This is my first year sowing Zinnias directly too. In the past I put them into little peat pellets, let them grow a couple weeks and then put them out. They where always magnificent, the envy of the neighbourhood! Then, last year we where selling the house, and I forgot to get them started. Around June, the agent told me that I needed more "colour" in the garden, so off to the nursery I went to buy my sure fire Zinnias, already started for me! I spent a fortune on them, they where in 4 or 5 inch pots, and almost 8 inches high when I planted them and the result was... PITIFUL! Those poor flowers struggled and clumg for dear life the whole growing season! So, I have become a big believer that direct sown, or sown very closely after germinating is indeed best! since you have so many seeds, I would perhaps throw down some seed when you think you "might" get away with it. but hold some back for the next few weeks, and overseed... This way if frost does get the first bunch, you will have more to try! I have not adivce for birds, but if the seed is burried or raked in, chances are I would think they would leave it alone. As for frost, my mother lives in a zone 1. (Yeah, not a typo). The thing all the old ladies do with their plants, because they do manage to grow things in those 50-75 days they can... is throw a blanket over anything that is frost sensitive for the night if the weather threatens. They all keep a stack of "garden blankets" handy. It is very easy then to cover large areas, quickly, with little fussing! And has worked with excellent results for as long as they can remember!

I have that same type of clay soil and to get seeds growing in it is sometimes difficult especially in full sun. If the mulching trick suggestion doesn't work you can always ammend your soil with maybe some topsoil or even potting soil. What I have to do is actually grow my plants in my make shift growing area that I incorporated from a few winter sowers. It consist of a pan and water bottles I cut my water bottles in half and on the bottom for vents and add soil and seeds I water by just putting water in the pan. Granted it is not direct sowing but I seem to have my best luck with either growing my seeds this way or in my afternoon shade beds then transplanting. Trying to keep up with watering a seedling in full sun is not fun and they need the moisture or they will not grow. By the way I think from your first frost date you should have plenty of time to grow and collect seeds from your plant before your frost hits.

I've always ds'ed lettuce and spinach and carrots and so forth in the veggie garden - but it is a bit more level. Also, I protect the row of carrots with a board on top until they sprout. Keeps them moist. The alyssum I ds'ed a couple weeks ago is sprouting - thanks in part, no doubt, to DH misting his grass seed every evening and including my flower seeds! (Have to have him keep that up for the seeds I put out last night!) I roughed the soil a bit and then patted them down after scattering, for good contact. I will ds the four o'clocks and the remainder of the dill and marigold seeds. I already ws'ed some of them. I have huge new beds to fill this year and need to get busy with more planting out, too. Lots of snapdragons, BB, candytuft, cosmos, etc. that have their true leaves in the jugs. No frost forecast the next 10 days here, so we may be clear to go! Thanks for all the input!

For the past few year I had been both buying by the flat for started seedlings and then doing some of my own. Bought cut and come again zinnia plantlets and then last year I started State Farm Zinnias myself. Years ago when I was more organized I always started the seed myself. I love the cactus flowered ones and the tiny pom pom ones also. I never heard of staggering zinnia plantings. I just plant them and trim them back some and they always continue blooming no matter what kind I have. This year I bought two flats of State Farm Zinnias and planted in an empty area in a gardenbed I am working on in the from yard. I want all summer color and zinnias will give you plenty of that. Any of you grow roses and spray them with a fungicide? Heres a tip then, spray your zinnias with the same thing you use on your roses and they will not get powdery mildrew.