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Zero says summertime more than an armload of cheerful zinnias. Available in a brilliant rainbow of colors, these happy blooms are a must-grow for any blossom lover.

Every bit one of the easiest cut flowers to cultivate, they are a perfect first crop for beginning growers and are reliable, prolific producers for most flower farms and gardeners.

We've been growing zinnias since the beginning, and every yr I fall more and more in love with them.

Zinnias resent cold weather and prefer to exist planted later on things have warmed up a bit. Many gardeners in warmer parts of the globe are able to successfully direct seed their zinnias straight into the field, merely here in cool Washington we starting time our plants in 72-prison cell trays in the greenhouse four to 6 weeks before our last spring frost.

Plants are tucked into the field around mid-May, once the weather has sufficiently warmed up and all danger of frost has passed. Like every flower grown on our farm, we try to give them the all-time commencement possible. Acquire more about soil grooming here.

One time the planting beds have been prepared, we lay down iv lines of drip irrigation, roughly a foot (30.v cm) apart, then the beds are covered with a layer of pre-burned landscape material to command weeds. Plants are spaced 9 inches (23 cm) apart with five rows per bed.

If given proficient soil and a steady supply of h2o, plants tin can get huge and crave some type of back up. We use a layer of Hortonova netting stretched horizontally about 12 inches (30.5 cm) in a higher place the ground. Netting is held in identify by metal hoops that nosotros made with our Johnny's Quick Hoops Bender. Whatsoever type of stake, wooden or metallic, volition piece of work just fine. Equally the plants grow, they push up through the filigree of netting and become the support they need.

Zinnias similar the heat, and it'southward important that they are grown in full dominicus. In add-on to choosing a sunny spot, I always grow them in fabric for the added heat.

When we first started growing zinnias this closely together I was worried that they would be plagued by disease, merely since they are grown in such rich soil, this hasn't been a problem. We succession sow zinnias every two to 3 weeks in order to have a steady stream of these beautiful blooms all summer long.

The cloak-and-dagger to getting the longest stems from your zinnias is pinching them when they are immature. Here's how it's done: When plants are betwixt viii to 12 inches (20 to xxx cm) tall, have sharp pruners and snip the tiptop 3 to four inches (8 to x cm) off the found, just to a higher place a set of leaves. This signals the constitute to send up multiple stems from beneath where the cutting was made, resulting in more abundant flower production too as longer stem length. The photo higher up demonstrates pinching with another type of establish.

If you are non regularly harvesting your zinnias, be sure to deadhead whatever spent blooms to assist focus the plant's energy into producing new flowers and non going to seed.

Zinnias demand to be picked when they are fully ripe, otherwise they won't last in the vase. To tell whether a zinnia is ready to harvest, use the "wiggle test." Simply grab the stem about 8 inches (20 cm) down from the bloom head and gently milk shake it. If the stem is droopy or bends, it is not ready to cut. If the stem is stiff and remains erect, it is ready to harvest.

Zinnias are considered a "dirty blossom" and do good from a drop or ii of bleach in their water. Practise not put them in the libation since the flowers are very common cold-sensitive.

There is an unbelievable number of zinnias to cull from in every shape, color, and size imaginable. No matter what your needs are, there is definitely a zinnia for you.

For instance, if you're looking for flowers in the peach-salmon range, wait at how many choices there are!

Top row, left to right: 'Giant Salmon Rose', 'Zinderella Peach', 'Queen Lime Orange'.

Lesser row, left to right: 'Señora', 'Lilliput Salmon', 'Oklahoma Salmon'.

Here's a great example of the different size options available in one color.

Left to right, in a higher place: 'Lilliput Salmon', 'Giant Salmon Rose', 'Oklahoma Salmon'.

Left to right, below: 'Giant Salmon Rose', 'Oklahoma Salmon', 'Lilliput Salmon'.

I thought I'd share some of my favorite varieties that we grow here on the farm in hopes that it inspires y'all to establish some of these hardworking, heat-loving beauties in your garden this season.

Get-go off, nosotros are super-excited about Unicorn Mix (pictured higher up). This special Floret mix has been an ongoing labor of honey, and while it'due south all the same a work in progress, we're thrilled to finally exist able to share it with the world.

The mix has medium-sized, by and large double blooms in an enchanting range of vivid sherbet tones including raspberry, tangerine, magenta, lemon, apricot, dusty lilac, and blush with striking lavender centers.

Another Floret introduction, Aureate Houris a beautiful drove of warm buff, beloved, and soft apricot blooms started from 2 single plants we discovered in our fields.

Over the years we've nerveless the seeds and selected out the palest antique melon shades. There'due south nothing else like it on the market. This diverseness is named for our favorite time of solar day on the farm, the gilt hour just before the sunday sets on the horizon.

Benary's Giant Serial: The largest-flowered varieties in the zinnia family, plants oft reach 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 grand) tall and have a loftier pct of huge double flowers. They come in a wide range of colors (12 full) and are known for their strong stems and good illness resistance.

My all-time favorite variety is 'Giant Salmon Rose' (pictured to a higher place) because its warm peachy color is so versatile and softens with age. It pairs well with both pastel and vibrant colors.

I also love the 'Desert Sunset Mix' (pictured in a higher place), which includes my favorite warm-toned Benary's Giant colors: Coral, Orangish, and Ruby. They make a bold argument when combined with acid light-green or deep maroon flowers and foliage.

The individual colors in this series are stunning, specially en masse.

'Benary'due south Giant Coral' (pictured left) is a glowing tropical coral-salmon variety and a long-standing customer favorite. 'Benary'south Giant Reddish' (pictured right) has raspberry-pink blooms; as they historic period the outer tips of the petals fade, giving blooms a multidimensional quality.

The petal tips of 'Benary's Giant Orange' are edged with the tiniest hint of lavender, giving them an iridescent quality. The blooms of 'Benary's Behemothic Lime' are a unique, Granny Smith apple-green and deeply packed with petals.

'Benary's Giant Deep Red' (pictured left) is a rich ruby-red; the back of the petals have the slightest hint of purple, giving them a glowing, iridescent quality. The cotton wool candy-pinkish blooms of 'Benary'due south Giant Brilliant Pink' (pictured right) are as sweet equally can be.

A customer favorite, 'Benary'due south Giant Wine' (pictured left) is a dramatic, deep vino hue. 'Benary's Giant Lilac' (pictured correct) starts out a vivid lilac, and with time the outer petals fade to a cool pale lavander, giving information technology a haunting effect.

Oklahoma Serial: These are easily downward the most productive and floriferous zinnias I've ever grown. The series boasts 7 colors including Oklahoma Salmon, Pink, Ruby, Ivory, White, Yellow, and Scarlet.

'Oklahoma Salmon' (pictured higher up) has petite, double blooms that are a warm mix of salmon and peach and combine well with annihilation. Everyone loves this treasure!

'Oklahoma Ivory' (pictured above) had been discontinued but, to the delight of countless growers and designers, was brought dorsum by Frank Morton at Wild Garden Seed here in the Pacific Northwest. We are then pleased to offer this diverseness, treasured for its versatile creamy ivory colour and pretty double blooms.

Queen Series: Dissimilar other zinnias, this series includes the most unique assortment of unusual coloring including lime green, smoky apricot, dusty rose, and limey blush.

In improver to their special coloring, the Queen Series also produces vigorous plants with sturdy stems and tough flowers, a welcomed improvement to the zinnia family.

These gorgeous novelties are sought out by designers for their unique coloring.

The more often than not double and semi-double flowers of 'Queen Lime Blush' (pictured above) are a stunning blend of light-green and purple, different anything we've seen. Everyone who sees them instantly falls in love. It's a must-grow!

'Queen Lime Orange': This heady new addition to the Queen Serial is the about beautiful range of iridescent raspberry, apricot, and smoky peach with a dark cranberry centre. This versatile color looks incredible when combined with rich foliage and blooms.

Scabiosa-flowered types: I grew scabiosa-flowered zinnias for the first time in 2014, and they quickly became one of my favorite crops of the flavor. The frilly double blooms wait like mini gerbera daisies or double-flowered echinacea.

They take nice long stems and expert disease resistance, and they come in a beautiful range of colors.

'Processed Mix' (pictured above) is an improved mix that contains a higher percent of double flowers in a warm, cheerful blend of red, raspberry, rose, salmon, tangerine, gilt, and cream.

One point to note is that many growers in warmer climates have noticed that they don't go the aforementioned high percent of doubles with scabiosa types (doubles pictured correct) that we do here in the Northwest.

Later a lot of inquiry and emails back and along with the breeders, I believe that if plants undergo any stress, including not getting plenty water or too-high temps, they will start producing unmarried flowers (pictured left).

While the single blooms are pretty and unique, many folks have been disappointed by this fact.

'Zinderella Peach' (pictured in a higher place) has frilly double blooms that are a warm mix of salmon, peach, and cream, absolute by a striking dark center. Of all the zinnias we grow, this might be my favorite.
'Zinderella Lilac' (pictured higher up) is a lovely mix of chroma and soft lavender, accented by a striking night center. It's ideal for wedding work, and floral designers love it!

Bicolor novelties: These unique bicolor novelties are certain to catch the attention of everyone who sees them.

We've been growing 'Macarenia' for years and have found that people either love it or hate it. Each glowing cherry petal is tipped in gold for a fun twist. Winner of the Fleuroselect Novelty Honor in 2012, this hardworking institute thrives in heat and is very piece of cake to abound.

'Mazurkia' brings a new twist to zinnias and is a Fleuroselect Winner for good reason. The mid-sized establish produces fun, campy double flowers with lipstick-pink centers and soft blush tips.

Miniature flowered types: The old-fashioned 'Lilliput Mix' (pictured to a higher place) deserves a spot in every cutting garden. The easy to grow, heat-loving plants produce a bumper crop of sweet blooms on long, strong stems in shades of rose, cherry-red, orange, coral, white, xanthous, and violet. Their petite flower size makes them ideal for flower arranging.

I especially love 'Lilliput Salmon' (pictured growing in a higher place). This ambrosial bloomer produces an abundance of petite, fully double, dome-shaped salmon flowers all summer long.

The Sunbow Series, available from Johnny's Selected Seeds has been around for ages and has miniature 1- to 2-inch (ii.v to 5 cm) double blooms that ride atop long, sturdy stems. Information technology comes in a cheery mix including rose, purple, aureate xanthous, scarlet, orange, pink, and white. Plants have long, wiry stems that make them well-suited for bloom arranging.

Cactus-flowered types: These fun novelties have the coolest twisted, shaggy petals and come in a broad range of colors including orange, pink, reddish, xanthous, peach, and white.

My favorite is 'Señora' (pictured above), which has warm salmon-apricot, quilled blooms and produces a bumper crop of big flowers that have long, strong stems. Information technology's a must-grow!

Mexican zinnias: While plants themselves are compact, they churn out an abundance of stems for cutting from midsummer to early autumn. With their petite stature, they resemble a bedding institute more than a cropping variety, but I think they deserve a spot in every cut garden.

The 'Western farsi Carpeting Mix' (pictured above) includes adorable aureate, cranberry, orange, and cream flowers.

The brilliant, center-catching 'Aztec Sunset' mix includes a wide range of miniature bicolor blooms in shades of buttercream, gold, cranberry, rust, and merlot. These reliable bloomers are a great addition to the cutting garden and the front of the flower border.

I would love to hear your experience with this wonderful group of plants. Do you grow zinnias or plan to add them to your garden this coming season? If so, what are your favorite varieties, or what new treasures are yous calculation to your wishlist?

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Source: https://www.floretflowers.com/grow-great-zinnias/

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