Zinnias are my very favorite flower of all times. I will tell you that quite a few flowers are my favorites because quite simply I am a flower addict-I really do love them all. But zinnias really are my absolute favorite flower. They are that perfect mix of a beautiful yet simple flower, they come in a huge range of bright colors and they radiate happiness and family memories for me- not to mention they are so easy to grow!
Zinnias are one of the absolute easiest cut flowers to grow, especially for beginners. I always plant my seeds directly in the ground in a sunny spot in my garden. My current garden has compost rich soil which is great but I’ve also grown them in some pretty cruddy soils successfully. I typically around the first part of May to May 15th (frost free date in Iowa). I cover them with about 1/4″ of soil and then I water them in once (key word-once). Then I let them grow and wait for them to flower. I only water them again if they are truly wilting to the ground. Once they begin to flower, I harvest from them often. The more you cut the zinnia flowers, the more they will produce so enjoy these beauties all over your house. The variety below is one I’m growing this year called Queen Red Lime Zinnia. I love how the center of the flower is rimmed in that limey green.
My zinnias are already blooming this year which makes me so happy! Typically it is mid July to early August before I get to enjoy their blooms but I actually put my garden in much sooner this year and the hot weather has really made them take off. The mix you see below in Benary’s Giant Zinnias , Gift Zinnia and Oklahoma Mix. I love the bright mix of colors and it always reminds me of my mom’s garden and her love for fresh cut flowers (zinnias were always in her garden and still are to this day).
The floral bouquet below contains Red Gift Zinnias. I love the bright red color. I also love that zinnias make an instant floral bouquet and that they are easy to arrange. I don’t need to be a floral designer to create a beautiful flower bouquet to enjoy, another great attribute of these flowers if you are just getting started.
The floral bouquet below contains a mix of Cactus Zinnia and Red Gift Zinnias.
I love placing these little bouquets of sunshine on my kitchen counter and tables. They are such a pretty bright pop of color and knowing they were homegrown in my garden makes them all the sweeter. Why buy fresh cut flowers when they can come straight from your very own garden? The purple variety below is one called Purple Prince Zinnia.
There are many types of zinnias and every year I try some new ones as I love the many colors, sizes and shapes. Check out Etsy for unusual varieties of zinnias, some of my other favorite sources for zinnia seeds are Eden Brothers, Seed Savers, Burpee, and Johnny’s Seeds. As more of my zinnias come into bloom this season.
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