/DC/MD/DE region, April is the best month.

Do zinnias return each year?

One of the simplest flowers to plant, zinnias grow quickly and provide a lot of blooms. Additionally, they will continue to bloom right up until the first fall hard frost. Consider trying zinnia flowers this year to add a huge splash of colour to your yard.

About Zinnias

Since zinnias are annuals, they will only produce blooms and seeds for one season before dying. The original plant will not reappear the following year. They are excellent for use as a cutting flower or as food for butterflies since they have vivid, solitary, daisy-like flowerheads on a single, tall stem.

Types of Zinnias

Zinnia elegans, the most widely grown zinnia species, has been developed to produce a large number of distinctive variants.

Single, semidouble, or double zinnia blooms are the three most common varieties. The number of petal rows and whether or not the flower’s centre is visible serve to distinguish between these forms:

A single row of petals and the centre are both visible on single-flowered zinnias.
Petal rows abound on double-flowered zinnias, and their centres are hidden.
Between the two are semidouble-flowered zinnias, which have several rows of petals but discernible cores.

In addition to these shapes, zinnia flowers also occur in “beehive,” “button,” and “cactus” forms. Additionally, the plants themselves come in various heights: taller types function best as a garden bed’s background, while shorter varieties are useful as a border. There is a zinnia for every garden, in fact!

In an annual or mixed border garden, plant zinnias. Smaller zinnias work well as window boxes, edging, or in other containers.

To have a lot of flowers all season long, choose a place that receives full sun (6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day). Additionally, later in the season, foliar diseases like powdery mildew can be avoided by planting in an area with sufficient air circulation.

Although zinnias can grow in a variety of soil types, they prefer organically rich, well-draining soil. The optimal pH range for soil is between 5.5 and 7.5. The blooms will grow more quickly if compost (humus) is added to the soil. Find out more about soil improvements and getting the soil ready for planting.

When to Plant Zinnias

Because they dislike being transplanted, it is advised that you start your zinnia plants from seed directly in the garden bed. If the correct circumstances are present, they will develop quite quickly from seed.
It should be noted that zinnias can be grown from seed inside if you like. Just make sure to transfer them gently and young.
Because zinnias are delicate to frost, wait to plant them until after the last frost in your area. See the frost dates in your area.
Zinnias can tolerate daily temperatures as low as 60F (16C), although a range of 7484F (2328C) is ideal.
To prolong the flowering time, sow a new crop of seeds every week or so for a few weeks.

How to Plant Zinnias

Depending on the kind, place plants 4 to 24 inches apart. (Many common kinds are planted 2 feet between rows and 6 inches apart within the row.) For information about each variety, consult the seed packet’s back.
Plant zinnia seeds no deeper than 1/4 inch.
The majority of zinnia cultivars will produce seedlings in just 4 to 7 days, but it may take up to two months or more for blooms to appear (depending on planting site and climate).
To promote air circulation, thin seedlings when they are three inches tall, spacing them 6 to 18 inches apart. As a result, powdery mildew is less likely to grow.
To promote development and blossoms, keep the soil’s moisture level moderate and apply a mild fertiliser.
Deadhead zinnias once they have finished blooming to facilitate the development of new blossoms.
Since zinnias are annuals, they will perish with the first fall hard cold. Let the final blooms of the season fully mature before dispersing their seeds if you want them to reseed.

Zinnias still not your thing? In your garden, try them out for the following six reasons:

With cultivars from the Dreamland Series, you can have a full-sized flower on a little plant. These zinnias are compact and dwarf, with stems that are 812 inches tall and totally double flowerheads that can be up to 4 inches across with a variety of colours.
The dwarf, spreading cultivars of the Thumbelina Series have weather-resistant, solitary or semi-double flowerheads in a variety of hues. Their stems can reach a length of 6 inches, and their petals are 1-1/4″ wide.
One of the largest and tallest of them all, the State Fair Series has huge, double flowerheads that measure 3 inches in diameter. Stems can reach a height of 30 inches.
Typically, it takes zinnias 60 to 70 days from seed to flower (though it depends on conditions and variety). They are fantastic in a bunch of flowers!
The tiny, narrow-leafed zinnias are great for hanging baskets and also make lovely dried flowers.
Zinnias are considered to represent memories of those who have passed away. Discover more about the significance of flowers here.
Zinnias may be harmed by bacterial wilt, powdery mildew, and bacterial and fungal spots. To prevent illness, keep leaves from getting too damp and correctly space your plants.
Problems can also be brought on by caterpillars, mealybugs, and spider mites. Spraying should be avoided unless there is a real infestation because some leaf damage is not a problem.
Thanks to their resistance to deer, zinnias may be able to prevent surrounding flowers from being eaten.