Plants Post

Sounds like we all needed a jumpstart for blogging! I thought I'd pick from one of Elizabeth's ideas and start with the gardening tips. So...a short post on growing zinnias. These flowers come in all varieties from daisy-looking giant ones to fuller flowers that resemble carnations. Also come in every color of the rainbow. They have a country charm, not sophisticated, but so hardy and colorful.

All you need is a husband (to dig up the beds), a couple bags of compost and manure (about 2 bucks a bag), seeds, and a trowel.

Plant in mid-May for a longer bloom time (later is fine, just won't bloom as long.) Plant in full sun. Zinnias were originally grown by the Aztecs in Mexico so they don't mind being baked! Dig up the beds about 6 inches down, and mix in the compost/manure. You might have to take some of the original dirt out to make room. Be generous with the compost, since this is what guarantees you good growth, and then the beds are ready for next season's planting too. Then...sprinkle your seeds in rows if you're picky, scatter them if you're not. Either way they'll grow (and actually look better clustered.) Then stir up the top inch or so with your trowel to cover the seeds.

Water VERY liberally. The first watering is the most important!

Then, water a little every two days or so and wait. The plants germinate in a couple of days. If I remember right we had blooms within 3-4 weeks. The cool thing is you get blooms all summer long!

These things are so hardy, that when I put some in a vase and forgot about them, they started to grow roots into the water! We've had a couple of storms that washed out their roots, and instead of dying, they somehow re-rooted themselves. Which makes me wonder, maybe they're a weed??

And couldn't resist posting a couple from the yard....the potted plants and the yellow marigolds are from my shower. Also the white impatiens.