Zany zinnias add color to any garden

May 2007

5/20/07

5/1/07

How To Dry Zinnias

« May 2007 Archive

Sunday, May 20, 2007
1:41:00 AM EDT

Zany zinnias add color to any garden

Zany zinnias add color to any garden

Saturday May 12, 2007

Zinnias are one of the most popular annual plants grown in American gardens.

Zinnias are available in almost every flower color except blue and in heights from 6 to 48 inches with single or double flowers, as well as cactus-type, dahlia-type and button-type flowers. They are easy to grow and are especially good for young or novice gardeners.

Zinnias, native mainly to Mexico, were named in honor of Johann Gottfried Zinn, a professor of botany at Gottingen, Germany. Initially found by the Spanish in Mexico, zinnias were quite unattractive until breeders from Germany, Italy and Holland helped. The new look of zinnias was introduced to gardens in about 1861 and zinnias' real popularity began around 1920 when dahlia-flowered zinnias were introduced.

Like several other popular annuals (such as petunias and geraniums), there has been much breeding and crossbreeding of zinnias to enhance desirable traits such as early and profuse blooming, stockiness and color.

Zinnias are easy to start from seed and they may readily be direct-seeded. Outside, in the garden, allow them six hours of sun a day and fertilize every two to three weeks or apply a slow-release fertilizer at planting time. Water as needed, but avoid watering the leaves (especially Z. elegans) to help deter powdery mildew and alternaria blight. Dead-head regularly or cut flowers for a continuance of bloom throughout the growing season.

Zinnias are great cut flowers, adding zest to any arrangement. To gather the flowers, cut them early in the morning, selecting blooms that haven't fully opened. Tightly closed buds will not open once they are cut. As you cut the stems, place them in a bucket of water. Once inside, recut the stem under water and remove any leaves that would be under water when in the vase.

The zany zinnia is indeed the clown of the gardening world. With all their forms and colors they give life to any garden or flower arrangement.

Garden Plot is written by master gardeners with the Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Broome County. This week's writer is Joe Kille, the leader of the annuals team at Cutler Botanic Garden in the Town of Dickinson. Send comments to features@press connects.com