On one hand, growing zinnias is so easy that astronauts actually managed to bloom them on the International Space Station back in 2016! On the other hand, these beauties are originally from Mexico, which means they love their warmth. To get the best results, you’ll want to give them a head start indoors before letting them shine in your garden.
Grabbing Your Seeds
First things first: you’re going to need some seeds. You can easily find them at your local garden center or through online shops. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even harvest seeds from your own plants at the end of the season. Just a heads-up, though—the flower colors might be a surprise! Since you can’t always be sure which plant did the pollinating, the “babies” might look a bit different than the “parents.”
How to Start Your Seeds Like a Pro
The best time to start your zinnia journey is in February. Here’s the step-by-step game plan:
- Fill your starter pots with a low-nutrient seed-starting mix.
- Place a maximum of three seeds in each pot.
- Make sure to space the seeds at least two inches apart.
- Lightly cover the seeds with a bit of soil. Zinnias are “dark germinators,” meaning they need that cover to wake up.
- Find a nice, warm spot on a windowsill for your pots.
- Use a lid or plastic cover to keep humidity in, but leave a tiny gap for airflow so you don’t run into any mold issues.
If all goes well, you should see those little green sprouts popping up within eight to ten days.
Moving Outdoors
Don’t be in too much of a rush to move them outside! Wait until the threat of frost has completely passed—usually toward the end of May. While you *could* technically sow the seeds directly into your garden beds, our spring weather can be pretty unpredictable. Starting them indoors is a much safer bet for a garden full of vibrant blooms.
