There’s a zinnia for every gardener — and this is the month to plant them

Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow as they bloom heavily and grow quickly. They have bright, solitary, daisy-like flower heads on a single, erect stem, which makes them great for use as a cutting flower or food for butterflies.

Single-flowered zinnias have a single row of petals and a visible center. Double-flowered zinnias have numerous rows of petals, and their centers are not visible. Semi-double-flowered zinnias are somewhere in between, with numerous rows of petals but visible centers.

The plants grow to different heights. Taller varieties are best for the background of a garden bed, while shorter varieties work well along a border.

Thumbelina zinnias are a dwarf variety of this popular flower standing only 5 inches tall with petals barely more than an inch across. To achieve a full-size flower on a compact plant, try the Dreamland zinnias with stems 8 to 12 inches tall and double flowers up to 4 inches across in a wide range of colors. State Fair zinnias are the tallest with double flowers 3 inches across on stems that grow to 30 inches.

Zinnias are available in every color of the rainbow including striped varieties like Peppermint Stick zinnias with red and white stripes or Bon-Bon zinnias with pink and white stripes. Some varieties have different colors on the same petal, like Sombrero zinnias with hot pink and yellow or Queen Lime Orange zinnias in shades of orange, yellow and green.

In Pinal County, zinnias bloom from April through November and should be planted outdoors in February and March. Shade cloth may be necessary during the extreme summer heat. Seeds can be started indoors or bedding plants can be purchased at the garden center, but selection will be limited.

For the best variety, look for seeds in the type and color you desire. Zinnias like rich soil and do well in pots or in the garden bed. As with most annuals, they benefit from regular applications of a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Zinnias need ample water, but they don’t like to get their leaves wet, so drip irrigation is preferred. For maximum blooms, cut out the center stem when the plant displays three or four side shoots. This early pruning encourages multiple flower stems rather than just one.

Zinnias should be cut when the petals open and the stem is stiff. They make wonderful cut flowers for bouquets and harvesting them often will encourage new blooms.

Zinnias can produce a massive burst of color in your garden, so consider trying them this year. There’s really a zinnia for every gardener.