zinnia

[fi]

any tips on growing big zinnias. i grow the giant variety from sarah raven but they never grow as big as i expect. i usually set the seeds in plugs. have sown direct this year and they look stronger. 

[fi]

[sunloving]

Hi Fi
I have the same problem. I think its that they are so tender that a poor start like the last few years (to cold and dry in spring) means that they dont put on enough growth to be as big as hers down south.

I'm considering growing them in the GH in big pots earlier. I can get the lilliput ones to do brilliant but the dahlia flowered not so much.

So same here cant get them to thrive !
x sunloving

[GrannieAnnie]

Zinnias bloom earlier in a pot than in the cold ground so I plant them in both. (this is in Delaware)
One per pot or the flowers will be smaller.
Maybe planting them in a black plastic mulch would help you heat up the ground.
I grow the big shaggy ones and also an F1 hybrid  "Uproar Rose" sometimes- a big round-petal ball, very sturdy.

[Squash64]

I grow Zinnias every year, always the 'big' ones as they make such a lovely display with hardly any care.  I never have to stake them and hardly ever water them even when it's really dry.
I start them off in cells in the greenhouse in April and plant them out when there is no danger of frost any more. I've never tried sowing direct though.

What variety have you grown?

[Squash64]

Some of my zinnias today

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[GrannieAnnie]

Pretty! Not shy colors.  They look big to me- or else your hand is terribly tiny!

[Squash64]

Pretty! Not shy colors.  They look big to me- or else your hand is terribly tiny!

  ;D

[GrannieAnnie]

Squash64, my fuscia zinnia for comparison ;D

[Squash64]

It is beautiful GrannieAnnie, lovely colour. 

[GrannieAnnie]

It is beautiful GrannieAnnie, lovely colour. 

Same color as yours but I like yours better with that  little circle of yellow flowers in the center- gives it more punch.