PLANTprofile

Zinnia

By Kathy Jentz

Zinnias are colorful summer annuals that are practically care-free and a great choice for beginner gardeners. They are native to Mexico and were named after a German botanist, Johann Gottfried Zinn. The zinnia is a rewarding plant, especially for those who have never started flowers from seeds before. Rewarding is an understatement, actually! In a typical summer, I have picked 10 bouquets of flowers from my small zinnia patch by early July. The bees and butterflies love them, too. I am often cutting my blooms right out from under the insects with a quick “Sorry” as I run off to put them in a vase. To start zinnias from seed, clear off a patch of soil in a sunny area of your garden. Here in the humid Mid-Atlantic U.S., good wind circulation is a must because zinnias are vulnerable to powdery mildew, so make sure they are out in the open and not next to a brick wall or tall shrubs. Scratch a few lines in the ground and then sow your seeds according to the package instructions. Water them in well. If it doesn’t rain consistently, you may have to give them supplemental water, but usually they are fine without it. The only other care note is to have your floral snips handy, because once they start blooming, you will want to pick them practically daily. The more you cut, the more flowers they produce. And it is not too late for this growing season! Last year, I did not start zinnia seeds until early August and I was picking flowers by the end of September and they kept on producing through October. o

Kathy Jentz is the editor and founder of Washington Gardener.