Zinnia with its brightly colored flower heads adorns borders, beds in full sun and is ideal as a gap filler between attractive grasses. Since the easy-to-care-for plants only thrive once a year in our latitudes, they have to be replanted every year. We have put together a compact summary of how you should proceed here.

At the end of May, the zinnia can move outside

The planting time

As soon as there is no more threat of night frost after the ice saints, you can place the zinnia outdoors, regardless of whether it is a self-grown plant or a perennial from the garden center.

The right location

The zinnia is an absolute sun worshiper that doesn't mind midday temperatures of over thirty degrees. For this reason, a location in full sun that is sheltered from the wind is ideal.

The soil claims

Zinnias are relatively undemanding and thrive in their natural home on very stony and barren soil. Well-drained, humus-rich and slightly loamy substrates ensure rich flowering throughout the summer. The optimum soil pH is between 5.8 and 6.2.

Observe planting distance

Depending on the size of the mature plant, you should keep a distance of about thirty centimeters from the neighboring plant so that the zinnias do not compete for each other's space.

planting

First, carefully remove the root ball from the cultivation vessel and place it in water for about thirty minutes. During this time, dig the planting hole, which should always be slightly larger than the original pot. Make sure that the roots are not bent and that there is enough space in the planting pit. Fill the planting hole with soil, press it down lightly and water the zinnia well.

Since zinnias are quite sensitive to waterlogging, it is advisable to work some sand into the subsoil in the case of heavily loamy soils and also to add a drainage layer of gravel.

Zinnias Propagation and Advance

You can either buy zinnia seeds from a garden store or harvest them yourself. You can grow zinnias indoors or in a heated greenhouse as early as February. Zinnias germinate in the dark, so cover the seed placed in the seed tray with a little soil. Well watered and covered with a hood, the first seedlings appear after about ten days.

Alternatively, you can sow zinnia directly into the garden after the ice saints.

tips

Planted correctly, the zinnia flowers shortly after planting and continues into autumn. Cut off wilted flowers regularly, this stimulates the formation of new flowers.

Category:

Vegetable garden