LOOK at the SIZE of those things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mine are still so puny and teeny tiny, but they are doing well. Just starting to get some heat here, so I expect them to take off.

Before I continue, I have to say your gardens are BEEEEAUTIFUL! That is so nice. I'm marking your place down for when I win the lottery and go on a major gardens tour of whatever gardens I want to visit. Truly gorgeous!

I saw Profusions for the first time last year and was stunned by them. They just seem to keep going and going like the battery bunny. Do you know if they come true from seed? I have the orange, but might buy a couple more for the gardens and collect different colours.

tiff - you will be hooked on profusions. That whole area will be filled with no dirt showing. They just go on and on - especially in the heat. Mine were also teeny tiny a couple of weeks ago and then we got really hot and they took off.

I don't like my edging in that part of the gardens. Some of the stones/slates are too big - but that's all I had around the house to use. This week I am going to look for some "mark downs" at a stone center and get smaller ones, similar to some in the picture.

True from seed? Well, last year they were, and hopefully this year also. Sometimes, the harvested seeds grow just a bit taller than packaged seeds, but basically so far here - no major difference.

Thanks, again - Carrie (PS This picture was taken two weeks ago - look how small they were then....)

{{gwi:399480}}

Pretty gardens Carrie. Love your color combinations. I just scattered some Prof. Zin. seeds so I am WAY behind! Bought some Magellan Zinnias this year because seed wasn't available, now I'll have some seed. The new Magellan Zinnias are short, bushy but the blooms are big. I was only able to find red, yellow and pink. really wanted white too but didn't find any in my area.
Be sure to post pictures as that area blooms in "profusion".
Tina

Thanks, Tina

You know if it wasn't for YOU... I wouldn't have known about the profusions (or even wintersowing for that matter), so let it be known.... trowelgal has sure been helpful to me!!

Carrie

You are too kind Carrie. I have enjoyed getting to know you as you started your "winter sowing journey". I am also a fan of the Profusions, we get so much from one tiny seed it is a miracle to watch. I save seed every year and it always performs beautifully. May have to plant more tomorrow after seeing yours. You go girl, you are doing a great job!
Tina

Hey you all I just joined garden forums today after lurking for 6 months. Have a real interest in WSowing and to think I had never heard of it until I found garden web. Anyway I saw Profusion Zinnias in Gatlinburg 3 weeks ago in full bloom. The coral is to die for. I had a severe case of plant envy.
VB

Hey Carrie,
Way to go on the zinnias. I am actually glad I saw this today! I was out in my garden separating seedlings into the garden. Mine are still itty bitty, so I'd love some advice and answers. First of all, do you direct sow at all or do you ws them all? When do you start yours? zinnias need to be warmer, right? I started all mine after frost danger, and started tons of seeds. BUT, all the ones I have transplanted into the garden have stagnated and something is eating lots of them. No idea what. Do you transplant seedlings into smaller containers, let them grow there for a bit, then into the garden?
This has been my first year wintersowing and the interesting thing has been that I got great germination. The challenge has been getting things to grow and thrive in the garden after that. I wonder if I need to transplant into smaller containers and let things get a little bigger before putting them right into the actual garden. I've been putting them right into the garden.
My zinnias are only one of my frustrations as I've had this same problem with other seedlings. I love zinnias, have started TONS of seeds, but only have five or six now in the garden that look like they are going to take off. ugh!
How do you do it? would love to learn from you!

threeorangeboys

Okay, here's what I do. I don't do my zinnias until I know there is no chance of frost or near frost temps. Since they are so important to me, if I did have seeds planted in their cups and there was a chance of temps falling below 32, I bring them in for the night. That's what I do and it's done no harm to them.

Anyway, they germinate pretty fast - I put two seeds to a styrofoam cup (with holes in the bottom) ... When I decided to plant them out, I think they only had two leaves, but it's better if they have four. Here's something I learned about them. If both seeds germinate in the cup - you can easily separate them. They are very strong - but... you need a deeper container if you don't plan on planting them out right away because they have longish roots. This year, my timing was right. I waited until it was continually warm when I sowed them, so there was no waiting to plant them out.

Now, here's the problems I encounter in this border (pictures shown). The border is in full sun, so when I plant out the seedlings, I cover them (after watering) with vented baskets. Yes, it looks really stupid (I bought purple ones... at least they are pretty) and then I uncover them in the evening. I put toothpicks, sluggo near and around them, but hey, you never know what's going to eat them at night. Sometimes, I lose one, but I always have backups to replace them.

Last year, I must have moved about 10 clumps (during the early morning but still in the summer) and they transplanted really well. Of course, it is much better to have a plan, which I didn't have last year. Hopefully, I won't have to move any around this year.

They love the heat. They are small for a good bit of time and then they just take off. Hopefully, you will have good luck - please let us know!!

Carrie - PS - They do great in a planter too!

{{gwi:399481}}

Carrie, you rock. Thanks so much for telling me all about your process. I think maybe the sluggo is a good tip. Something is eating them here. Is sluggo safe for cats? I think that has been my major problem. I separated some yesterday, into larger containers. I think I'll let them get a bit bigger in the containers before planting them out. I wish I had done that with my previous ones. I planted out some of the light green zinnias which I was so excited about, but I think they have been munched to the ground.
I'll let you know how it progresses. Thanks again!