I may want to winter/spring sow zinnias. I've read in a couple places that zinnias don't do well transplanted. For several years I've bought them in six packs from local nurseries and never had any problems. But maybe little seedlings are different.

I have direct sowed them with moderate success. I just find it hard to keep the darn things properly watered as seedlings "out in the field" so to speak. And the rabbits do like to munch on them.

So, anyone have any experience winter sowing them and how did they transplant?

TIA

Hi, Jennifer:

I've "wintersowed" them as annual (i.e. I start them in late March/early April for transplant in mid-May). I think that is what you are considering "spring sowing". I've not found them to be particularly fussy about transplanting, and they seem to bloom earlier than those direct-sown.

I love zinnias, and grow several varieties in my cutting garden. What type(s) are you growing?

Linda

Hi Linda,

I LOVE zinnias too! I really have tooooo many seeds. But I really want to "spring" wintersow them. Still I am already way over my head on what is already planted.

This is what I have:
Tons of seeds my mom saved
Aztec Sunset (my favorite small kind)
Zahara Starlight Rose
Benary's Giant Formula Mix
Sunbow Mix
Burpeeana Giant Mix
Cherry and Ivory Swizzle
Peppermint
Envy
Scabiosa mix
Cut and Come Again
Pinwheel mix
Cactus Mix Improved (free sample!)
Whirlygig Mix

Yep, that is just my zinnia seeds! Sometimes I wish I still had four acres

Wow, That's a lot of zinnias. I didn't notice issues with transplanting them either. I had winter sowed some years ago too and that worked out fine too.

These were winter sown last spring.





Don

I do them every year, WSowing method in spring. Never had any transplant problems, they generally do great. In case of frost after they sprout, I do cover them with a blanket overnight.

Just be prepared for the fact that, when you plant them in May or so, they'll still be tiny, not like the big, robust blooming plants at nurseries. But when the summer warmth arrives they'll take off and grow and bloom beautifully.

Profusions, July of last year.


Karen

Zinnia's finicky? Absolutely NOT. I've transplanted and re-transplanted them numerous times! The key to transplanting any plant, including finicky ones is to make a template in the soil with whatever pot/container they are in then just plop whatever in without breaking up the rootball - all they'll notice is that they have "bigger shoes".

I will agree ... never had any problems transplanting... and usually wait to sow.. but have done them now and like Karen protected them if they germinated and frost is coming

Wrote a longish post and then lost it. grrr! Here's the shortened version:

I had read...somewhere...that disturbing the roots of double zinnias when transplanting might make them revert to singles. Recommendations were to sow them in individual cells or peat pots--which is not part of the process of winter/spring sowing.

Googled the premise and saw it in several sites, including this one:

http://books.google.com/books?...


If the link doesn't work, it's from the Seed Starters Handbook.

But then, how much "disturbance" is too much?

From what I read, it's the tap root you don't want to disturb. That seems a bit strange to me because I start my zinnias in a communal pots then transplant to their permanent home all the time and have never seen that happen in any of the ones I planted .. I just might do a little experiment this summer.

I grow zinnia's from seed in cell packs and transplant them and have never had problems.

Interesting--I've never heard that as a reason for doubles reverting to singles. On the other hand, I've never paid much attention to it either. I think i need to pay more attention this year when I transplant my zinnias.

No trouble here either. In fact, it's been several years since I've direct-sown zinnia.

me too

Since I usually wintersow zinnias in a milk jug, I tend to beat the heck out of the roots trying to separate and transplant. Never noticed them reverting form, but I don't pay much attention either. They survive though.

Karen