presuming you have packaged seed..

read the package..

if it says 90 days to bloom ... that means your first bloom would be around 9/10 ...

then ask.. when is your first frost ... if you are in the north ... if its 10/1 ... whats the use ....

then you have all the issues of intense summer heat on small seedlings... if you are doing this in the ground ....

and then the intensity of summer sun versus spring sun ... and whether they will burn to a crisp ....

can it be done.. probably.. give it a try.. i learned more experimenting.. than i ever got from a book or the web .... and i tend to remember experiments longer than something i read ...

but i wouldnt get too wound up in it all ... depending.. again.. where you are in IL

now.. if your seeds will bloom in 30 to 45 days.. its another game altogether ...

the final thought is whether the seeds will be properly stored over winter.. and viable for proper planting time next spring .... or whether you will remember to do it then .. lol ...

aw.. what the heck.. wing it.. just do it.. report back ....

ken

Thanks!!

When planted in the warmth of late spring and early summer, many plants come to bloom size more quickly than those started earlier, regardless of what the package says. That's why you often see 'volunteers' under heat loving annuals blooming right along side their parents.

Now think about it. I am old enough to remember nearly everyone starting their annuals by seed. Greenhouses were for things like tomato plants and pelargoniums and usually run by sweet old codgers who were making a little copper from their hobby. In zone five it's not even safe to plant outside until after last frost. Zone five here will put you mid-may. IOW it's only been 25 days since it's safe to sow tender seeds outside. It's a lot 'earlier' than most people think. sigh. I get so weary of the mass merchandisers moving bedding plant season earlier and earlier. Twenty some years ago, when I first got into the business, June was a busy month. Nowadays, a week after Mother's Day folks are calling to see if plants are on clearance sale yet.

I say do it... Last year it was June when i started a big bed and by August i had a huge bed of annuals, with many in full bloom. I would say Anytime from mid May to mid June is best for Zone 4/5... before its just too cold (and dry this year).

I just started more zinnia seeds a week ago. I figured I'd enjoy having some fresh annuals in July. The little zinnia seedlings are about an inch tall now. I started them outdoors in a plastic container with drainage holes as I would when winter sowing, only without a lid.