Zinii planting and care in the open field before winter

Majors, they are also zinnias, decorate the flower bed with bright beautiful flowers throughout the summer season. Zinnia, planting and caring for which in the open field is not difficult, are grown by seeds and seedlings. Annual flowers give good seeds after flowering, which, when collected, get excellent planting material for the next year. To get large inflorescences and lush bushes, amateur gardeners use several rules for the care and cultivation of these plants.

Where to make a flower bed under zinnia

Proper cultivation of zinnia outdoors is impossible without a good planting site. The plant loves sunlight and warmth, so an open place is chosen for it.

It is important that large trees do not grow in the area of ​​the flower bed, giving abundant shade.

Signs of a suitable place for a flower bed:

• the land is loose and fertile;
• the place is well ventilated, but not blown through by drafts;
• the earth is well illuminated by the sun;
• the soil passes water well without retaining it.

Water should not stagnate in the ground, otherwise the roots of the plants will rot.

If the soil is too dense, sand or turf is added to it. This will improve the drainage properties of the soil.

Boarding time

To correctly determine the time when to plant zinnias in open ground, they are guided by the weather conditions. If the nights are cold, and there are frosts on the soil, it is worthwhile to wait. If the soil warms up well and the temperature does not drop below zero, flowers can be planted. Depending on the planting method, the most suitable month is chosen. For example, the end of April is chosen for planting seeds in open ground. If ready-made seedlings are planted in the ground, they choose a fine day in mid-May.

How to plant zinnias with seeds in the ground

The method of planting zinnia in the ground with seeds is more suitable for the southern regions of Russia. The climatic conditions of the regions contribute to the rapid heating of the soil. In order for the seeds to give strong shoots on time, flower growers use the following planting algorithm:

• the seeds are wrapped 5 days before planting in a warm cloth soaked in an epin solution for germination;
• choose a well-lit place for a flower bed;
• prepare the soil - loosen it, apply fertilizers (superphosphate) and sand to improve drainage properties;
• determine the planting scheme, most often the seeds are sown in a curly way (in the form of a circle, heart, chamomile);
• on the day of planting, all weeds and stones are removed from the flower bed;
• grooves are made in the ground and the hatched seeds are planted.

The groove for the majors should be made 4 cm deep, and the seeds should be placed at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Majors grow in this case larger and more bushy. If the seeds are placed too close in a row, the flowers will be smaller and weaker.

Prepared seeds germinate well. If they are not germinated in advance, half of the planting material may not germinate. After planting, the flower bed is watered through a spray bottle so as not to clog the soil. The next watering is done after the sprouts appear.

Planting zinnia seedlings

The second way is to plant zinnia in the ground in spring with seedlings. This method is suitable for any region, as it gives a guaranteed result. Seedlings are grown in advance and planted when a good temperature regime is established. The algorithm of actions in this case is the same as when planting seeds. The difference is that the seedlings are placed at a distance of 35 - 40 cm from each other, deepening by 5 - 6 cm. After planting, the seedlings are well watered.

When replanting young plants to a flower bed, you must not damage the roots and shoots. If the plant was in a peat pot, then it does not need to be removed - it is better to plant it directly in the pot.

When the planting of zinnia in open ground is completed, the flowers are cared for - watered abundantly, weeds are removed and fertilized.

How to care for zinnia

Caring for the grown majors' seedlings consists of five procedures:

• abundant watering;
• loosening dried soil;
• removing weeds;
• pinching shoots;
• fertilization.

In order for planting and caring for zinnia in the open field to give a good result, the flower bed is well watered. Instead of frequent but shallow watering, the plants are provided with regular and abundant watering. So they manage to be well saturated with moisture, while the earth between waterings has time to dry out, which does not allow the roots to rot.

You need to water the flowers at the root. If water gets into the axils of the shoots, they will begin to rot. If water gets on the buds, they will lose their aesthetic appearance.

The soil between the flowers turns into a dense crust. This happens regularly after good watering, when the soil dries out and hardens. The resulting crust does not allow air to flow to the roots of plants, which is why they develop worse. Therefore, between waterings, the soil is loosened, providing the root system with air access.

Weeds need to be removed regularly only at a time when the majors have not bloomed. Small plants are not able to absorb all the nutrients and moisture from the soil if weeds are growing nearby. It takes up nutrients, grows quickly and oppresses flowers. But once the zinnias have grown, they are not afraid of the weeds.

So that zinnias, planting, care and flowering in the open field of which are important for the gardener, grow into a lush bush. their tops must be cut off. If the goal is to grow a large flower with a long stem, the side shoots are cut off, and the top one is not pinched.

It is necessary to carry out top dressing only if the flowerbed with majors does not bloom for a long time or has a depressing appearance - yellow leaves, sluggish shoots. It is better to take liquid formulations with antifungal effect. Suitable, for example, "Gumat" or "Gumax".

Collection and storage of seeds

Planting zinnia and care in the open field before winter differs from the usual care by collecting seeds and preparing the beds for the new season. Ripening of a box with seeds lasts quite a long time - 50-60 days from the moment of flowering. If during the period of caring for plants, flower growers cut off wilted flower heads, then during the period of harvesting the seeds, the seed pods of strong and large plants are preserved. They can only be cut off when they are fully ripe.

Seeds are best collected from the top large flower. It is cut with scissors after ripening and dried. After the seeds are crushed into an envelope, signed and stored for the winter.

Zinnias are the main decoration of the flower bed.If properly cared for, they look royal, bloom profusely and grow quickly to the delight of the florist.

Video about planting zinnia seeds in open ground

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

Growing perennial zinnia 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 reproduce in a generative way similarly to annuals. 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 operations are 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-flowering 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 pre-heating of the roots, 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. Also, zinnia will be grateful for the preparation of a special loose substrate from leafy earth, sand and humus.

How and when to plant zinnia?

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

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 crop 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 purchase 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 its 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 grower will definitely 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 florists 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. At the end of March or the beginning of 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 diving well. At the end of May, in order for the planting of zinnia to be successful, the seedlings begin to harden, taking them out for some time in the fresh air during the day.

 

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 of emergence 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 zinnia is not at all onerous.

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 zinnias, 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 zinnia 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 rot, 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 manifests itself 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.

Not only chrysanthemums and asters are worthy representatives of the vast Astrov family, deserving frequent planting in their summer cottage. Cynias have a lesser degree of fame, but by no means less - attractive in terms of aesthetics and ease of caring for them. A flower can even grow in an apartment if he is provided with a large pot, where there will be no one besides him. But it is better to arrange zinnia in a flower bed, where she is able to sit for several years.

Zinnia: growing from seeds at home

In the middle lane, it is most reasonable to grow zinnia from seeds for seedlings, since the flower is very thermophilic, and the seeds will not hatch in cold ground. In the early stages, only residents of the southern regions can afford to work with a flower in the open field if spring comes early. At the same time, the sowing time varies each time depending on weather conditions. It is noteworthy that zinnia begins to bloom already in the middle of the 3rd month of its life, so even if you delay sowing a lot and think about it only in May, medium-sized buds will bloom on the flower bed by August.

Zinnia seeds are large, their germination rate has a high percentage of probability, as a result of which they are lowered into the ground one by one, deepening by 1-1.5 cm, keeping a distance of 3-5 cm, if a common box is chosen. But it is best to sow zinnia immediately in separate pots: for example, peat pots. For the same purpose, peat tablets can also be used: you do not have to untangle the roots of seedlings when picking, and the process of transplanting into open ground will be easier, and the likelihood of damage to the root system will significantly decrease. The term for sowing zinnia for seedlings is mid-March or early April. But if the spring has dragged on, you can shift these dates to the end of April. This is due to the fact that the seedlings are pulled out very quickly, and it is unreasonable to keep them in limited containers, which will negatively affect their further development, adaptation to open ground and flowering.

Soil for zinnia seeds is not much different from what is selected for other decorative flowering plants: peat is necessarily added to the garden soil, as well as a little sand, which will contribute to good air exchange. Peat in relation to the ground can have a ratio of 1: 1 - seedlings will approve of this. But for an adult plant, the amount of peat will have to be made smaller.If necessary, a little compost is added, although mineral fertilizers can also play its role, which some growers add to the soil when sowing zinnia. However, even without this step, the seeds hatch very quickly, and by the end of the 1st week, green shoots appear above the ground. But it is imperative to moisten the soil after sowing, as well as tighten it with a film in which several small holes are made with a needle. Too high humidity of zinnia seedlings is also not to your taste, and instead of airing it every 3-4 hours, it is wiser to make a natural air exchange.

The film is removed when shoots appear, i.e. 6-7 days after sowing. However, it is advisable to keep the cups or a box with seedlings for another 4-5 days in a shaded place, and only at the end of the 2nd week bring them closer to the window. If you sowed zinnias in a single container, they will need to be planted after the seedlings are 8-10 cm high. At the same time, they must be deepened by 1.5-2 cm. And if the picking is not done (the seedlings are sitting in single pots), then simply spud each plant, creating a small embankment near the stem. This is necessary for the appearance of adventitious shoots.

At the same time, it is required to carry out an initial pinching, removing the shoots on the main root at a level of 2 cm.In the future, pinching and pruning will be done often enough for the zinnia to bush well: the wider it is, the more attractive the plant looks. And, also, more abundant flowering. Often, at the same stage (age 12-14 days), young zinnia bushes are taken out onto the balcony or placed on the windowsill, where a window often opens for airing. The main thing is to take care of the closed door so as not to create a draft destructive for seedlings. The hardening procedure usually lasts 28-30 days, after which the zinnias are planted in open ground. The total waiting time before transplanting a flower should not exceed 35 days from the date of sowing.

If you wish, you can leave the zinnia in the apartment, but you will need to pick up a large (at least 30 cm) pot in diameter, since the plant loves space. But the depth of the container does not matter. Comfortable climatic conditions, up to protection from the winter cold, are also much easier to create indoors than in a summer cottage, which has a positive effect on the life span of zinnia.

Zinii: planting and care in the open field

If you wish, you can start growing zinnia immediately in the open field, but it will be sown in May when the ground warms up. For the southern regions this may be the end of April, for the Urals and Siberia - mid-May. Beforehand, it is worth soaking the seeds in Epin's solution to increase their resistance to possible light night frosts. Zinnias do not need growth stimulants - the plant hatches very quickly (after 7-10 days) and is gaining strength. And yet, on the timing of the beginning of flowering, such a move cannot but affect: the zinnias sown in the summer cottage bloom only in the middle of summer. If you want to see buds open earlier, plant zinnia in your greenhouse or greenhouse. However, after that, you will have to dive and transfer it to the flower bed.

In the open field, the seeds are usually buried deeper than when working with containers - by 4-5 cm, and up to 3 seeds can be planted in the nest at once. Here they will have enough free space, and a pick is not required, but several bushes form a more lush and attractive flower. But between the nests, you still need to maintain a distance of 30-35 cm, the same applies to the case if you want to plant seedlings.

Depending on what weather conditions prevail at the time of sowing, the need for additional protection of the seedlings appears or disappears. If there is a risk of cold nights, it is advisable to cover each hole in the evening with a kind of cap made from a plastic bottle or cardboard box, where several holes are punched for air exchange.Within 4-5 days after sowing, you can not even remove the cap during the day, but then its material should be transparent, otherwise the seedlings will be in the shade and will not rise as quickly as expected.

When to plant zinnias in open ground, if they were sown at home in containers? The term is the same as for sowing a flower: beginning or mid-May (15-17 days), if there is no frost. Zinnia will survive the temperature drop to 4 degrees at night, but it is undesirable for young seedlings to get into more uncomfortable conditions. If it so happens that you planted zinnia in the country, and the forecasters promised a cold night, the bushes need to either be wrapped in a covering material one by one, or to create a greenhouse over the flower bed with it.

Outdoor care for zinnia begins with the correct selection of the site on which it will grow. The place needs to be sunny, almost not shaded, and also not occupied by other large flowers. Zinnia can coexist with ground cover plants, but it is better to plant it alone, filling the remaining space with lawn grass. Placing bushes near walls and buildings is also not recommended - the slightest shading affects the abundance of flowering and the brightness of the petals.

However, the chemical composition of the soil will also affect the shade of foliage and flowers: zinnia is very responsive to fertilizers that should be applied before planting, before flowering, and in the middle of this period. You can resort to simple compost, you can buy special mineral fertilizers, and most professionals tend to the need to combine them. It has been proven that the brightest foliage and large flowers are in zinnia, which grows on fertile, rich land.

As for watering, its abundance is much more attractive to zinnia than drought, albeit short-lived. Excess water can be compensated by loosening the substrate, as well as adding a small amount of sand and drainage mixture to the bottom of the hole. A lack of moisture leads to the fact that the lower leaves of the zinnia dry out, and the flowers become smaller, and their number on the bush is reduced.

Planting zinnia and caring for it in the open field is within the power of every gardener: the seeds are unpretentious and have a high degree of germination, the seedlings develop quickly, young bushes with good lighting and frequent watering remain attractive until the coldest temperatures. And in order for the zinnia to bloom as long as possible, it is necessary to constantly remove the drying out inflorescences.