Zinnias: A Cutting Garden Classic For North Texas

An old-fashioned garden flower, zinnias have been grown in the U.S. since the 18th century. Easily grown by seed, zinnias bloom reliably through the summer making them a wonderful cut flower. Learn how to grow zinnias in your Texas garden.

Start zinnias by seed.

In North Texas, plant zinnias by seeding directly in the garden starting in April. Plant zinnia seeds again in July for a fall flush of blooms. Space seeds according to the directions on the seed packet for that particular variety.

Plant size can vary greatly. For classic cutting varieties (not compact bedding varieties), I plant each seed 12 inches apart.

Improve your soil.

Zinnias perform best in beds amended with some compost and expanded shale. Compost improves fertility, and expanded shale improves drainage. Expanded shale is available at Redenta’s and Nicholson-Hardie.

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03/08/2024 07:20 am GMT

“Pinch” to encourage bushier plants.

Once your zinnias reach 12 inches high, snip off the growing tip. This is called “pinching”. Pinching zinnias encourages branching. Branching increases the number of flowers. It also makes a stockier plant that won’t need staking.

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Cut zinnia flowers frequently.

Remember: the more you cut, the more zinnias will bloom. Harvest flowers regularly to keep the plant productive. Always remove any spent blooms.

Watch for powdery mildew.

Newer zinnia varieties resist powdery mildew, but heirloom varieties are susceptible to powdery mildew late in the season.

Use cultural practices to prevent mildew damage. Give plants plenty of space to increase air circulation. Only water in the morning, and avoid getting water on the plant leaves.

Change vase water frequently.

Zinnias are called “dirty flowers”. They quickly turn vase water into a murky mess. Change vase water daily for best results. Consider adding a floral preservative to your vase water as well.

Pick the best varieties for North Texas.

Zinnia seeds are available at most Dallas garden centers like Nicholson-Hardie, North Haven Gardens, Redenta’s and Calloway’s.

My favorite online sources for zinnia seeds are Botanical Interests, Swallowtail Seeds and Johnny’s Seeds.

The varieties that do best in North Texas are the Benary’s Giant series and Cactus types.

Double-flowered zinnias like Zinderella tend to be unreliable in our climate. I grew Zinderellas for three summers but never achieved the desired results.

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Rolling, feathery petals are spectacular in bouquets and as garden adornments. At 4"–6" wide, this is one of the largest zinnias available! Double and semi-double blooms in brilliant shades of pink, white, red, orange, and yellow. 

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Callie Works-Leary

Founder of The Dallas Garden School, Callie is an expert garden educator with 17 years of personal and professional gardening experience. She specializes in growing food, small-space gardening, managing community gardens, and plant propagation. She has an MBA from Southern Methodist University, a bachelor's degree from Skidmore College, and served as a horticulture intern for the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Callie is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, The Herb Society of America, the National Garden Bureau, and is a Certified Texas Master Gardener.

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