Zinnia
At least 3 species native toMexico, and many garden varieties makepopular garden annuals for summer bloom withflower heads almost any color except blue andgreen. Plants range in site from the dwarfvarieties, less than a foot high, to tall plants over3 ft. high. Flowers range in site from 1-45 in.depending on the variety. This group is one ofthe easiest of all garden annuals to grow. Seedgerminates quickly in 4-5 days and should beplanted indoors only about 3-4 weeks beforethey are set out. If sown outdoors, sow just assoon as all danger of frost is over. They canbe easily transplanted and should be thinnedaccording to variety and height in order toallow each plant plenty of room to developproperly. Pinching, to produce busy plants, isnot as essential as with many other gardenannuals, especially if the first flowers arepicked. Oct has a wealth of varieties andcolors from which to choose, for with “Dahlia-flowered”, “Cactus-flowered Giant”, “Super-giant”, -Fantasy”, “Liliput”, “Tom Thumb”and “Persian Carpet- strains there are manyavailable. It is suggested that the gardener studyhis seed catalogue carefully to select those typesand colors which he wishes to grow. Many areavailable and usually are colorfully illustrated inevery seed catalogue.
Insect Pests
Stalk borer occasionally tunnels the stems and kills the plant above the burrow.Cutting out and killing the borer is usually sufficient. Japanese beetle feeds on Zinnia. Tarnished plant bug stings the buds and cripples the growth. Insecticide # 15 or#5 is effective.
Diseases
In late summer powdery mildew produces white felt like patches on the leaves which disfigure the plants. Fungicide #M or #V inweekly applications gives control.
angustifolia 1′ annual Narrowleaf Zinnia
Leaves linear to lanceolate, flower heads 2 in.across and golden yellow, profusely produced;each ray flower has a margin of orange. The plant is densely branched. A popular garden annual, easily grown, profuse flowering and native to Mexico.
elegans 3′ annual Common Zinnia
Sometimes called “Youth and Old Age,” this isthe Common Zinnia with hairy leaves, flowerheads up to 4 1/2 in. across and almost every color except blue and green. The habit of all the varieties is fairly stiff. Many horticultural varieties, shapes and colors.
grandifiora 8″ Zone 4 Rocky Mountain Zinnia
A small perennial from the Rockies, with clumps of stiff stems and narrow, hairy leaves.The yellow flowers are similar to the Daisy, but with age the ray flowers turn white while the disk flowers turn red. It requires a loose gravelly soil in full sun. Native from Colo. to Tex.
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