Planting Zinnas outdoors

I have Zinna seeds sprouting under my indoor lights. Is it too early to plant them out? I am in Zone 8.

When is your last frost date?

Good question, Jen.

I'd also be careful not to plant them outside until they are taller than recently germinated and you've hardened them off well.

Zinnias are in the sunflower family, and you are 2 zones warmer than I. Any day now should be alright to plant seeds outside. (:^) Luciee

behillman - according to DG, your actually in zone 9a (unless you have moved) which is what I'm in. I usually plant my zinnia seed right out in the garden bed. They sprout and grow fairly quickly.

our last frost date was March 6.

if you arent sure, you can check here, just enter your zipcode :

check your local frost date http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/

Thanks everyone. I will be planting my seeds out today.

Just an update on my Zinna seeds. I planted some seeds outside & they are coming up beautifully. What is the best way to protect them if a heavy rain comes our way. Should I shore them up with some soil or mulch? It seems that every time my flowers finally bloom, we get a heavy rain, & it destroys my long awaited blooms.

Cover with standard black nursery pots anchored with a brick or a rock.

i'm zone 5 and my poor zinnias can't wait to get outside. :( supposed to snow this week though...

Great that you're having success with Zinnias. I am in zone 10 (coastal San Diego) and I planted some zinnia seeds outside and a few came up, but most got eaten my bugs. The only two that survived are growing but SO slowly. We still get down to the mid 50s at night. We've been in mid 60s for like a week in the day. I think when it's not been that great of weather, I kept the seedlings too set. We'll see what happens.

Z

I direct sowed my zinnias 2 weeks ago and they're starting to pop up! :)

That's terrific, OH! When they are direct seeded they seem to be so much stronger than transplants.

I'm looking forward to summer since i planted a mix of California giants! :) can't wait to see what sprouts.

Let's hope it's a very breezy summer so you won't have mildew worries. Some years are worse than others and air circulation is critical but we have no way to control the weather.

Oh my gosh we've had record rain already! Before the incident with the dog i was noticing some black spot on my peace rose, don Juan seemed ok though

When I've had blackspot I have removed every single leaf since it looks so awful. Other prominent rose growers do the exact same thing. You won't believe how fast new leaves grow...within the week.

I've heard spreading cornmeal around the roses helps with the black spot. http://www.dirtdoctor.com/newforum/root/black-spot-problems-on-roses-t7227.html It's a fungus. I was told to use the soaker hose if I had to water them to keep from splashing up on the leaves. Another suggestion for the heavy rain which works with hardening off seedlings too, turn laundry baskets upside down and anchor with rocks to help protect them. Helps keeps the birds from getting the seeds too but unfortunately keeps sun off....just a question of which is more necessary.

Would the cornmeal work around the zinnias?

OutlawHeart-
It's supposed to help your whole yard. Even used as a weed deterrent in some cases. It somehow keeps the fungus in check regardless of what it's on. Here is a link that explains it better than I can http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garden/view_question/id/18/

Wouldn't this attract animals?

After spreading it you should water it thoroughly and this will help keep that from happening OutlawHeart. It also helps get the process going.

Wow, this is great info. Thanks! Hopefully i can score some, plus manure from the neighbors farm. I'll let you know how it works out.

Make sure any manure you use is aged or it will burn the roots of plants.

Yeah, i plan to get the oldest i can, for compost. As far as my zinnias go, i seem to have lost a few. :( like literally lost, i think something ate them, cause they aren't all there....

Could be cutworms, earwigs, slugs/snails, etc.

Next time you sow seeds outside put a clean metal can (like a soup can), open at both ends, over the area and see if that helps.

My opinion.............. Zinnias.. scatter them , plant them 1/4 inch deep. Bad soil. They grow just about anywhere in ridiculous conditions. Just for fun I scatter planted over 100 seeds in various heat and soil temps back in Feb.
I must have at least 30 blooming and 30 more with buds. The ones in "undesirable locations....... Yea, sprouted, but leggy,,,blooms on the way.
Like "nike said"
Just do it.

Glad I could help OutlawHeart, so many people have given me great advice on here I always try to help if I can. I'm using the cornmeal on my roses and hollyhocks although I may have started too late for the hollyhocks. They said it was best used as a preventative measure on them since they're so prone to rust. Oh well, I'll be prepared next year!
I started my zinnias in the greenhouse, not knowing they would do so good direct sown. They were leggy at first but now in the ground are going like crazy. Next year, if they don't self seed like I'm told they do so well, I will just throw some out there and let them do their own thing. Cosmos too.