Soil
Any sunny site with good drainage.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
None. Zinnias cannot tolerate cold temperatures.
Feeding
Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting. In midsummer, drench plants with a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer to stimulate strong reblooming.
Companions
Dill, Beans, Swiss Chard, Cosmos and Zucchini. Dill, fennel and other upright herbs, bush snap beans, chard. Tall, single-flowered varieties attract butterflies.
Spacing
Single Plants: 11″ (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11″ (30cm) with 11″ (30cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Plant zinnias in late spring, after the last frost has passed and the soil is warm. Start seeds indoors in individual containers, set out purchased plants, or direct-sow into warm soil. Poke seeds into the soil about one-half inch (1 cm) deep and 3 inches (8 cm) apart. Thin to 12 inches (30 cm) apart in all directions for dwarf varieties. Zinnia varieties that grow more than 24 inches (60) cm) tall require 18 inches (45 cm) between plants.
Notes
Frequent cutting of blossoms helps many varieties to rebloom constantly for many weeks. Butterflies prefer flat, single zinnia blossoms over “double” varieties that are packed with petals.
Harvesting
Gather zinnias for use in arrangements just as the petals open. The true flowers are the tiny yellow florets, which pump out nectar for butterflies.
Troubleshooting
Older zinnias often become infected with powdery mildew. Pull up and compost diseased plants. Many hybrids offer some resistance to powdery mildew.
