How to Grow Zinnias in Kentucky

Zinnias are a wide and varied group of colorful and hardy plants. Originating from Mexico, they are adaptable to a wide range of climates and can be successfully grown between hardiness zones 3 to 10 of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's hardiness scale. The state of Kentucky has a suitable climate for growing these plants, being in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 6b. Zinnias are a simple plant to grow as long as weather conditions allow, and they produce colorful annual flowers.

Organic compost
Hand trowel
Watering can
Organic fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Mix organic compost 50:50 into the soil in which the zinnia seeds are going to be planted. The soil should be moderately loose and well drained.
- 2
  Poke small, finger-sized holes in the soil about 1/4 of an inch deep and about 1 inch apart.
- 3
  Drop a single zinnia seed into each hole and cover it over loosely with soil, then water thoroughly. Not all of the seeds will germinate, but once they begin to sprout the plants may need to be thinned out so that each one has 6 to 12 inches of growing room.
- 4
  Water the flowers regularly during Kentucky's warmer, drier weeks, but not to excess. The soil only has to be moist, not wet, as once the plants are established they can handle moderate drought conditions.
- 5
  Lay mulch around the flowers once they have grown to a few inches in height to keep weeds from growing around them.
- 6
  Fertilize with an organic fertilizer once a month during the peak spring and summer growing seasons.

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