Enjoy Zinnia Flowers During the Fall Season

  

Just because the summer season is coming to an end it does not mean that you cannot enjoy beautiful flowers during the fall season.  There are many flowers that you can plant in September that will add color and interest to your fall containers or feature gardens.

I love Zinnias, do you?.

 Zinnia flowers will add interest to your feature gardens and some zinnias can be grown in containers.  Dwarf zinnias are best for container gardens. 

Here are photographs of zinnia flowers 

The dwarf zinnias come in a variety of colors and will bloom continuously during the fall season and until there is a hard frost.  You would just need to provide your zinnias with at least 8 hours of sun daily and water when the soil is dry to the touch. Plus deadhead all spent flowers and your zinnia plant will give you repetitive blooms. 

This year I sowed zinnia seeds in the spring and then again in mid-August. The flower germinated quickly in the warm soil.   I have been deadheading the spent blooms to encourage new growth and more flowers.  All of the zinnias are still blooming in my end-summer garden.

 Even in cooler weather, the zinnia does not bolt.  Our weather is warm mid 70’s during the day and cool low 50’s at night.  As long as my zinnia gets sun throughout the day they will continue to bloom until a hard frost.

After a hard frost, I will cut back the zinnia plants and deadhead any remaining flowerheads as this is a way to collect seeds for the next spring season planting. Or you can buy seeds online or at your local garden center.

Zinnia Flowers for Sun Gardens

Zinnia flowers are the perfect choice for sun gardens as these flowers like it hot and will brighten your yard and garden from summer to fall. 

Every year I shop online at parkseeds.com and will buy seeds in bulk if they are avaialbe.  I grow zinnia flowers in the masses because they remind me of growing up and picking the flowers from my Dad's garden.

Zinnia flowers have a long bloom time and  they are a maintenance free flower that provides repeat blooms that brightens my gardens. 

As a kid I recall seeing the zinnias growing along the side of our chain link fence and they did flourish.  There was some afternoon part shade that prevented them from baking in the 100+ temperatures.   

I like the way the zinnias look when they are grown as a border along a fence but I have a wood fence and need to grow the zinnia  two to three feet away from the wood fence to make sure flowers get adequate air flow. 

One way to plant zinnias is to plant them in a garden with purple coneflowers or scarlet red bee balm.  The purple and red are eye appealing contrast colors that will accent your zinnia flowers.

Another way to grow zinnias is to plant them in containers.  As long as you meet zinnias growing requirements; full sun, hot weather, well drained soil, and watered in the morning at the soil level with drip irrigation then you can grow zinnias easily from seed.

Image credit by Vallian

Planting zinnias by growing the flower seed indoors on a sunny windowsill or under a grow light. When the zinnia seedlings are three inches in height, and the danger of spring frosts has passed then transplant them outside.

Grow  Zinnia CALIFORNIA GIANT Flower From Seed

Caring for Zinnias

Apply one inch of mulch around the stem to help aid in moisture control and to deter weeds.  
Care for zinnias by watering them in the morning with drip irrigation as it is not wise to get water on the leaves.  
Plant zinnias in an area where there is good air flow. Zinnias are susceptible to powdery mildew.

Learn more about growing zinnia flowers from seed by viewing this YouTube.com garden tips video: