soak zinnia seeds before planting

Seeds can be planted indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and the seedlings can be easily transplanted into your outdoor garden later on. Remember that germination is less successful in cold soil. Moreover, it is best to soak dried seeds in water for 4-6 hours before planting.

What seeds should be soaked before planting?

In the vegetable garden, this means peas, beans, corn, pumpkins and squash; even chard and beets. Smaller seeds — lettuce, radishes, carrots, and the like — are hard to handle once their soaked and don't really need it anyway. Flower seed to soak? Sunflower, lupine, sweet pea, nasturtium take well to soaking.

How do you germinate a zinnia seed?

Sow seeds evenly 12 inches apart and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil. Firm soil lightly with your hand, water and keep evenly moist. Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days. Thin seedlings to stand 8-24 inches apart, depending on the variety, when they are about 1-2 inches tall.

Should I soak my seeds before planting them?

It is recommended that you only soak most seeds for 12 to 24 hours and no more than 48 hours. ... After soaking your seeds, they can be planted as directed. The benefit of soaking seeds before planting is that your germination time will be reduced, which means you can have happy, growing plants faster.

How long does it take for zinnia seeds to sprout?

You'll see zinnia seedlings in only 4 to 7 days for most varieties, though it will be anywhere from several weeks to a couple months before blooms appear (depending on planting site and climate). When seedlings reach three inches tall, thin them so that they're 6 to 18 inches apart to maximize air circulation.

How do you start seeds in egg cartons?

An easy solution is to cut off the container lid and put it under the bottom of the carton. Poke holes in the bottom of each egg cup and any moisture will drain out and into the lid underneath. Fill each egg cup with potting soil and place seeds in to the appropriate depth.

Do good seeds float or sink?

One method to check for seed viability is the water test. Take the seeds and place them in a container of water. Let the seeds sit for 15 minutes. If the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, discard, because they probably will not sprout.

What month do you plant zinnia seeds?

Planting: Plant zinnias in spring after all danger of frost has passed, around the same time you'd plant tomatoes. Zinnias are easy to grow directly-seeded into the garden. For sooner blooms, start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date.

How late can I plant zinnia seeds?

I plan succession plantings commencing in late May and continue through about the first week of July. This guarantees showy blooms through late September. It is not too late to plant a few zinnia seeds for late summer color that will last until the first frost.

Do zinnias self seed?

Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) reseed easily, creating a cut-and-come-again garden each summer. ... Zinnia haageana "Persian Carpet" and Zinnia elegans "State Fair" and "Liliput" are a few of the heirloom varieties that grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 1 through 10 and reseed each year.

How can you make seeds germinate faster?

One easy way to make seeds germinate faster is to presoak them for 24 hours in a shallow container filled with hot tap water. Water will penetrate the seed coat and cause the embryos inside to plump up. Don't soak them for longer than 24 hours because they could rot. Plant the seeds immediately in moist soil.

How do you germinate seeds indoors?

How to Start Vegetable Seeds Indoors

Purchase your seeds from a trusted source. ...
Pot with seed-starting mix. ...
Make sure your containers have drainage holes. ...
Plant seeds at the proper depth. ...
After sowing, set the containers in a warm location. ...
Keep seed-starting mix moist. ...
As soon as seedlings emerge, place pots in a bright location.

Can you plant apple seeds from store bought apples?

If you want to experiment and see what you might get, it's possible to grow your own tree from the seeds in any store-bought apple. ... Because apples come from temperate climates, the planted pots need to be stratified (kept cool and moist) for a couple of months before they'll germinate.

How often should I water zinnia seeds?

Mist the bed twice daily until the seeds germinate. * Water zinnias at ground level to prevent fungus. Once they are 3 to 4 inches high, water them deeply a couple of times a week, depending on weather. Zinnias aren't drought tolerant, but they like their soil a little on the dry side.

Do zinnias need full sun?

Zinnias' pointy seeds, shaped like little arrowheads, require only basic garden prep to sprout: sow them in well-drained soil, where there's full sun and lots of summer heat, and you'll have tiny seedlings in days, with flowers powering up in just a few weeks.

Are zinnias good in pots?

Zinnias are colorful additions to any flower garden, they're great for cutting, they are easy to grow and start from seed, so they make a great choice for container gardening.

What is the cheapest way to start seeds indoors?

Use Yoplait Kids Plastic Cups/ or any other item in your kitchen to start your seeds indoors. Use Plastic wrap over each of your homemade containers until your seed sprouts to keep in the warmth. Use Seed Starting Soil Mix– it's lighter. The other stuff may work or it may not.

Can you start seeds in Styrofoam egg cartons?

Styrofoam egg cartons can be used as well; however, remove the plant from the styrofoam carton before transplanting because it does not break down in the soil. ... Yes, they too can be used to germinate seed and the shell can be planted right along with the plant.

Can you use plastic egg cartons to start seeds?

You can use any plastic egg carton to make this planter. The best would be one with a clear top and individual egg holding spaces on the bottom. After finding your carton, gather a sterile, light weight, fine particle soil mix to improve your chances of success. I use a pre-mixed seed starting mix to make things easy.

Will 10 year old seeds germinate?

The answer is, yes, seeds will eventually go bad and no longer germinate, but it can take quite a long time. There is a good chance that those old seed packets will have a high percentage of seeds that will germinate just fine. ... And even a group of very old seeds may have 10 or 20 percent that still sprouts.

How do you know if zinnia seeds are good?

Once the flower heads are completely brown and dry, grasp the petals and pull them out of the center of the flower. You should see seeds clinging to the ends of those petals. The seeds will be arrowhead-shaped, pointed on one end and broader on the other, each having a raised spine running up its back.

Can you germinate seeds in a glass of water?

In general, there are three ways to germinate cannabis seeds: - In a cup of water - On a damp surface - In soil. My favorite way to germinate the seeds is to put them in a cup of water and then between a damp paper towel.