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How to Grow Zinnias
by Barb Jensen

Description: Tips on planting and growing beautiful zinnias.

Zinnias are a beautiful, easy to grow annual. They come in many different colors: red, yellow, orange, purple, white, and green. They also grow to different heights. The dwarf or miniature ones can be as short as six inches, while the tallest ones can grow up to five feet tall. With their long stems they are good flowers to cut and bring into the house. With changing the water every other day, I have had zinnias last for up to two weeks in the house.

Zinnias will do well with directly sowing them in the ground. Plant in a sunny spot, late in spring after danger of frost and the soil temperature is warm.

Zinnias should be thinned so the miniature ones are about six inches apart and the taller ones twelve inches apart.

If you want your zinnias to be bushy, pinch the tips. Keep the faded flowers cut to encourage your plants to grow more blooms and keep the growing season going longer.

Zinnias are prone to mildew so if watering with a sprinkling can don't sprinkle the water on the flowers. Sprinkle the water on the ground close to the base of the plant.

If you live east of the Mississippi chances are good you will have Japanese beetles feasting on your beautiful zinnias. These beetles are about one half inch long with a copper color body and metallic green head.

Japanese beetles traps are available at garden centers and are highly effective. So effective the bait will attract Japanese beetles from your neighbor's yard also. With so many Japanese beetles flying around, it's best to place the trap 100 to 200 feet from your zinnias.

Another way to control the Japanese beetle population is to pick the beetles off your flowers and then step on them or pinch them between your thumb and forefinger. Be sure to wear gloves if you try the latter method.

Zinnias are so easy to grow a child can grow them and are a good flower for young budding gardeners to plant.

Barb Jensen lives in upstate New York and enjoys both flower and vegetable gardening. http://freewebs.com/greenthumb1

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