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Avatar for ZenMan
Feb 22, 2019 4:01 PM CST
Name: ZenMan
Kansas (Zone 5b)
Kansas 5b
Annuals Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: United States of America Seed Starter Keeper of Poultry Hybridizer
Hummingbirder Dragonflies Garden Photography Butterflies Zinnias Garden Ideas: Level 2
Hi Thomas,

So, basically you are wondering when to plant your zinnia seeds before a statistical safe last frost date this Spring. The sooner you plant them, the larger they will be when it is "safe" to set them in the ground indoors. There is a relatively low probability that the safe last frost date will come early in the Spring, and increasingly higher probabilities that it will come later in the Spring.

Apparently my climate is cooler than yours, which means my safe last frost date will come after yours. But "safe" is relative, and there is a good chance that one or both of us might set out zinnias on a "safe" date, and then have a killing frost come a week or so later. Anything weather dependent tends to be a gamble.

I planted some zinnias today that I plan to set out in my garden after about April 15th, which is about 60% safe here. April 30th is not absolutely safe here--there is maybe a 5% chance of a killing frost on May 1st or later for here. I live in a rural area, so there isn't any weather/climate data for right here, but I can interpolate data from two or three nearby places that do have weather data.

With a little adjustment in my growing conditions, I can grow a zinnia longer than I planned without re-potting it.
Thumb of 2019-02-22/ZenMan/60e674 Thumb of 2019-02-22/ZenMan/cc74a6
Those were way too tall for those 3.25-inch pots, so I did re-pot them to 5-inch pots.

The point of all this is that you do have quite a bit of leeway in when you plant your zinnias for a Spring plant-out.

ZM
I tip my hat to you.
Avatar for thommesM
Feb 23, 2019 11:28 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Thomas Mitchell
Central Ohio (Zone 6a)
Composter
Composter
@ZenMan
Thanks for the info. I'll have to read up on zinnias. I've grown them but always bought them as plants and planted after last frost. Off to look at that link you provided!
Everyone has something they can teach; everyone has something they can learn.

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Feb 23, 2019 2:08 PM CST
Name: Mary
Glendale, Arizona (Zone 9b)
Region: Arizona Enjoys or suffers hot summers Seed Starter Roses Plumerias Morning Glories
Hummingbirder Composter Cat Lover Vegetable Grower
Thank You! @ZenMan
I always learn something new when I read your posts.

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