The riot of colors of zinnia can leave few people indifferent. And for the proud straight stem, they were popularly called "majors". They look great both in the garden and on the balcony.
These flowers do not require a lot of money; they are grown from seeds.
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Growing from seeds
Zinnia seeds have a peculiarity. In appearance, even in one seed basket, they are of different shapes: shield-like flat, spear-shaped and sharp with a tail in the form of an awl. Different flowers grow from them. From flat shield-like seeds, zinnias will be without signs of doubleness even if they are obtained from double flower, from sharp spear-shaped - semi-double, but from awl-shaped large double flowers. Therefore, it is better to sort them before planting.
The seeds can be bought at the store or collected from the flower bed. Since they need two months to ripen, the very first beautiful flowers are chosen for this purpose. The mature seed basket should be brown. If it is not dry enough, you can let it lie down for a while. Seeds remain viable for up to four years, but it is better to use last year's, as it decreases every year.
In areas with warm climates, seeds can be planted directly into the ground. In the middle and northern regions, it is preferable to first grow seedlings, since the flowers do not tolerate frost.
When to plant
The seedling period is about five to six weeks, so seeds are sown not earlier than April, but in cold areas in early May.
The seeds may not be subjected to additional processing, but if you soak them in Epin, they will sprout faster and more amicably.
For cultivation, it is better to use separate peat pots, which will avoid further picking, but seedling boxes can also be used. Their height should be about 10 centimeters.
For seedlings, you can buy ready-made soil mixtures for the Aster family in the store or prepare the soil yourself. To do this, in equal proportions, it is necessary to take sod land, humus, peat and sand. Self-prepared soil must be steamed or treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.
The boxes are only two thirds full of earth. When planting, seeds are buried by 1 centimeter. If further picking is expected, then they can be arranged quite densely. In this case, the seedlings dive when two pairs of leaves are formed. If you want to avoid this procedure, then sowing must be done at a distance of four centimeters or in separate pots.
After sowing, the containers are covered with foil or glass, which are removed several times a day so that condensation does not form. After three or four days, when shoots appear, the cover is removed.
When the seedlings gain strength and pull up, they are additionally poured with nutritious soil.
Seedlings need bright diffused light. With a lack of lighting, they stretch out strongly, the leaves turn pale.
Before transplanting into open ground, the seedlings must be hardened. To do this, within a week, it is taken out to the balcony or outside, gradually increasing the hardening duration.
In late May or early June, when there is no longer a danger of frost, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place. It is important that it is sunny and sheltered from the wind. Zinnias cannot be planted under trees, but they can grow well among berries. The distance between flowers depends on the variety: 15 centimeters are enough for undersized ones, and 30 centimeters are recommended for tall ones.
Having picked up several varieties with different flowering periods and adding when transplanting seedlings into open ground seeds, as experienced florists advise, you will enjoy the bloom of zinnias from July to the very frost.
Do you grow zinnias? Share your experience in growing these flowers.
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