Flower Garden – Tips on Growing Zinnia From Seed

• Stage 1 Embryonic Root
• Germination temperature: 70 to 78°F
• Light is not required for germination.
• Start by using individual seed starting pots with a commercial seed-starting mix. Moisten the mix and let it drain. If you are using peat pots, sow three to four seeds in each pot.
• Cover the seeds lightly with a layer of mix or vermiculite and spritz the mix with enough water to moisten it slightly, or press seed gently into soil. Enclose the pots in a plastic bag closed with a twist tie to keep the mix from drying out while the seeds are germinating, or use a tray with a dome. Set the flat in a warm, bright location or under grow lights.
• Keep the growing medium at about 70-78F. Seedlings should emerge in 6 to 10 days. Remove the plastic cover and keep the mix evenly moist-not soggy-by watering the flat from the bottom to prevent water getting on the foliage.
• Stage 2 First Leaves
• Temperature:70 to 75°F days; 60 to 65° F nights.
• Media Moisture: Keep the media medium 
• Fertilizer: Apply fertilizer at rate 1 less than 100 ppm N/less than 0.7 EC with a nitrate-form fertilizer with low phosphorous.
• Stage 3 True Leaves
• Temperature: 70 to 75°F days; 60 to 65° F nights.
• Media Moisture: Keep the media medium wet
• Fertilizer: Increase the fertilizer rate to 2 -100 to 175 ppm. .7 to 1.2 EC)
• When the seedlings have at least two sets of true leaves, transplant them into individual 2 ¼-inch or larger pots. Provide as much sunlight as possible so the young plants do not get leggy from stretching reaching for the sun.
• Maintain a media pH of 5.8 to 6.2 and EC at 0.7 to 1.0 
•  Stage 4 To Finish
• Temperature: 65 to 70°F days; 60 to 65° F nights
• Fertilizer: Same as Stage 3.
• When the seedlings have two pairs of leaves, thin them to the correct spacing. If you carefully pull out the unwanted seedlings, you can transplant them to other parts of the garden. Otherwise, simply snip off the seedlings at ground level.
• Finish
• Temperature= Night: 60 to 65°F, Day: 65 to 70°F 
• Light: Keep light levels as high as possible while maintaining appropriate temperatures
• Total Growing Time (sow to flower) 11 to 12 weeks in Spring, 8 to 9 weeks in Summer Crop time will be shorter under long days than under short days. Plant zinnias outdoors when the weather and soil have warmed up, about the time you plant impatiens or peppers. Sowing seeds directly in the garden. Along with some other annuals such as marigolds, zinnias do very well if you sow them outdoors right where you want them to grow. Wait to sow until all danger of frost has passed and the air and soil are warm.

USDA Hardiness Zone -First Frost Date- Last Frost Date

• Zone 1  -July 15th -June 15th
• Zone 2  -August 15th- May 15th
• Zone 3  -September 15th May 15th
• Zone 4  -September 15th May 15th
• Zone 5  -October 15th April 15th
• Zone 6  -October 15th April 15th
• Zone 7  -October 15th April 15th
• Zone 8  -November 15th March 15th
• Zone 9  -December 15th February 15th
• Zone 10 -December 15th January 31st (sometimes earlier)
• Zone 11 _No frost. No frost.