Can Zinnias Be Saved Over the Winter?

Over Wintering Zinnias

• Zinnias, like marigolds, cockscomb and many garden variety of fruits and vegetables, exist as true annuals, living an entire life cycle in a matter of weeks or months. Unfortunately, this true-annual growth habit makes it impossible to over winter zinnias. Just like a hard frost, bringing zinnias inside results in the death of the plant. Resourceful gardeners harvest and dry spent seed, saving them for planting the following spring.

Zinnia Propagation and Care

• Even though you cannot save zinnias for replanting, this annual bloom grows easily from seed. Couple that with the fact that zinnias grow in almost the entire United States and you have probably found as perfect an annual as possible. Sow zinnia seed in moist, well-drained soil in a sunny area of the lawn or garden after all chance of frost has passed in your area. Cover the seed with ¼ inch of fine soil and expect seedlings within 10 days. Although deadheading spent flowers is not necessary with zinnias, do so to encourage repeat flowering.

Over Wintering Other Annuals

• You can save some herbaceous annuals such as impatiens and coleus over the winter. To save herbaceous annuals through the winter months, cut or dig the plants before the first killing frost and place the stem cuttings in water, or cut the dug plants back by half and plant the resulting vegetation in a soilless peat mixture. From there, set either the water vessel or the pot in a sunny window. These annuals will thrive and root, creating an inexpensive alternative for an early summer flower garden.

Considerations

• Since zinnias are native to Mexico, they tolerate heat and moderate drought conditions easier than other annuals. Zinnias range from 6 to 36 inches in height and flower from late spring to early fall. Popular color choices include orange, pink, lavender, white, yellow and red. You can also choose from single, semi-double or double flower forms and special bicolor cultivars for added interest in the zinnia bed. Good air circulation helps stave off fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and leaf spot that bother zinnias, especially at the end of a wet summer season. Use zinnias for borders, containers, cottage gardens and as perpetual cut flowers for your dining-room table.