Summers Best Performing Annual the Zany Zinnias

The heat index has skyrocketed, the roses have gone into shock, and the lovely spring pansies and hellebores have died, that leaves the robust and hardy zinnias to carry the weight for the ever-blooming cottage garden.  Zinnias love heat, the higher the heat, the faster they grow.   Even in the desert heat of Las Vegas, they alone stand tall with their faces basking in the sun. Imagine all that color from a little package of seeds!  This is definitely more bang for your buck.  I call these lovely giants of the garden my zany zinnias, one they come up every year, I know they are called annuals but if you live in a mild climate such as the western states have, you will not need to replant your Zinnias every year.There is a plethora of colors to choose from and more shapes and sizes than you can number.  I particularly like the “cactus” variety and the odd salmon and purple blends. No matter what your preference, you cannot fail with this zany plant as it is determined to grown and thrive and bloom its heart out all summer long. You will find no other top performing annual like the Zany Zinnia.
  

Planting

• Zinnias are grown from seed; they grow very quickly in the right conditions. Zinnias do not like to be transplanted.
• Full sun is essential wilt a minimum daylight temperature of 60 degrees F.
• Zinnias are adaptable but prefer fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil at pH preference 5.5 - 7.5.
• If soil is amended with compost, the flowers will grow more quickly.

      

• Sow seeds 1/4-inch deep.
• Space plants 4 to 24 inches apart depending on variety.  (Many common varieties are 6 inches within the row and 2 feet in between rows.) See back of seed package.
• Germination occurs at 74 to 80 degrees F in 5 to 76 days.
• Sow in succession for a longer flowering display.

    

Care

• Deadhead to prolong flowering.
• Maintain moderate soil moisture and fertilize lightly.
• Zinnias will die with the first frost.

   

Pests

Bacterial and fungal spots, powdery mildew, bacterial wilt. Minimize wetting of foliage to avoid disease.
Caterpillars, mealybugs, and spider mites also cause problems. Avoid spraying and tolerate some leaf damage unless the situation is uncontrolled.