Zinnias would be killed by a frost. I wouldn't direct sow expensive zinnia seeds right now, but for relatively inexpensive zinnia seeds, it's probably worth taking the chance.

ZM

Thanks Zenman. I actually don't have any expensive zinnia. Mine is just the simple limelight colored flower.

I have another seed that I took in Wisconsin from a spent flower. The flower is yellow/pink. That I will direct sow after May 15.

Thanks for the idea. I will direct sow some tonight. :) I'll keep you posted.

Another question zenman, what variety of zinnia that has color orange petals with dark circle center? I'm in love with those. I'm looking for something that grows profusely and between 1ft to 2 ft.

Thanks!

zenman,

Here is a pic I took last year at Wyndham Hotel's back garden. It is an Orange Profusion Zinnia?

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Hi, guys. I have grown that zinnia for the last three years. It is Profusion FIRE. Great zinnia. Never fades, as some of the other profusions do.

Thanks for the id. Do you have some seeds that I can do seed exchange with? I have 4 o' clocks limelight, red castor beans, lime color zinnia. :)

Thanks!

v1rtu0s1ty,

"...what variety of zinnia that has color orange petals with dark circle center?"

From your description, I wasn't sure that you were thinking of Profusion, but it's good to know that you confirmed that in the picture. There is now a double version of Profusion Fire, but its centers don't appear to be darker.

Zinnia Zahara Double Fire is similar, but with larger flowers.

Zinnia Inca is larger still, as a cactus flowered zinnia.

Zinnia Whirligig has darker centers, but also with a two-colored or three-colored petal effect. Some strains are mostly single, but some strains are more fully double.

ZM

Thanks zenman! I'm thinking of ordering Profusion Fire from Park Seed. Normally, how many seeds does 1 packet have?

Any tips when direct sowing it to the ground? I remember I planted them in pot in a sunny location outside. I watered them lightly everyday. I didn't want to do it again to avoid transplant shock. I want to directly sow them to their final location.

Thanks!

Another question. How are zinnias going to perform if it will only get sunlight from 8am until 2pm?

v1rtu0s1ty,

"Normally, how many seeds does 1 packet have? "

Parks says their packets of Profusions contain 25 seeds. But that depends on the seed company and the variety.

"Any tips when direct sowing it to the ground?"

I usually start expensive seeds indoors in 3-inch square pots. Parks sells you 25 Profusion seeds for $2.95, which makes the seeds cost about 12 cents each. I don't want to risk seeds that cost several cents each to cutworms and such. My in-ground zinnia plantings consist of "cheap" commercial seeds or seeds that I have saved myself. Be sure to keep the seedbed moist, but not drowned, until the seedlings emerge. In warm weather, expect zinnia seedlings to emerge in 2 to 4 days. Zinnias like loose well-drained soil, so that their roots can "breathe". If the soil is water-logged, their roots will rot, and they will "drown".

"How are zinnias going to perform if it will only get sunlight from 8am until 2pm?"

Zinnias do prefer "full sun" and in partial sun they will tend to reach for more light by becoming spindly and weak. They will probably grow for you, but not very well in those conditions. I grew some in part sun last year, and they also showed more susceptibility to Powdery Mildew, so I sprayed them fairly frequently. This year I am going to select locations that have full sun, or very nearly full sun, for my outdoor zinnias.

ZM

What do you think about Park Seed? There is another company I saw that also sells zinnias. It's Swallow Tail. I bought from them last year and had a good germination rate of the seeds I bought from them.

Please let me know. I want to really get true profusion fire zinnia and profusion cherry seeds. :)

Thanks!

Virtuosity, Sorry I didn't check back. I did save seed, but not more than one or two have germinated, so you don't want mine. I have ordered Profusions from Nichols seed in the past. Their packet sizes are generous and their prices are lower than Parks. Good company. I use so many of these, that this year, I ordered them from Hazzards Seed. They come in packets of 250. They had yellow too.

v1rtu0s1ty,

"What do you think about Park Seed?"

I have purchased seed from Parks for many years, with no complaints. They may be a bit high priced (so are Burpees, and I buy from them too). This year I will be planting mostly seeds that I have saved, but in past years I have also relied on Johnny's Select Seeds, Harris Seeds, and Stokes Seeds.

The Parks online catalog variety descriptions are some of the best I have seen. Their copy writer or copy writers are some of the best, if not the best, in the business. Obviously, that is just my opinion.

ZM
(not associated with any product or vendor mentioned)