How to Grow Zinnias for Endless Cut Flowers
Zinnias are the easiest cut flower you can grow. The more you pick, the more they bloom, all summer long.
Sow in warm soil
Zinnias hate cold. Direct sow seeds a quarter inch deep after your last frost, once the soil feels warm to the touch. They sprout in days and flower in about two months.
Pinch for longer stems
When plants are about a foot tall, pinch out the top growing tip just above a set of leaves. This makes the plant branch, giving many more long stems for vases.
Quick tips
- Space plants 9 to 12 inches apart
- Water at the base to avoid mildew
Cut at the right time
Use the 'wiggle test': hold a stem a few inches below the flower and shake gently. If the stem is stiff, it is ready; if it bends, wait a day. Cut in the morning and put stems straight into water.
