Growing Zinnias From Seeds In Summer

I just don't have the follow through.

Once those plants go in the pots, or the ground, I leave the watering and the feeding to our sprinkler system and Mother Nature.

And they're not always super reliable.

However, my husband is...he's the master gardener around here. He diligently tends to each bed and container and the results are always stunning.

Like the morning glories he trained on a trellis and the pumpkins he planted in our small garden last year. 

So when he said he wanted to plant zinnias under my kitchen window, I was all in.

I adore zinnias. They're truly my favorite late summer flower...so bright and cheerful and they always attract a lot of friends.


We used to plant them every year, combining seeds from different varieties, so that they grew into a zinnia bush of sorts. 

However, this year, we opted for a cutting garden, planting a traditional row with this fantastic pack of seeds.

The Zinnia Seeds We Used

And we couldn't be happier with the results. They were definitely a fresh and hearty pack and so easy to grow, even this lazy, undisciplined gardener was able to do it.

How To Grow Zinnias From Seeds

We started by pushing the mulch back in the bed to expose the dirt.


Next, we carved out a small trench and sprinkled the seeds inside. No need to use a dibble or create deep holes, they sat right on top of the soil.


Then we covered them up with a layer of dirt and mulch and gave them a nice, long drink.


That was on June 6th. I was afraid we started a little late to get some summer blooms.

But nope, by June 14th we already had sprouts.


We did water them daily until they took root, but after that we let the sprinklers do their job, every other day. Of course, if it was super hot and dry, we gave them an extra splash.

And by July 2nd we were really on our way. We fed them once, with a little sprinkle of this plant food we had on hand, but that's it.


From there the growth was truly exponential. Those super hot and humid July days triggered some big jumps.

And by the middle of the month we had tons of flowers.


That just keep kept multiplying!

In a stroke of luck, a few weeks after we planted them, we found some decorative metal fencing at the curb and grabbed it.

It's those kind of charming elements that really take the garden up a notch.

Plus, it's done a fabulous job of defining the bed and keeping those leggy stalks standing tall.


Which has been super helpful when the little yellow finches come to visit our lovely cottage garden.

They're almost as vibrant as the flower petals.


They linger in that lush zinnia patch all afternoon, and I get to enjoy the view whether I'm outside in the yard or inside the kitchen.


It's my own little cutting garden.

That's almost too pretty to cut.

Well, almost. 

Not bad for a girl who can't garden.

😉

Are you a zinnia fan?

Happy Planting, Friends!