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Clinton Gardeners giving away zinnia seeds

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By Alma Gaul | Friday, May 09, 2008 | No comments posted

In an effort to beautify Clinton County — and this summer’s fair — Master Gardeners are giving away packets of zinnia seeds that they hope people will plant.

The project was inspired by a similar effort last year in Silvis, Ill., that was spearheaded by the Silvis Garden Club, Clinton County Master Gardener Bill Gustafson said.

“If you don’t plant any other annual this year, do yourself a favor and plant zinnias,” he said. “When browsing through seed catalogues, the quotes might seem extravagant: ‘Easy to grow,’ ‘The brightest colors in my garden,’ ‘Longest-blooming’ and ‘Most reliable.’

“But because we know those quotes are true, we have named the zinnia as our ‘flower of the year.’ ”

The Master Gardeners bought a pound of zinnia seeds — that’s a lot of seed! — and divided it into zip-lock plastic packets with zinnia information attached.

As a sidelight to the project, Master Gardeners are encouraging people to plant some of the seeds in five-gallon buckets. Then, at fair time, they’ll be asked to take the blooming buckets to DeWitt, where they will be placed around the fairgrounds to make it more attractive. (Gardeners will get their buckets back.)

The Master Gardeners also will offer educational programs on zinnias, their origin and history, uses, and how to plant and care for them.

The zinnia is a colorful annual that does best in full sun. It blooms in assorted colors from June to frost and reaches an average height of 2 to 2½ feet.

Seeds should be sown after the danger of frost is past (early to mid-May) to a depth of one-fourth to one-half of an inch in well-drained soil, with one seed approximately every square foot, Gustafson said. Lightly rake the seedbed. Gently water the seeds, making sure the ground is soaked. Seeds will germinate in five to 14 days and bloom six to seven weeks later.

To reduce the likelihood of fungus and mildew (unfortunate characteristics of zinnias), allow for good air circulation around each plant and apply fertilizer and water close to the soil, not overhead. Harvest spent blooms (deadhead) regularly to encourage more blossoms.

Bloom types include single, double, cactus, dahlia, ruffled and pompon.

“The incomparably bold colors of the zinnia can make the difference between a so-so garden bed and a spectacular one,” Gustafson said.

“You can use them as ‘backer plants’, filler for bare spots in the perennial garden or massed in a garden all their own,” he said. “And indoors they make a long-lasting cut flower.”

Alma Gaul can be contacted at (563) 383-2324 or agaul@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

FOR MORE INFO

If you would like a free packet of zinnia seeds, stop in at the Clinton County Extension office, 331 E. 8th St., DeWitt, Iowa; the Bickelhaupt Arboretum, 340 S. 14th St., Clinton; or any Master Gardener event.

For more information, call the Extension office at (563) 659-5125.