Ziniya perennial planting and care in the open field

Bright double and semi-double baskets of flowers of various colors instantly captivate the hearts of flower growers. Perennial zinnia, which does not take much effort to cultivate and care in the open field, is a drought-resistant plant with a long flowering period. The zinnias are known as majors among the people.

Growing zinnia perennial from seeds

In culture, it is possible to grow only 4 varieties of zinnia out of more than 20 known - graceful, narrow-leaved. fine-flowered and linearis. Perennial representatives, similarly to annuals, reproduce in a generative way. In regions with mild climatic conditions without the threat of recurrent frosts, seeds can be sown directly in the garden. However, according to experts and experienced florists, it is better to grow zinnia from seeds using the seedling method.

Sowing seeds in the ground

In order to definitely eliminate the risks during sowing associated with night frosts, sowing work is carried out in late May-early June.

In this case, steps are taken according to the following scheme:

1. A week before the planned sowing, the seeds are wrapped in a cloth impregnated with a growth stimulator.
2. The germinated seed is sown in holes, the depth of which does not exceed 4 cm, in a previously prepared area and at an interval of 20 cm.
3. After half a month, the first shoots hatch.

Planting seeds for seedlings

Due to the intolerance of young zinnia plants to frost - a temperature of -1 ° C will destroy the seedlings - the seedling method of flower cultivation is the most productive.

To do this, at the end of March:

1. The seed is wrapped in a germination gauze soaked in a stimulant to avoid sowing unsuitable seeds.
2. The hatched seeds, 2-3 pieces each, are sown in pots filled with peat to a depth of 1 cm.
3. The containers are humidified and the room is moved with good lighting.
4. At temperatures between 22-24 ° C, the first shoots appear after a few days.
5. The root system of young seedlings is formed at a rapid pace, therefore, when pulling seedlings into pots, soil is added.
6. Before planting in open ground, the seedlings are hardened by moving them in the daytime to fresh air.

Important! Since zinnia has poor picking tolerance, sowing seeds for seedlings is not carried out too densely.

Planting zinnia in open ground

Before proceeding with the preparation of seed or forcing seedlings, it is necessary to study all the preferences of zinnia: soil composition, lighting, temperature. Only if all agrotechnical requirements are met, flower growers will receive the desired result in the form of lush blooming zinnias of wondrous beauty.

Site selection and soil preparation

The choice of a site for growing zinnia is a fairly simple task: a drought-resistant plant can be cultivated even in those areas where access to moisture is limited. Majors can grow alone, while getting along well with neighbors in the form of other flower crops. The most optimal place will be sunny areas, protected from the wind, which can damage the decorative effect of the flower.

Majors, easily tolerating drought, have a negative attitude to the high level of groundwater and waterlogging of the soil. To avoid root warming, the soil is drained with expanded clay and sand. For successful cultivation, the soil must be fertile or enriched with nutrients in advance: during autumn digging, 8-10 kg of compost per 1 m2 are applied to the selected area, and in spring - complex mineral fertilizers. Zinnia will also be grateful for the preparation of a special loose substrate from leafy earth, sand and humus.

How and when to plant zinnia?

If the sowing of seeds directly into the soil described above is carried out in late spring-early summer, then the timing for planting seedlings also falls on this time.

1. The site prepared in the fall is cleared of weeds.
2. The hardened seedlings are planted by transferring or in peat pots at a distance of 30-35 cm between the specimens so that the plants have enough space to build up the green mass.

Attention! If all the actions were performed correctly, at the height of summer the grower will delight the first flowers.

Perennial zinnia: outdoor care

Despite the unpretentiousness of the Asterian representative, zinnia needs comprehensive and systematic care, providing for the implementation of a number of activities.

Watering and loosening

The culture does not require frequent watering. In this case, the frequency of humidification must be replaced with a large volume of water. Watering, you should minimize the possibility of water getting on the peduncle, which can provoke the process of decay. If, for reasons beyond the control of the grower, for example, due to rain, the inflorescences are still damaged, they should be removed to prevent the development of rot. After drying, the soil is loosened so that a crust does not form, which has a negative effect on the ability of zinnia to form flowers.

Attention! Deficiency of moisture over a long period can also affect the condition of the plant: small flowers form, the tips of which dry out during flowering.

Top dressing

When the majors are in a depressed state, which is confirmed by defective development, yellowing of the green mass, the plant is fed with complex mineral fertilizers in the form of nitroammophoska, superphosphate and potassium sulfate with a rate of one tablespoon each per 1 m2. In specialized stores, you can buy liquid complexes that are used for irrigation in the concentration indicated on the package, providing the necessary growth, splendor and duration of flowering, as well as resistance to the development of diseases.

How to pinch zinnia?

Zinnia is pinched only when the grower wants to get a bushy plant. The procedure is carried out at the stage of development of the fourth pair of true leaves.

Features of winter care

Zinnia, due to its intolerance to cold weather conditions in the open field, is cultivated as an annual plant. But when planting it in a container, it is possible to transfer the flower to a warm room and grow it indoors as a perennial crop.

How to collect seeds?

When self-collecting seeds, it should be borne in mind that seeds from the first-order shoots have the highest sowing qualities.

To collect seeds correctly, you must follow the basic recommendations:

1. Selected specimens retain only first-order shoots.
2. In plants for harvesting seeds, the beginning of flowering is noted, which serves as the starting point for counting the two-month interval during which the seeds ripen.
3. When the baskets turn brown, they are detached, dried and peeled.
4. The resulting seeds are stored in a place without temperature extremes for three years, maintaining all sowing qualities.

Diseases and pests of zinnia

Zinnia, along with other flower crops, is affected by diseases and pests.

Diseases

Majors are affected by fungal and bacterial diseases, among which the most dangerous are:

• bacterial spotting;
• fusarium;
• gray rot;
• powdery mildew.

With manifestations of spotting, the affected parts are subject to immediate destruction, and with strong development, the entire plant is eliminated: the disease, due to the bacterial nature, cannot be cured. Fungal diseases are treated by double treatment of plantings with a fungicidal preparation with a time interval of 10-14 days, depending on the period of toxicity of the preparation.

Advice! If a disease occurs, you should find out the reason, most often hidden in violations of the care regulations, in order to avoid such mistakes later.

Pests

The most common crop pests are:

• aphids - to protect the plant from colonization by these insects, a soap solution or spraying with an insecticidal preparation is used;
• slugs - gastropods require mechanical destruction.
• May beetles - hand picked and dropped into a bucket of soapy water.

Thus, if you know the nuances of growing zinnia and correctly follow the care measures, the florist will certainly be rewarded with beautiful and lush flowers.

planting ❀ growing ❀ care

 

Zinnia (Zinnia) belongs to the genus of herbaceous and shrub perennials of the Astrovye family. Today, about twenty species are known, many varieties and hybrids of this beautiful flower, distinguished by its beauty and undemanding growing conditions. Depending on the type and variety, the height of zinnia can be from 20 to 100 cm and more. The leaves of the plant are whole, sessile, ovate, pointed towards the apex, pubescent with hard hairs, whorled or oppositely arranged. Inflorescences are single apical baskets with a diameter of three to fourteen centimeters, located on long peduncles. Ligulate flowers of zinnia, arranged tiled in one or several rows, white, purple, orange, yellow, red - all possible colors, except for shades of blue; the middle, tubular flowers are small, yellow or red-brown in color. The fruit is a tufted achene. Zinnia blooms from mid-June to frost, characterized by resistance to heat and drought. In our climate, zinnia is exclusively an annual plant, since it is not able to survive even short and slight frosts.

   

Growing zinnia from seeds

 

Sowing zinnia. Perennial zinnia, like annual, reproduces generatively. In places with a warm climate, where there is no frost in May, it is possible to plant zinnia directly in the ground, but if night frosts are common in your area, be aware that zinnia seeds sown in the ground will die at a temperature of -1 ºC.That is why experienced flower growers believe that it is better to grow and harden this plant as a seedling, and then planting zinnia in the ground with subsequent rooting will be successful. Before sowing, wrap the zinnia seeds in a cloth or gauze soaked in epin to see which are viable and which are not. Fresh seeds hatch in a couple of days, and old seeds will take a week to appear. In late March or early April, viable seeds, two or three pieces, are spaciously sown to a depth of one centimeter in peat pots with a wet substrate, which will subsequently avoid picking, which this culture does not like. The sowing is moistened and placed in a bright place. The optimum temperature for zinnia germination is 22-24ºC. If you do everything right, sprouts will appear in a few days.

Zinnia seedlings. Young plants quickly form adventitious roots, and if the zinnia seedlings are stretched out, just add a little soil to the pots. My zinnias were not very elongated, but a friend complained that she had placed the crops in partial shade, and the seedlings turned into painful translucent shoots, so remember that zinnias seedlings require bright diffused light. With a thin sowing of seeds, you do not have to dive the seedlings, especially since zinnia does not tolerate a dive poorly. At the end of May, in order for the planting of zinnia to be successful, the seedlings begin to harden, taking them out in the afternoon for some time to fresh air.

 

Planting zinnia outdoors

 

When to plant zinnias in the ground. Zinnia is planted in the ground in the second half of May, towards the end of the month, when the danger of return frosts has passed. The plant prefers light areas, sheltered from the wind, with neutral, well-drained nutrient soil. Before planting zinnia, the intended area is cleared of weeds by digging the soil to a depth of 45 centimeters and adding deciduous humus, compost or rotted manure to it during digging at the rate of 8-10 kg per m², and it is better to do this in the fall.

How to plant zinnias. Zinnia flowers are planted at a distance of 30-35 cm of one specimen from another by transshipment or together with a peat pot. You will see zinnia bloom in early July.

 

 

Zinnia outdoor care

 

If the planting of zinnia was successful, you can talk about caring for it, which consists in regularly loosening the soil, weeding weeds and infrequent but abundant watering at the root so that water does not fall on the flowers. When the zinnia begins to bloom, remove the wilted flowers in time. The powerful stalks of zinnia do not need tying and props.

Fertilizing zinnia. From the moment the shoots emerge and until the time when the zinnia is planted in the ground, the seedlings are fed with mineral fertilizers with a low nitrogen content three times. The plant planted in the ground is fertilized with mineral fertilizers or liquid manure at least twice over the summer: the first time a month after planting, and the second - during the budding period. That's all the trouble. As you can see, planting and caring for zinnias is not at all burdensome.

How to pinch zinnia. If you want the zinnias to bush, you need to pinch it over the third or fourth pair of leaves while still in the seedlings, although you can do this when the zinnias in the open field have already taken root and take root. But if you want to grow elegant flowers on long stalks for cutting, you don't need to pinch the zinnia.

 

Zinnia - diseases and pests

 

Zinnia pests. Of the pests of zinnia, aphids, May beetles, snails and slugs are most often annoyed. Gastropods are usually lured onto bowls of beer, placed here and there in the area, or pieces of slate or roofing material scattered between the plants, under which mollusks like to crawl. You will have to collect them manually. May beetles will also have to be collected by hand and dropped into a bucket of soapy water.Aphids are destroyed by spraying zinnias with a solution of tar soap at the rate of 10 g per liter of water, and in case of severe infection - with a solution of fufanon or actellik prepared in accordance with the instructions.

Zinnia disease. Of the diseases, infection of zinnia with gray mold, fusarium, bacterial spotting, but most often powdery mildew is possible. If at least one zinnia leaf is disfigured by gray-brown spots of a round shape left on the plant by bacterial spots, take action immediately: tear off the leaves that have traces of the disease, and in case of severe infection, destroy the entire plant - there is no cure for this disease. Gray rot and fusarium are treated with fungicides (Topsin-M, Fundazol), as well as powdery mildew, which appears as a white bloom on the ground parts of zinnia - Topaz, Skor, Topsin are more suitable to get rid of this scourge of fungicides. It must be said that diseases arise primarily due to violations of the rules for growing the plant, for example, due to too thick planting or excessive watering, so first diagnose the problem of zinnia, eliminate it, if possible, and then make work on the mistakes - re-read plant care rules, find and analyze the discrepancy between them and how things really are. This is the only way you can avoid trouble in the future.

 

Types and varieties of zinnia

 

Of more than twenty types of zinnia in culture, only four are grown: graceful zinnia, narrow-leaved zinnia, it is also Hage zinnia, fine-flowered zinnia and linearis zinnia. The first two species served as the basis for fruitful breeding work, and, thanks to its results, today we cultivate in our gardens not only the main species of zinnia, but also many excellent varieties and hybrids of this plant.

 

Zinnia graceful (Zinnia elegans)

Herbaceous annual up to 1 meter high and above with simple white, orange and pink inflorescences. The stem is straight, mostly not branched, rounded in cross section, densely pubescent with hard hairs, all shoots end in apical inflorescences-baskets. Leaves are sessile, entire, ovate, with a pointed tip, 5-7 cm long and 3-4.5 cm wide, the leaf surface is pubescent, like the stem. Inflorescences with a diameter of 5 to 16 cm, simple, semi-double and double, consist of ligulate flowers up to 4 cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide, painted in all sorts of colors, except for shades of blue, and middle, tubular flowers of yellow or reddish brown color ... Zinnia blooms graceful in June and can bloom until the very cold. In nature, it is most common in southern Mexico. In culture since 1796. Varieties and hybrids of graceful zinnia are classified according to several characteristics: according to the structure of the inflorescences, according to their shape, according to the height of the stem and according to the timing of flowering. In our climate, the following types of graceful zinnias are most often grown:

✿ Zinnia dahlia - vigorous shrubs, spreading or compact, 60 to 90 cm high with first-order shoots. The leaves are large - up to 12 cm long, the inflorescences are hemispherical, terry, up to 14 cm in diameter. Popular varieties: "Violet" - double zinnia 60-75 cm tall with dense inflorescences of different shades of purple, "Orange koenig" - on stems from 60 to 70 cm high bright red-orange terry inflorescences up to 14 cm in diameter, Polar bear - compact plant up to 65 cm high with densely double white inflorescences with greenish reflections.

✿ Zinnia midget, or zinnia pomponnaya is a compact branchy bushes no higher than 55 cm with a large number of shoots of the second, third and fourth order, small leaves and small, only up to 5 cm in diameter, inflorescences that resemble a pompom on a cap. Popular varieties: "Little Red Riding Hood" - a densely double variety up to 55 cm high with truncated-conical or rounded inflorescences of a bright red hue; "Tom Tumb" is a compact bush up to 45 cm in height with dense double red inflorescences in the form of a slightly flattened ball; "Tambelina" is a mixture of different shades with a bush height of up to 45 cm and a diameter of inflorescences from 4 to 6 cm.

✿ Zinnia fantasy - almost spherical compact bushes 50-65 cm high with large leaves and loose curly inflorescences, in which narrow ligulate flowers are rolled into tubes and bent in different directions, and at the ends some of them are bifurcated. Popular varieties: "Fantasy" - a bush up to 60 cm high with double loose inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter in different shades - purple, red, bright yellow, purple, red-orange, pink, white, salmon, etc .; "Gift" - bright red zinnia.

 

Zinnia haageana

Another name for zinnia angustifolia. It is an upright annual plant that forms branched bushes. Leaves are sessile, lanceolate or elongated, pointed. Inflorescences are small, simple or terry, bright orange. Popular varieties: "Glorienshine" - a highly branched bush up to 25 cm tall with double inflorescences, in which the ligulate flowers at the base are dark orange, and at the ends are red-brown; the series "Persian Carpet Mixed" with semi-double bicolored inflorescences of red with lemon, white, orange and yellow - a large array of this zinnia really looks like an oriental carpet. The English varieties "Starbright" and "Classic" have also gained fame - plants with inflorescences of white, yellow and orange tones up to 30 cm in height with a thin and weak, but strongly branching creeping stem. These zinnias are mostly used as ground cover plants. Zinnias of the Sombrero variety look nice on a flower bed - inflorescences of a red-brown hue with an orange border.

 

Zinnia tenuiflora

It is usually used to create landscape flower beds and is a shrub about 60 cm high with bent thin stems of a reddish hue. Inflorescences are small, up to 3 cm in diameter, ligulate flowers are narrow, bent, with twisted tips, purple in color. Popular variety: "Red Spider".

 

Zinnia linearis

This is the smallest of the cultivated species - branching, almost spherical bushes grow no higher than 35 cm. Linearis inflorescences are small, ligulate yellow flowers with an orange edge. Zinnia linearis is suitable for growing in pots, in balcony containers, on alpine slides and in small flower beds. Popular varieties: "Golden Eye" - a white center of tubular flowers, white ligulate flowers, similar to an ordinary chamomile; "Caramel" - the color of the reed flowers is caramel-yellow, the middle is black; "Yellow Star" - a variety with yellow inflorescences.

 

Many hybrids were bred from crossing the Haage zinnia and the graceful zinnia, in particular, the Profusion series, which is very popular among flower growers, - low bushes up to 35 cm, strewn with small multi-colored daisies. The series "Magellan" is also gaining popularity - bushes up to 35 cm high with densely double dahlia inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter of coral, cream, orange, pink, red, cherry, salmon and yellow colors. Recently, the Swizzle series has appeared in gardens, which so far consists of two varieties - Cherry Ivory with cherry baskets with cream-tipped reed flowers and Scarlett Yellow with red inflorescences and bright yellow tips.

Tips for caring for zinnia

Zinnia is a well-known decorative flowering plant called major among flower growers. For the first time this beauty was seen and seen by a scientist from Austria Karl Linnaeus. It was he who named the flower in honor of the German botanist Johann Zinn. From him Linnaeus received a surprisingly bright herbarium of the majors as a gift. So in the 18th century, zinnia began its journey around the world and today is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and beloved flowers. Many gardens and parks in Europe are adorned with the variegated caps of the majors' inflorescences. In the 20th century, new varieties of zinnia were bred by specialists on all continents of the world.

Interesting fact: from 1931 to 1957, zinnia was a symbol of the state of Indiana.

The main decorativeness and charm of the majors is in their grace, harmony and incredible beauty of flower hats. Today, there are approximately 22 known zinnia species, among which there are classic varieties and surprisingly original hybrids.

Homeland and appearance of zinnia

Mexico is considered the birthplace of the majors. There you can find both annual and perennial varieties, while in our latitudes zinnia is represented exclusively by annuals.

The most common type of flower in Russia is graceful zinnia. It is a rather powerful herb. The stem is rigid, erect, covered with a fringe. The majors grow in height from 30 centimeters to one meter. The leaves have an ovoid-pointed shape, also covered with an edge. Inflorescences come in different sizes: from 5 to 15 centimeters in diameter. The color of the inflorescences varies depending on the variety.

In general, zinnia is unpretentious and may well be grown by novice growers. The main thing is to choose a sunny place in the garden for the flower, well protected from drafts and winds. It is also important to regularly loosen the soil under the flowers and weed the weeds.

Watering mode

The watering regime for zinnia largely depends on the climatic conditions. The plant does not tolerate low temperatures, therefore, it is necessary to adjust the frequency and volume of watering depending on the temperature regime.

It is better to water the zinnia abundantly and rarely. Thus, water stagnation can be avoided, which has a detrimental effect on the root system.

Water must be poured at the root, preventing moisture from getting on the inflorescences so that the delicate zinnia petals do not start to rot.

As a rule, watering once a week will be sufficient for majors.

Illumination requirements

Zinnia is a heat-loving and drought-resistant plant. That is why it is better to choose bright, sunny areas for a flower, even with direct rays of the sun, and reliably protected from winds and drafts.

Temperature regime

Majors can easily tolerate high air temperatures. In the hottest weather, it is necessary to slightly increase watering, but do not water the plant more often, but pour more water per watering.

But frosts and low air temperatures are destructive for the majors. Gardeners recommend young home-grown zinnia seedlings to be planted in open ground only when the night frosts pass. The same goes for planting seeds in the garden.

Fertilizers and feeding

The rich and nutritious soil is a guarantee of long and lush flowering of the majors. Indeed, for the formation of buds and bright inflorescences, the plant needs strength. To this end, the soil should be fertilized regularly:

• After digging, it is necessary to add humus or compost to the soil, you can also use mineral fertilizers: superphosphate, potassium sulfate or nitrophoska. Nutrients are added to the soil at the rate of one tablespoon per square meter. Then the area under the zinnia must be loosened.
• During the flowering period of the plant, it is necessary to feed the zinnia with liquid mineral fertilizers once a week.

Zinnia - growing

Zinnia seedlings

Majors reproduce and grow in the only way - by seeds. This is a very exciting process that does not take much time and effort. In addition, the planting material of zinnia is large, it is convenient and easy to work with it.

The peculiarity of zinnia is in its rapid growth. You can see the first caps of the majors' inflorescences already two and a half months after sowing the seeds. You can admire the bright flowering throughout the summer, right up to the first frost. Young plants easily take root in the garden, no matter how they germinated - in the open field or in a seedling room.

Growing zinnia for seedlings

Many flower growers recommend planting seeds for seedlings at home no earlier than April, and this is due to certain reasons.

• On the seedlings planted in March, buds are already formed by the time they are transplanted into the open ground.A sharp change in the situation, climate can negatively affect the flowering of majors.
• Transporting large seedlings is much more difficult than transporting young plants.
• Large seedlings take up a lot of space in the house, which causes a lot of trouble and inconvenience to the owners.

What you need to plant seeds

1. Container. The container should be quite roomy, at least 10 cm deep.
2. Priming. An earthen mixture consisting of turf, leafy soil and peat is optimal for zinnia.
3. Glass or polyethylene.

Given the rapid growth of majors, seeds should be planted at least 2 centimeters apart. Planting depth - no more than a centimeter.

After planting, the ground must be well moistened and covered with glass or plastic. The first shoots will appear after three or four days, provided that the temperature in the room is maintained within the range of +24 - +26 degrees.

As soon as sprouts appear on the surface, the film or glass must be removed. During this period, it is important not to overdo it with soil moisture.

When the sprouts reach a height of 10 centimeters, they must be dived into separate containers. It is necessary to plant young zinnias in such a way that all part of the plants up to the cotyledons is underground.

For better rooting and branching of the root system, the root is pinched about 2 centimeters before planting in separate containers.

A few weeks before planting in open ground, seedlings begin to be accustomed to fresh air and outdoors. From about May 20, containers with seedlings must be taken out to the balcony in good weather. When the zinnia is sufficiently hardened, you can take the plants to the country and plant in the garden.

Landing majors in open ground

When planting zinnia in open ground, it is important to keep the distance between the seedlings. For tall varieties, you need to leave at least 40 centimeters, undersized varieties of majors grow at a distance of 20 centimeters.

A week later, when the zinnias get used to the new place, you can pinch the tops to make the bushes more branched.

Some growers pinch seedlings while growing at home above the fifth leaf.

Growing zinnia outdoors

This method is undoubtedly more convenient and much less hassle for gardeners. What's more, the seedlings are healthier and stronger outdoors.

The optimal period for planting seeds begins in the second half of May, when the threat of night frosts passes.

Seeds can be planted in any geometric pattern: in rows, in a circle, in a checkerboard pattern. The main thing is to take into account which varieties are planted so that the blooming flower bed looks beautiful and harmonious.

The depth of planting seeds is no more than one centimeter. The distance between the seeds is 10 centimeters. When 4-5 leaves appear on the seedlings, young plants can be thinned out and planted in another flower bed.

Zinnia - flowering

Zinnia flowers

The flowering period of the majors begins in June and lasts until the very frost.

The inflorescences of the majors differ in shape:

• Dahlia;
• Pompom;
• Chrysanthemum.

By plant height:

• High - up to a meter;
• Medium-sized - up to half a meter;
• Stunted - no more than 25 centimeters.

Also, the inflorescences of the majors are simple, semi-double and double.

The most common varieties of zinnia are:

• Graceful;
• Polar bear;
• Lavender;
• Carousel;
• Dream.

Diseases and pests of zinnia

If the garden is humid and cool, powdery mildew may form on the plant - a grayish-white bloom on the leaves and stems. It is important to reduce watering during this time.

Sometimes zinnia is attacked by pests:

• Aphid;
• Slugs;
• Snails.

Zinnia is also a great treat for May beetles. They need to be collected by hand.

The use of zinnia

Zinnia bouquet

Majors, first of all, are grown for the sake of bright, large, lush inflorescences that stand perfectly in a vase and decorate any bouquet.To keep the flower fresh longer, the cut site must be fired. The bouquet should be placed in hot water.

Flowers are best cut when the bud is three-quarters open.

If undersized varieties of majors grow in the garden, they can be dug up and planted in a flowerpot before frost. Thus, zinnia will delight with flowering at home for several more weeks.

Note to the florist

Questions most often asked by readers

Are zinnias afraid of cold?

Yes, return frosts and lower temperatures can cause plant death. That is why seedlings and seeds of majors are planted in open ground when all night frosts have passed and a constant air temperature has been established.

Many growers love zinnia or majors for their bright caps of inflorescences and unpretentious nature. The vast majority of varieties grow well in direct sunlight and do not require frequent watering. Not every flower can survive in such extreme conditions. The only thing that the majors do not like is low air temperatures. With proper care, the plant will bloom from early spring until the first frost.

here

The zinnia plant (Zinnia) is a member of the Astrov family. It is represented by perennial herbaceous plants and shrubs. The homeland of such a plant is Southern Mexico. This plant was named in honor of Johann Gottfried Zinn from Göttingen, a botanist, and also a pharmacologist, while he was director of the botanical garden, K. Linnaeus received herbarium material for research from him. The Aztecs began to grow zinnia from 1500 g, and on the territory of Europe this plant appeared only in the 18th century, while it almost immediately gained great popularity among gardeners, they decorated not only garden plots, but also aristocratic techniques. Already at the beginning of the twentieth century, zinnia could be found in almost every corner of the planet. Zinnia was even a symbol of the state of Indiana (USA) in 1931-1957. Today, there are about 20 different types of zinnia, as well as a large number of varieties and hybrids. This crop is so popular because it is very effective and undemanding to growing conditions.

Features of zinnia

The height of the zinnia bush directly depends on what type and variety it belongs to, and can vary from 0.2 to 1 meter. Sessile entire leaf plates have an ovoid shape, pointed towards the apex, they grow opposite or whorled, and on their surface there is pubescence, consisting of stiff hairs. Inflorescences are single apical baskets, which can reach 3–14 cm across, and are located on relatively long peduncles. The reed flowers in the baskets are placed tiled, while there can be one or several rows, they can be painted in different colors, for example, purple, yellow, white, orange or red. They cannot be painted only in various shades of blue. Small tubular central flowers in inflorescences are brown-red or yellow in color. The fruit is an achene with a tuft.

Flowering begins in the second half of June, and it ends with the first frosts. Zinnia is resistant to both drought and heat. It is grown as a spectacular garden plant, which is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, it also stands excellently in the cut. Zinnia perennial is grown only in those regions where winters are quite mild and warm. In the middle latitudes, this crop is grown only as an annual, because this plant dies even due to a slight and not very long frost. Gardeners call him a major. Rustic landscapes are increasingly popular in Europe, with annuals such as marigolds, marigolds, zinnias and chamomile being the main colors. It is also grown in flower beds with other more noble flowers.Also, zinnia is grown among vegetables in the garden, since it has the ability to stretch upward, while practically no shadow is created.

Growing zinnia from seeds

Sowing

Both perennial and annual zinnia can be propagated by seed (generative) method. Sowing seeds can be done directly in open soil, but only in those regions where the climate is mild, while there should be no frosts in May. In colder regions, zinnia is grown only through seedlings, because if the air temperature drops to at least minus 1 degree, then the seedlings will freeze. Gardeners with considerable experience are confident that the grown and hardened zinnia seedlings, after transplanting into open soil, will take root very well and start growing quickly.

Before starting sowing, the seeds should be prepared. To do this, they are wrapped in gauze or a rag that is well moistened with Epin's solution. This will help separate viable seeds from non-viable seeds. If the seeds are freshly harvested, they will hatch very quickly (after about two days). At the same time, old seeds will need about 7 days for this. In the last days of March or the first days of April, those seeds that turned out to be viable must be sown in peat pots filled with moistened soil mixture, 2 or 3 pieces each, while they need to be buried into the substrate by only 10 mm. It should be remembered that this plant reacts extremely negatively to picking, which is why it is recommended to use individual pots for sowing seeds. After the seeds are sown, the surface of the substrate must be moistened. Then the containers are transferred to a well-lit and warm (from 22 to 24 degrees) place. If the seeds are sown in compliance with all the recommendations, then the first seedlings should appear after a few days.

Seedling care

Zinnia seedlings are distinguished by the fact that they grow adventitious roots in a short time. In this regard, if the plants are stretched out, you will just need to add a small amount of soil mixture to the pots. You also need to remember that the seedlings simply need a bright diffused light, but if they are removed in partial shade, they will stretch out strongly, and their color will fade.

If the seedlings are thin, then this will avoid a dive, which the zinnia tolerates quite painfully. Before you start transplanting seedlings into open soil, they must be hardened. To do this, they are transferred to the street every day in the daytime, each time gradually increasing the duration of the procedure.

Planting zinnia in open ground

What time to plant

Experienced gardeners advise planting zinnia seedlings in open soil in the second half of May, but it should be borne in mind that return spring frosts should be left behind, since this culture is quite thermophilic. For landing, you should choose a well-lit area, which must have reliable protection from the wind. The soil should be fertile, well-drained and neutral. Before planting seedlings, the site must be prepared and, if possible, this must be done in the autumn. To do this, they dig it to a depth of 0.45 m, removing all weeds, while compost, deciduous humus or rotted manure must be added to the soil (per 1 square meter of the plot from 8 to 10 kilograms).

Landing features

When planting between the bushes, a distance of 0.3–0.35 meters must be observed. A flower is planted together with a peat pot or by transshipment. The planted plants will bloom in the first days of July.

Zinnia care in the garden

Taking care of your garden cinnamon is easy enough. Plantings need only be weeded in a timely manner, loosened the soil surface on the site, and also water abundantly, and this must be done at the root, since liquid should be excluded from the flowers.After the bushes bloom, they should be regularly examined in order to timely remove the flowers that have begun to fade. Zinnia's shoots are very strong, so there is no need to install a support or to tie them up.

Top dressing

After the seedlings appear and until the very planting in open soil, you need to make 3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. The bushes planted in the garden are fed with liquid manure or mineral fertilizers at least 2 times during the summer months. So, the first time the bushes need to be fed 4 weeks after they are planted in open soil, and the second procedure is carried out during the formation of buds.

How to pinch zinnia

Many gardeners do not know for sure whether zinnia needs to be pinched, and if so, when should this procedure be carried out? A pinch of zinnia is done so that the bush is more lush and beautiful. You can pinch it at the stage of growing seedlings or after the bushes have taken root after they are planted in open ground. To do this, pinch the plant over 3 or 4 leaf plates. If this procedure is not carried out, then you will grow spectacular flowers on long peduncles, which are very good at cutting.

Zinnia pests

Most often, this plant is harmed by May beetles, slugs, aphids and snails. To get rid of gastropods, it is recommended to use traps, so bowls placed in several places on the site that need to be filled with beer are perfect for this, as well as pieces of roofing material and slate scattered between the bushes, since it is under them that such pests are most often hiding. They are collected exclusively by hand. The annoying May beetles must also be hand picked and placed in a bucket filled with soapy water.

If aphids have settled on a bush, then to destroy it, it is necessary to use a solution of tar soap (for 1 bucket of water 100 grams), which is used to process them. If there are a lot of pests, then Actellik or Fufanon solution can be used to destroy them, in the manufacture of which you must follow the instructions.

Diseases of zinnia

Zinnia is most susceptible to diseases such as fusarium, gray rot, bacterial spotting. However, she is especially sick with powdery mildew.

Examine the bush. If you find at least one leaf plate on the surface of which there are brown-gray round specks, then this means that the plant is affected by bacterial specks. This disease is incurable. If the infection is not severe, then you can simply try to tear off all the affected leaf plates. If the disease is already running, then the bush should be dug up and burned as soon as possible.

For the treatment of powdery mildew (a whitish loose bloom forms on the surface of the bush), and also fusarium and gray rot, fungicidal preparations are used, for example: Fundazod or Topsin-M. Bushes affected by powdery mildew are recommended to be sprayed with Skor, Topaz or Topsin.

As a rule, zinnia gets sick due to the fact that the rules for caring for it have been violated. For example, the development of the disease can occur due to too abundant watering or overly dense planting. In this regard, when a disease appears, you must first understand what could have provoked its development. Then you need to try to eliminate all the existing violations in the care of such flowers, and then proceed to direct treatment. This will help prevent similar problems in the future.

Zinnia after flowering

Seed collection

Ripening of zinnia seeds, as a rule, is observed 8 weeks after the opening of the inflorescence. In this regard, experienced gardeners recommend to outline several inflorescences for collecting seeds from those that opened first. The best quality seeds ripen on inflorescences located on the first-order stems, in this regard, absolutely all lateral shoots must be cut off from the bushes you have noted.After the ripe flowers become brown, they are cut and dried. Then the seeds are extracted from them. When they are cleared of dry remains of the inflorescence, they must be removed to a dry place for storage, while there must be a constant temperature. The seeds remain viable for three or four years.

Wintering zinnia perennial

It was already mentioned above that in middle latitudes, zinnia is grown only as an annual. However, if the bush is grown in a pot or container, then it must be moved indoors in the autumn, and then the plant is looked after in the same way as indoor flowers. In this case, the zinnia will be grown as a perennial.

Types and varieties of zinnia with photos and names

In nature, there are more than 20 different types of zinnia, while only 4 of them are cultivated by gardeners, namely: narrow-leaved zinnia (zinnia Hage), graceful, fine-flowered and linearis. Breeders are especially careful with such varieties as graceful and narrow-leaved zinnia. Thanks to their painstaking work, a large number of excellent varieties and hybrids of zinnia were born, which today are grown with pleasure by gardeners from different countries.

Zinnia elegans

This herbaceous annual plant can grow to a height of 100 centimeters or more. Simple inflorescences can be colored orange, white or pink. Straight, as a rule, not branched shoots are rounded in cross-section, on their surface there is a pubescence, consisting of hard hairs. Apical inflorescences-baskets are formed on the upper parts of all stems. Entirely sessile leaf plates have an ovoid shape and a pointed apex. In length they reach from 50 to 70 millimeters, and in width - from 30 to 45 millimeters. There is also pubescence on the surface of the leaves. Inflorescences reach 5-16 centimeters across, they can be semi-double, simple and double. They include reed flowers, reaching 40 mm in length and 15 mm in width, they can have a variety of colors, but not blue. The composition also includes tubular median flowers, painted in brown-red or yellow. Flowering begins in June, and it ends with the first frosts. In the wild, this species is most common in southern Mexico. It has been cultivated since 1796. There are a large number of hybrids and varieties of this type of zinnia, which are classified according to several characteristics: the shape of the inflorescences and their structure, the timing of flowering and the height of the shoots. Zinnias are divided into early, middle and late according to flowering periods. According to the structure of inflorescences, all varieties are divided into double, simple and semi-double. According to the height of the shoots, this culture is divided into:

• zinnia high - the height of the shoots is from 0.6 to 0.9 meters, it is cultivated exclusively for cutting, because this plant looks very bulky in a flower bed;
• medium zinnia - the height of the stems is from 0.35 to 0.5 meters, grown in a flower bed, and also used for cutting;
• zinnia undersized, or dwarf - the stems reach 0.15-0.3 meters in height, as a rule, these plants are well-branching bushes, for the cultivation of which both a container or a pot and a flower bed in the garden are suitable.

According to the shape of the inflorescences, all varieties and hybrids are divided into 7 categories. The most popular categories in mid-latitudes are:

Zinnia dahlia

Powerful compact or spreading bushes in height can reach 0.6–0.9 m. Their shoots are of the first order. Large leaf plates are about 12 centimeters long. Terry hemispherical inflorescences reach about 14 centimeters in diameter. Varieties:

• Violet - a double variety, reaching a height of 0.6–0.75 m, dense inflorescences can be painted in a variety of shades of purple;
• Orange Koenig - the height of the bush is 0.6–0.7 m, double inflorescences reach 14 centimeters in diameter, and they are colored orange-red;
• polar bear - the height of a compact bush is about 0.65 m, inflorescences are densely double, they are painted white with a greenish tint.

Zinnia midget, or pomponnaya

The height of this branchy compact bush is no more than 0.55 m, it has many shoots of the second, third and fourth order. The leaf plates are small. The inflorescences are relatively small, so they reach only 50 mm in diameter, and they are similar in shape to a pompom on a cap. Varieties:

• Little Red Riding Hood - the height of the bush is about 0.55 m, densely double rich red inflorescences have a rounded or truncated-conical shape;
• Tom Tumb - the height of a compact bush is about 0.45 m, double dense inflorescences have a red color, and their shape is a slightly flattened ball;
• Tambelina - the height of the stems of the plants of this mixture is about 0.45 m, the inflorescences can be painted in different colors, and in diameter they reach 40–60 mm.

Ziniya fantasy

The height of compact bushes is almost spherical in shape, about 0.5–0.65 m. The leaf plates are large. Curly loose inflorescences consist of narrow reed flowers rolled into tubes and bent in various directions, some of them are bifurcated at the tips. Varieties:

• Fantasy - the height of the bush is about 0.6 m, loose double inflorescences reach 10 centimeters in diameter, they can have different colors, for example: red, purple, pink, salmon, purple, deep yellow, orange-red, white, etc.
• Present - the color of the inflorescences is deep red.

In other countries, the following are very popular:

1. Californian giant zinnia... The height of the shoots is about 100 centimeters and even more. Terry inflorescences reach 16 centimeters in diameter, ligulate flowers are placed tiled. Blooms late enough.
2. Zinnia giant cactus... The height of the bush is 0.75-0.9 m. In diameter, the double inflorescences reach 11 centimeters. Reed flowers are rolled into tubes, sometimes wavy with raised tips.
3. Zinnia super cactus... The height of the bush is about 0.6 m. The inflorescences are the same as those of cactus zinnia.
4. Zinnia scabiosa (anemone). The inflorescences reach 80 mm in diameter. The reed flowers are placed in 1 row around the middle, which consists of tubular flowers overgrown with corollas, which is why the middle is outwardly similar to the hemisphere. The middle is colored to match the reed flowers.

Zinnia haageana, or narrow-leaved zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia)

The homeland of this species is Mexico. This erect plant is an annual that forms branched bushes. Seated pointed leaf plates have an elongated or lanceolate shape. Small rich orange inflorescences can be double or simple. Varieties:

1. Glorienshine... The height of the highly branched bush is about 0.25 m. The inflorescences are double, the ligulate flowers at the base have a dark orange color, and at the tips they are brown-red.
2. Persian Carpet Mixed Series... Bicolor semi-double inflorescences have a red color with white, yellow, lemon or orange. Quite massive bushes look like an oriental carpet.
3. English varieties of Classic and Starbright... The height of the bush is about 0.3 m. The creeping, strongly branching stem is relatively thin and weak. Inflorescences are colored yellow, white or orange. This variety is grown, as a rule, as ground cover plants.
4. Sombrero... The variety is used to decorate flower beds. Brownish-red inflorescences have orange edging.

Zinnia tenuiflora

This type is most often used to form landscape flower beds. The height of the bush is about 0.6 m, thin geniculate shoots are painted in a pale red color. In diameter, small inflorescences reach 30 mm.Purple curved narrow ligulate flowers have twisted tips. Varieties: Red Spider.

Zinnia linearis

This type can be easily confused with narrow-leaved zinnia, because its leaf plates are thin and sharp, like the tips of nail scissors. This species is the smallest of those cultivated by gardeners. The spherical bushes reach a height of about 0.35 m.The inflorescences are also small. The yellow reed flowers have an orange edge. Such a flower is most often grown in balcony containers, in small flower beds, in pots and on alpine slides. Varieties:

1. Golden ai... Reed flowers are white. The middle is also white and consists of tubular flowers. The inflorescences are similar to chamomile.
2. Caramel... The middle is black, and the reed flowers are caramel yellow.
3. Yellow star... The inflorescences are yellow.

When crossing the Zinnia graceful and the Zinnia Haage, many hybrids were obtained. The most popular series is Profusion: the height of small bushes is about 0.35 m, they contain a large number of small daisies, painted in a variety of colors. The Magellan series is becoming more and more popular: the height of the bushes is about 0.35 m, the dahlia-like densely double inflorescences reach 10 centimeters in diameter, they can be painted in cream, pink, cherry, yellow, coral, orange, red and salmon color. Not so long ago, gardeners began to grow the Swizzle series, at the moment it includes only 2 varieties:

• Cherry Ivory - inflorescences have a cherry color, the tips of the reed flowers are cream;
• Scarlett Yellow - inflorescences are red with rich yellow tips.