Zinnia: how to grow a flower using a seedling method. Zinnia - growing from seeds

Zinnia fell in love with many for the richest range of shades and gigantic sizes of flowers! I am also attracted by the ease of growing it from seeds. Zinnia has another amazing feature, dear to my heart. Her flower lives 34-35 days! And if you cut it off and put it in a vase, it will last a whole week, and sometimes more!

It is curious that if you write two "n" in the name of a flower, this will not be considered a mistake! Both options will be correct.

Zinnia is an annual plant. It's growing fantastically fast! From the moment of sowing seeds to the appearance of the first flowers, not much time passes - 2.5 months. And flowering lasts all summer, from late June to late autumn.

Growing a flower is a fascinating process. Her seeds are large and easy to work with. You don’t have to wait for shoots for a long time, they grow quickly, easily take root in a flower bed. Seeds can be sown directly in a flower bed in mid-May or seedlings can be grown, as you like.

Growing zinnia for seedlings

Seeds for seedlings are sown in mid-April and not earlier. March seedlings quickly gain height and by the time they land in the ground they even manage to acquire buds. It is difficult to transport such giants to the dacha - you can break it. And where at home can you find so much space for seedlings? Besides than older plant, the worse it will take root in a new place.

So, for seedlings, you will need a large container, at least 10 cm deep. Remember, zinnia grows very quickly! The seedlings will be rather big, so place the seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other and at a depth of no more than 1 cm. Moisten well and cover with a film or glass.

It's great that the seedlings will have to wait only 3-4 days. When green babies appear, immediately remove the film. Try not to over-water. The soil at the base of the plant should be barely moist, but not a swamp!

When the sprouts become 10 cm high, each of them will need to dive into a separate pot. Do not be afraid to bury the seedlings to the level of the cotyledons. Very soon, the green leg of the sprouts will grow in the soil with adventitious roots.

Another trick: to root system branched better, the main spine should be pinched a little by 1-2 cm and immediately into the ground!

"walk". AT good weather take it to the balcony. So the plants will get stronger and harden.

Approximately 4-6 weeks after sowing, seedlings can be taken to the country.

If tall varieties are sown, 30-40 cm of free space should remain between the plants, undersized - 20 cm.

As soon as the zinnias settle down a little in a new place, it's time to pinch the top of them to make the bushes more branched. Some do it even at the seedling stage, above the fifth level of leaves. Well, that's it, it remains to wait for flowering!

Growing zinnia from seeds in a flower bed

Sowing zinnia seeds directly into the flower garden is less of a hassle. There is not always extra space for seedlings on the windowsill, and it is time consuming. Moreover, the flower sprouts well in open ground. And strength is gained in the air faster than in a greenhouse!

When the threat spring frosts will pass, approximately somewhere after May 15, you can start sowing the plant. Make beds in the area designated for her. Perhaps you have some ideas for arranging a flower bed? For example, in a circle or in a checkerboard pattern? Pay attention to what varieties and species you plant. Depending on they are quite high and very small.

In any case, do not sow seeds deeper than 1 cm.

I like to sow directly into the flower bed. I sow 10 cm between seeds, and then at the stage of 4-5 leaves I thin out. I don’t throw away the removed plants, but plant them somewhere else in the flower bed.

That's all the subtleties of growing zinnia from seeds. As you can see, it's not that difficult! But what a queue of neighbors I collect at the dacha on the eve of September 1! Everyone wants a bouquet of zinnias for the teacher! And I don’t feel sorry for it, let both neighbors and school teachers rejoice with me!

A brightly colored bud on a long stem won the hearts of gardeners and florists thanks to its rich color, unpretentious care, universal use. Zinnia got its name from the famous botanist Johann Zinn, who created compositions from dried flowers.

An unknown flower at that time, after the research of Carl Linnaeus, became popular among botanists, florists, and gardeners. The name should be pronounced with an elongated sound H, stress on the first syllable.

prolonged absence, scorching sun do not scare the plant, but make it even more beautiful. Volumetric hats on long stems continue to decorate the flower beds with their appearance. Zinnias look especially bright against the background of tall flowers with abundant green mass, or, conversely, they place accents among undersized ones.

The soil

There are no special preferences for the choice of soil, but it grows better on neutral and slightly acidic soils. Soil for zinnia is never prepared in a special way: they are sown where there is a place. It can be flower beds with poor soil or rich in organic matter, in any case, the flower is actively gaining green mass and blooms profusely, the main thing is that it has enough moisture.

Temperature regime

Tender stems and leaves do not tolerate cold, so low temperatures are detrimental to both seedlings and adult bushes. Before planting in a flower bed, it is necessary to follow the monthly change in weather: a jump to 0 degrees can damage the plant. In regions with a sharply continental climate, the first half of June is considered the time for planting, when the risks of frost have passed. Where the climate is temperate, zinnia is sown at the end of March in order to see luxurious flowering as early as possible.

Planting zinnia from seed When to sow zinnia

You can grow an overseas guest only with the help of seeds, seedlings or seedling way. perennial varieties propagate by self-sowing, which is not always convenient: shoots appear in the most unexpected places.

Growing seedlings

Mid February - early March seeds are soaked in a growth activator or sodium humate, small seedling containers are used for sowing, sprinkled with earth on top, ensuring a germination temperature of 25 degrees above zero.

• Prepare loose nutrient soil, perfect for ready soil for bloomers.
• It is better to sow immediately in separate cups, but if there is not enough space on the windowsill, it can be in a common container, keeping a distance of at least 3 cm between the seeds, so that the seedlings are strong and do not stretch. However, remember: zinnia is very difficult to transplant, stunting for two weeks. Therefore, transplantation by transshipment is preferable.
• Sowing depth 0.5-1 cm.
• The plant does not require special care. It is enough to water regularly without fanaticism and provide good lighting.
• Drainage is required, if water stagnates, seedlings will get sick with a black leg.
• Before planting in the ground, plants need to be hardened off: accustom them little by little to natural sunlight and wind, leaving them outside for a couple of hours, gradually increasing the time with each new day.
• When frosts are past, seedlings can be safely planted.

Interesting! Seedlings allow you to speed up the budding process, the first flowers will be at the end of June and throughout the summer.

Sowing seeds directly into the ground

Zinnia is sown in the ground as soon as the weather permits: the seeds are not afraid low temperatures and completely tolerate sowing before winter. So in spring, zinnia is sown from late March to late May when there is time and desire.

good germination and fast growth allowed to grow zinnia without seedlings. Seeds are sown immediately in the ground, watered abundantly. If the plants have sprouted densely, they are thinned out, rarely transplanted: zinnia has a very weak root system, transplantation slows down the development of plants for a long time, and if hot weather many plants die.

• The distance in a row between plants is 30-35 cm, as the bushes grow very powerful.
• Distance between rows - 30-40 cm.
• Embedding depth 1-2 cm.
• Water the bed every other day, making sure that an earthen crust does not form. To prevent this phenomenon experienced growers mulch the surface with humus.
• Seeds germinate for a long time, up to two weeks, so do not panic: seedlings will appear, you will immediately notice them, these are powerful sprouts with thick legs and leaves.
• Seedlings should be thinned out without regret, free the bed from weeds, and watered regularly.

Sowing zinnia seeds in the ground, look at the video:

Zinnia - tolerates lack of watering and heat. However, if you want to get powerful beautiful bushes, do not spare the water: the bushes will thank you with luxurious flowering and dense green mass.

top dressing

Responsive to fertilizers that promote budding, accelerate flowering time without compromising quality and duration. You can use the universal "Amulet", "Ecogel Dachny", "Bud + Universal" and other suitable formulations recommended by agricultural holdings. For soil enrichment mineral complex fit universal mineral fertilizers, where the nitrogen content is minimal.

Watering

The plant is not indifferent to moisture: in the period of a long absence of rain, infrequent, but plentiful watering is necessary. Water can be icy or warm, there is no big role for flowering. If the leaves have become lethargic and the inflorescences are small, then the plant does not have enough moisture - urgent watering is needed.

If the plants do not receive enough moisture during the growth period, the bushes will be small, with a minimum number of shoots, and the flowers will be only at the tops, at the bottom the plant sheds leaves.

Zinnia varieties with photos and descriptions

Each species has its own varietal collection, which includes various forms and colors. Breeders continue to work on developing new varieties that will meet not only decorative qualities, but also functional ones.

Zinnia graceful or elegant

An annual plant with a wide color spectrum (flowers yellow, white, pink, purple). Inflorescences are large, oval or round shape, and the leaves are oval with terminal pointed. For better growth and lush flowering bushes are seated at a distance of 20-25 cm. favorable conditions additional processes appear from the stem with buds. Height depends on: from dwarf curbs at 30 cm to full-height 90 cm.
According to the shape of the inflorescences, they are distinguished:

• pompoms with small rounded flowers with a diameter of 4 cm;
• dahlia-shaped with large inflorescences up to 15 cm in diameter, and the bushes can be both small and spreading tree-like.

Popular varieties:

A polar bear with large white inflorescences, the petals of which are slightly concave inward. In the shadow White color casts green, especially in the core of the flower. Height reaches 65 cm, but there are bushes with a smaller or greater height. On one stem there can be several branches with processes ending in buds.

Lavender is so named for its color resemblance to the original - purple terry inflorescences with a yellow core. tall plant reaches 80 cm, and there are so many shoots that one bush is enough for a small flower bed. It is better to plant with a large margin between plants - 30-40 cm. So the buds will be larger, and their number will increase.

Fantasy is especially popular among flower growers; its color scheme has conquered even sophisticated florists. Some representatives have a bifurcation at the ends of thin petals. The bush itself is shaped like a ball up to 65 cm high - so many shoots with buds. Inflorescences resemble curly pompoms with many thin petals.

Short staff is a dwarf variety with an extensive colorful collection. There are terry red, coral, white, pink representatives. They reach a height of 25 cm, so they are well suited for decorating borders, creating alpine slides, decoration of architectural forms.

The carousel is unique in its ability to independently interbreed with other representatives, creating unique colors. There are bicolors - dark in the middle and light at the end. Terry buds give a flower bed special charm, from a distance look like a multi-colored pompom ball.

Zinnia angustifolia

It differs in the shape of the inflorescence: single-layer wide petals with a central cone of tubular petals. There are semi-double representatives, but more often they are simple in structure. The color range is not extensive, there are orange, white, pinkish with a dark core. It has a long flowering period - from late June until frost. The plant is an annual, propagated by seeds, sometimes sprout independently at the previous place of growth.

Research in botany does not stand still. Scientists are developing new varieties and hybrid forms. There are results of crossing both species, when color is combined with form, and the result is interesting representatives of a bewitching species. Like Shaggy dog, for example, his terry hats look like the disheveled bangs of pygmy dogs.

It does not require special care, but there are unforeseen moments that gardeners have learned to cope with over the years of cultivation.

• During the rainy season, the bush can lean due to the abundantly moistened green mass, and the roots can break out of the ground. To avoid death, the plant is tied to a trellis, and they try to dilute the earth with peat or sand for better penetration water.
• To make the bouquet last longer, you can lower the cut ends into hot water. This will make the cut last longer in the vase.
• Do not combine with spreading flowers such as petunias, which require a lot of light and nutrients. Better fit asters, ageratum, pansies, carnations.

A wide variety of varieties and types of zinnia leads to indescribable delight, breeders create new representatives that meet the requirements of any region and for every taste.

Origin and facts about zinnia

Mexico is considered the homeland, from where the flower was brought to Europe and Russia, receiving the name "Brazilian tagetis". Having received its rightful place among the popular representatives of the flora, zinnia continues to delight with its charm. The color scheme is so diverse that there are representatives of bicolors, tricolors, dark, almost black varieties. So far, blue color is not available for breeders, which indicates a desire to transform species diversity. Origin and facts about zinnia

Over the course of four centuries, the plant has undergone some changes both in appearance and use. But the popularity of the flower only increased with each generation, bringing new varieties and species, of which there are more than 22 representatives today. The range of zinnias is represented by simple, terry, single-layer, multi-layer buds, dwarf and full-length forms. Each representative is beautiful and unusual in its own way, therefore it has received recognition from gardeners, florists, and botanists.

The peak of the glory of the flower is the period from 1931 to 1957, when zinnia became the state symbol of Indiana. Despite the abolition of the symbol, the plant continued to grow in America and on other continents. And in 2016, a successful attempt was made to cultivate zinnia at the international space station. So she became the first plant grown in zero gravity.

Mexico is considered the homeland, from where the flower was brought to Europe and Russia, receiving the name "Brazilian tagetis". Having received its rightful place among the popular representatives of the flora, zinnia continues to delight with its charm. The color scheme is so diverse that there are representatives of bicolors, tricolors, dark, almost black varieties. So far, blue color is not available for breeders, which indicates a desire to transform species diversity.

A wonderful spring holiday that bears the name International Women's Day, or, simply and briefly " March 8', noted in many countries of the world.

In Russia, March 8 is an official holiday, an additional day off .

In general, in our country this date was declared a holiday from the moment of the widespread establishment of Soviet power, and after half a century it also became a day off. In the USSR, the celebration largely had a political context, since historically the event in honor of which the holiday was established was an important day in the struggle of workers for their rights. And also it was on March 8, 1917 (according to the old style, according to the new - February 23, 1917), with the strike of workers of St. Petersburg manufactories, into which the celebration of International Women's Day grew, the February Revolution began.

International Women's Day on March 8 is a memorable date for the UN, and the organization includes 193 states. Commemorative dates announced by the General Assembly are designed to encourage UN members to show increased interest in these events. However, on this moment not all member states of the United Nations have approved the celebration of Women's Day in their territories on the specified date.

Below is a list of countries that celebrate International Women's Day. Countries are grouped into groups: in a number of states, the holiday is an official non-working day (day off) for all citizens, somewhere around March 8, only women have a rest, and there are states where they work on March 8.

In which countries is March 8 a public holiday (for everyone):

* In Russia- March 8 is one of the most beloved holidays, when men congratulate all women without exception.

* In Ukraine- International Women's Day continues to be an additional holiday, despite regular proposals to exclude the event from the number of non-working days and replace it, for example, with Shevchenko's Day, which will be celebrated on March 9.
* In Abkhazia.
* in Azerbaijan.
* In Algeria.
* In Angola.
* In Armenia.
* In Afghanistan.
* In Belarus.
* To Burkina Faso.
* in Vietnam.
* In Guinea-Bissau.
* In Georgia.
* In Zambia.
* In Kazakhstan.
* In Cambodia.
* In Kenya.
* In Kyrgyzstan.
* In North Korea.
* In Cuba.
* In Laos.
* In Latvia.
* In Madagascar.
* In Moldova.
* In Mongolia.
* In Nepal.
* In Tajikistan Since 2009, the holiday has been renamed Mother's Day.
* In Turkmenistan.
* In Uganda.
* In Uzbekistan.
* In Eritrea.
* In South Ossetia.

Countries where March 8 is a day off for women only:

There are countries in which only women are released from work on International Women's Day. This rule approved:

* In China.
* In Madagascar.

Which countries celebrate March 8, but it's a working day:

In some countries, International Women's Day is widely celebrated, but is a working day. This is:

* Austria.
* Bulgaria.
* Bosnia and Herzegovina.
* Germany- in Berlin since 2019, March 8 is a day off, in the whole country it is a working day.
* Denmark.
* Italy.
* Cameroon.
* Romania.
* Croatia.
* Chile.
* Switzerland.

Which countries do NOT celebrate March 8:

* In Brazil - most of the inhabitants of which have not even heard of the "international" holiday on March 8. The main event of late February - early March for Brazilians and Brazilians is not Women's Day at all, but the world's largest Brazilian festival, also called the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, according to the Guinness Book of Records. In honor of the festival, Brazilians rest for several days in a row, from Friday to noon on the Catholic Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent (which for Catholics has a movable date and begins 40 days before Catholic Easter).

* In the USA, the holiday is not an official holiday. In 1994, an attempt by activists to get the celebration approved in Congress was unsuccessful.

* In the Czech Republic (Czech Republic) - most of of the country's population considers the holiday as a relic of the communist past and main symbol the old regime.

Growing zinnia from seeds is a simple procedure, which is why this flower is so common among gardeners. Among the huge variety of varieties, you can choose any to your liking. In order to ensure the maximum duration of flowering, cultivation through seedlings is recommended.

General information

Zinnia is a flower of the Asteraceae family, long time not losing its decorative effect, and well standing in the cut. Its second popular name is Major. Flower birthplace South America, and it has been introduced to Europe since 1976. The merit belongs to professor in medicine Johann Gottlieb Zinn. Thus the flower got its name. AT temperate climate this is an annual plant that is propagated by seeds, and in its homeland perennial. At proper planning plantings of zinnia can decorate the site from early summer to late autumn. Dwarf varieties for the winter, you can take it into the house for growing in a pot, and when warm weather sets in, plant it again in the ground.

Attention! Zinnia flowers are odorless when grown.

The bush is from 20 cm to 1 m high, depending on the type and variety. Sheet plates sessile, egg-shaped, slightly pointed at the ends. On the stem they are located opposite or whorled, have a hard pubescence. Inflorescences when grown are baskets on long shoots. The petals are tiled, their density depends on the variety and species. The fruit is an achene with a tuft.

The plant when grown is very fond of heat and does not tolerate cold. Even small frosts can kill it. The place where zinnia is grown should be sunny and protected from strong winds. The flower prefers fertile soils rich in humus, well permeable to oxygen and water. The plant reacts poorly to both excess water and lack. In drought, the buds shrink, and the ends of the petals dry up.

Advice! Experienced flower growers advise when growing zinnias in the seedling stage above the fifth leaf, thus making the bush thicker.

To achieve long flowering zinnias, already faded shoots should be removed in a timely manner. The plant needs fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers. Usually enough twice a season.

Choosing a variety for planting

The most popular when grown by gardeners are two types - narrow-leaved and graceful. There are about 20 of them in total. These two species are represented by a huge number of varieties, the seeds of which are sold in specialized stores. All of them are grouped according to the size of an adult plant:

• dwarf - up to 30 cm;
• medium height - up to 70 cm;
• high - from 1 m.

Zinnias are also combined according to appearance colors:

• dahlia;
• pompoms;
• fantasy;
• chrysanthemum;
• scabiose flowers;
• gayardiotsvetnye.

Each variety is distinguished by its color, basket structure and stem height, which allows the active use of zinnias in landscape design. The most common when grown among flower growers:

1. Pompom zinnias - plant height is about 55 cm, the bush is compact, but branched. The flowers are double, 5 cm in size, densely arranged on branches. By planting varieties different term flowering flower bed will have a neat appearance until autumn. The most popular varieties of zinnias in this group are Tom-Tumb and Rotkopchen with rich red flowers that do not fade in the sun.
2. Dahlia zinnias- plants reaching 1 m in height with large double flowers. Their diameter is about 15 cm. Common varieties in this group are the white Polar Bear, pink Dream and purple Violet.
3. California zinnias- stem up to 1 m high big flowers up to 14 cm in diameter. In stores, you can find California mix seeds, which are specially selected for decorating flower beds.

How to collect seeds

In order to collect seeds from zinnias for cultivation, you must wait until they are fully ripe, that is, when the boxes turn brown. They should be carefully cut and opened over a sheet of paper. In the same place, the seed can be stored until spring. Growing zinnia from seeds at home is quite popular among flower growers.

How to grow zinnia from seeds

Zinnia can be grown from seeds at home. Subject to a series simple rules bushes will be strong and healthy. The process itself is not difficult even for beginner flower growers. Seeds when grown have good germination.

When to sow zinnia for seedlings

It is important to observe the timing of sowing zinnia for seedlings - the second half of April will be optimal. It is not worth planting seeds earlier, because the flower will grow quickly enough, which will make it difficult to move it to open ground. Also, early sown seedlings are likely to stretch and weaken.

Is seed preparation necessary?

Preparing seeds for growing zinnia flowers from them is quite simple. They are large, and there will be no difficulties in sorting. Additional processing not required for cultivation. If desired, you can use Epin's solution - soak the seeds wrapped in cloth in it. Fresh ones will sprout in two days, older ones in about a week.

Soil preparation and containers

The depth of the boxes for planting zinnia seeds should be at least 10 cm. When grown, they are filled with soil a little more than half. The soil for seedlings should be loose and nutritious, in addition, it is necessary to provide good drainage. Use a mixture of sand and peat with garden soil.

Sowing seeds

Zinnia seedlings develop quickly during cultivation, and the bushes turn out to be quite large, so it is necessary to keep a distance of 3 cm between them when planting. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1 cm. Then the soil is well moistened and glass is placed on top. Seeds remain under cover until germination. Since the germination of the flower during cultivation is good, a more rare planting or the use of separate containers is allowed. Thus, it makes sense to plant seeds so as not to resort to picking later.

How to grow zinnia seedlings at home

Zinnia shoots from seeds will appear 4 days after planting. We must immediately remove the film from them. Watering should be moderate to avoid excessive moisture. When the seedlings grow to 10 cm, it's time to swoop down. When growing, seedlings are carefully moved into separate pots, deepening to the cotyledons. The stem, covered with earth, is overgrown with additional roots. If the flower was originally planted in separate containers, then it is simply spudded. Suitable for zinnia is a temperature within +22 ° C. You can grow a flower in peat tablets, this will greatly simplify care, allowing you to avoid picks. Loosening the soil and removing weeds if they appear in pots are mandatory procedures.

Advice! For better branching of the root system, when growing, pinch the main one by about 1 cm.

Two weeks before planting in open ground, seedlings should be hardened off. Zinnia is taken out to the balcony in fine weather. Thanks to this procedure, the plants will get stronger, but it is important to prevent drafts. From sowing to transplanting to a flower bed should take about 2 months.

At improper care when growing plants can be affected by various diseases, and in most cases it is seedlings that are affected:

1. Blackleg is the most well-known disease that occurs when excessive moisture, low temperature, too dense planting, lack of lighting or poor on nutrients soil. An infected plant can no longer be saved, it must be removed and the spread of the disease to other flowers must be prevented. A lump of earth is also removed, and the rest of the soil is shed with potassium permanganate once a week.
2. Root rot - caused by many fungi and bacteria with violations in care. Excess fertilizer can also cause disease. The main root and neck turn brown, thinner, the foliage becomes paler, and as a result, the zinnia dies. If there are signs of illness, then the flower should be removed. Chalk, sand and humus are added to the rest of the seedlings. Watered with a solution of fungicides.
3. Fusarium wilt- transmission occurs through seeds and persists in the ground and on the remains of diseased plants. First, the root is affected, then the whole flower droops and dries. Further, the stems rot and a pink coating appears - spores of the fungus. Sick plants are removed healthy landings treated with a fungicide.
4. Gray rot - leaves and stems are covered with pale brownish spots. If the humidity is high, then the inclusions of a putrid appearance. Appears from above gray coating with fungal spores. Plants are treated with potassium permanganate or fungicides containing copper.
5. Powdery mildew is a disease dangerous for seedlings. The foliage is covered with powdery coating, which then becomes denser. Greens are deformed, dry and fall off. A solution of foundationazole or a copper-soap composition will help. Treat for a week.

Zinnia can also be attacked by pests, especially if the seedlings are in country house, and their distribution from the garden to young flowers is possible:

1. Mining fly larvae- gnaw leaves, leaving passages there in the form of white lines. Affected parts are cut off and destroyed.
2. Scoop caterpillars - eat the roots of seedlings, causing noticeable harm to zinnias. To get rid of insects, it is worth digging up the soil and removing the caterpillars by hand.
3. Aphid - attacks at the beginning of summer, just during the cultivation of seedlings. Insects, attacking in huge colonies, suck the juices from plants. Aphids are washed off with water, and then it is recommended to use folk remedy- garlic with soap and oil. It is also possible to use insecticides.

Conclusion

Growing zinnia from seed reliable way flower propagation for suburban areas. thermophilic plant in the climate middle lane known as an annual, sown for seedlings. Gardeners love this flower for its variety of colors and decorative look foliage.

Planting zinnia is presented in the video:

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Zinnia, popularly known as major, is an elegant plant with many large and bright colors. Its cultivation will not cause you any special problems, and its beauty will touch your eyes from early summer to autumn frosts. Today we will talk in detail about the only way that reproduces zinnia - growing from seeds. When to plant seeds in open ground and seedlings, we will also be sure to clarify.

Most often, zinnia becomes an element of decor made in rustic style. Often these flowers are also used to create more modern flower arrangements. It is in your power to create a truly unique flower garden with a unique zinnia!

Zinnia is a bewitching gift of nature!

To begin with, dear summer residents and, briefly consider the main characteristics of this popular ornamental plant. Zinnia is an annual. The height of the plant, depending on the variety, can be from 20 cm to 1 m, the colors of the flowers can be found in the most diverse.

Zinnia is very thermophilic, and even the smallest frosts can destroy it. For this reason, in regions where spring frosts often do not recede until the summer, it is grown only through seedlings. Zinnia seeds germinate well, and the plant develops rapidly and enters the flowering phase after an average of 2.5 months.

Growing seedlings

To make the flowers fantastically beautiful, it is necessary to pay due attention to each stage of cultivation. It is very important to know how to prepare seeds for planting, when to plant them, how to care for seedlings and mature plants.

When to plant seeds? Even if you want zinnia to please you with its flowering as early as possible, you should not rush too much with sowing seeds for seedlings. The most suitable period for this event is mid-April. If you start planting in March, then by the time of planting, the seedlings will outgrow, and, consequently, they will not take root well in a new place. Also, large branched plants are easier to break during the transplanting process.

How to plant zinnia seeds? For landing you will need big box at least 10 cm deep. Lower the seeds to a depth of 1 cm. Leave 2 to 3 cm between them, since the seedlings will actively grow before picking. When planting is complete, water the soil abundantly and cover the box with foil. With the advent of seedlings, it is necessary to immediately remove the shelter.

When to dive? In order for zinnia to develop properly, it is necessary to plant the seedlings in separate spacious containers in time. It is best to do this when they reach a height of 10 cm.

Valuable advice from flower growers:

When picking, deepen the zinnia seedlings to the cotyledons to form more roots.
Taking the plant out of the common box, shorten the main root by 2-3 cm, and only then plant it in a separate pot or glass.

How to harden zinnia seedlings? Hardening of young seedlings should begin two weeks before moving to the estate. Choose the method depending on the growing conditions: you can open the window for the whole day, take the pots to the balcony or to the street. But don't forget to cover them from midday sun and strong wind.

How to plant zinnia in the OG? On the open area It is customary to plant zinnia at the age of one to one and a half months. If everything goes according to plan, then in a month it will bloom. When planting varieties of zinnia that will have a height of 20-50 cm, leave only 20 cm between adjacent specimens. Place tall varieties of the flower less often - in increments of 30-40 cm. As soon as the zinnia gets stronger after transplantation, cut off the top of it so that lush bushes subsequently turn out.

Planting zinnia seeds in the exhaust gas

Gardeners who are in no hurry to see zinnia in all its splendor and do not like to mess with seedlings plant seeds directly in the exhaust gas. As already mentioned, this plant does not tolerate even slight frosts, so planting should be postponed until the period when even the slightest night frosts stop. Therefore, for most areas, only the end of May is suitable. It is easy to understand that flowering in this case will begin only at the end of summer. If you are willing to wait that long, this method of growing zinnia is right for you.

Sow the seeds in the holes, leaving between them the distance recommended by the manufacturer. Deepen by 5 cm. If you decide to plant several seeds in each hole, you will subsequently need to thin out. The plucked seedlings can be used as seedlings.

The site for zinnia should be sunny (without the slightest shading) and calm.
Suitable will be light and fertile soil. It is extremely important that water does not stagnate in the ground. To improve the drainage properties of the soil, sand is added to it.
Immediately after planting seeds or seedlings of zinnia in the exhaust gas, it is better to use covering material for some time to save the plant from possible frosts.

How to collect seeds?

In order to have a quality next year planting material, select a few zinnia bushes in advance to collect seeds. All of them should be cut off. side shoots. After waiting for the flowers to turn brown, they should be cut, dried and the seeds removed. Store the material in a dry place where there are no temperature fluctuations.

Interesting! There is no need to collect zinnia seeds every year, because they remain viable for 3 or even 4 years.

So, now you know that the only way to have gorgeous zinnia on your site is to grow from seeds. When to plant seeds for seedlings and in open ground, we described in detail. For the forgetful, we remind you: the second half of April and the second half of May, respectively. Zinnia is a flower that is ready to give its beauty without requiring special honor. The most important thing for him is a lot of sun and the absence of excess water. Otherwise, caring for zinnia is the most common.