Where do you get your zinnia seed from?

12 years ago

I had summer sowed a few packs of commercial zinnia seed in 4" pots, and today I got the healthy teenagers in the ground. As I was planting out pot and pots, I realized that none of the plants had any red tinge in the stem. It was suppose to be a mix of colors and if these turn out to b all pale, lifeless pastels, I am going to be so PO'd. I had this happen to me with trade seed one year. Said they were a mix and all came pale pink. That's when I stopped planting trade seed zinnias or even my own saved seed - - just too much cross polination or something. The only ones I save and trade are the profusion series, as they come tried and true every time.

Anyway, what is your best source for zinnia seed that you trust to come out the color (s) on the package? Do share...

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Comments (16)

bakemom_gw
12 years ago
There is a nursery out west that specializes in zinnias. I can't remember the name and have had no luck locating the site since. Maybe someone here knows what I am talking about and can help find the site. I'm sure they can answer your question.
User
12 years ago
I've never had a problem with Select Seeds' zinnias.
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I agree with Irisgirl about checking out Bakemom's Newbie Seed Project and also note that Trudi offers a continuing SASE with Wintersown.org. Check the Seed Exchange for SASE (SASBE) offers. And join one of the big swaps on the Round Robin Exchange (I recommend the Rare/Named/Unusual swap going on now - you'll need a few named cultivars for that). You may think "Oh, I can only contribute 5 packs of seeds", but you will get a guaranteed 5 different ones back, and if you state that you're a "newbie", most likely you'll get way more. A lot of us "vets" send in hundreds of seeds to the swaps, and beg the host not to send that many back - that means the host is grateful to have newbies to distribute the extra seeds to. Don't be afraid to indicate to a swap host that you'd be grateful for extras, and if you're so inclined, including a little extra postage in your bubble mailer is always a blessing for the swap host (although many of us vets include extra postage for distribution, so the host doesn't have to pick up the tab). Not only bang for the buck, seed trading is by far the most fun way to acquire a huge stash of new seeds. Then you can have fun looking them up on the 'net as far as growing requirements and what they'll look like. Have fun!
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Here I go, raving about this woman's site again. I can't help it: when I find someone who sells a LOT of high-germination rare seeds for VERY little (and is a good person and great resource), I just want to broadcast. I guess that makes me a gardener. Anyway, Diane's site has little Glassine envelopes at $1 for 20. I'll post the link down below. I usually spend $5 for a hundred, and that lasts forever. I use them for the teeny seeds, and just plain coin-envelopes (a couple of sizes) for the larger ones. She's in the USA, which is a bit of a pain in that you have to wait a week or so. Hope this helps. Here is a link that might be useful: glassine seed envelopes
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When a company is not mentioned as a favorite of many people, that's sort of a clue. It used to be really good, I thought, and I used to order a lot from that company. Nowadays, I don't order nearly as much from them as I once did. I am afraid their history of bankruptcy and financial issues seen to have ruined what once was a great company. For what it is worth, I did really like them back before all their troubles developed and I am hoping they will turn things around and become the strong, reliable company they used to be, and that's why I still order a few things from them every year. I'd like to see them get back on track. However, and I need to make this very clear, lately when they ship they are slower than Christmas so I never order any seed now that I expect to grow now. I'll order in spring for fall planting, for example, or order seed in the fall for planting next winter or spring. Other people may have had better experiences with them these last few years than I have. Bush Early Girl, and about a gazillion other tomato varieties are available from other sources, including the one I linked below....and this particular company has shipped faster than most others in the summer when I have ordered from them at this time of the year. Plants from the local greenhouse should be fine, unless they have been very rootbound for too long. I try to buy plants early enough after they have hit the shelves that they are fresh and haven't had time to get rootbound yet. Please note: if she is selling plants right now that are leftovers from the recommended planting time for spring tomatoes (April 10-30), I certainly wouldn't buy them. If they have been in the same pots that long, they're too rootbound for you to expect them to do well if planted in July. If I was in NE OK, I'd look for plants from Duck Creek Farms (check their website, it tells you which farmer's markets or garden shows they're scheduled to sell at this year) or from The Tomatoman's Daughter in Jenks. I am pickier about summer transplants than spring transplants. Most any tomato plant you buy in spring will adjust to being transplanted and will thrive as long as it isn't sick with a fatal illness when you buy it. In summer, with the extreme heat and all, plants that are not in superb shape at transplant time can struggle. The summer planting conditions are just a lot more challenging than spring planting conditions. There's also a Rate & Review Vendors forum here at GW. You could go there and see how folks feel about the seed company you mentioned. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: BEG at TGSC
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gardenweed_z6a
12 years ago
nan-6161 - selectseeds is just a few miles east of me. Want me to go buy you some zinnia seeds? (Hint, hint--looking for an excuse to go visit since I've never been and it's really close)

I normally don't do many full-sun annuals because I don't have much full sun in which to grow them but am intrigued by the profusion zinnias. Looks like they're low-growing and mounding which would suit me more than tall ones. Rather than steal nan-6161's thread, I'll start my own.
trovesoftrilliums
12 years ago
You could try a seller such as GeoSeed (a huge selection) or Johnny's Seed.

Goodluck!
kqcrna
12 years ago
I don't think I've ever had bad zinnia seeds from any company. Zinnias always sprout.

I stopped saving my own years ago, except profusions, because those always have come true to type and color for me. Others never did, too many disappointments.

Karen
ladyrose65
12 years ago
I had a not so good experience with the large red zinnia's. I got al least 5 pack from Burpees' (store) and 1 pack from Week (another store). I got like 3 seeds to germinate out of 6 packs.

I got great germination of the Benary's Giant from Swallowtail. I'm going to try them next season for the Red Zinnia's.
kqcrna
12 years ago
I like Swallowtail, both for zinnias and other seeds, too.

Karen
girlgroupgirl
12 years ago
I must say that some of the recent selections of zinnia seeds I bought from Swallowtail are very muddy and oddly colored. That is absolutely NOT Swallowtails fault - it is whomever selected these seeds to sell as a most stable cultivar. Because it certainly isn't. They are, however interesting and I am enjoying seeing how weird they start off. Some even "flower" without petals, just cones. An attractive feature of some plants, but for this zinnia? Not so much, lol!
terrene
12 years ago
This year I'm growing the biggest swath of tall Zinnias yet. The seeds are a mix of Cut & Come Again, State Fair, and some tall red ones. They are all commercial seed, purchased at stores off the seed racks.

I direct sowed them in early June, and they started blooming in mid-July. They are looking great, not a speck of mildew. The hummers and Swallowtail butterflies are already checking them out. Various shades of pink do seem to be the dominant color thus far.
ladyrose65
12 years ago
Terrene, the pink Zinnia's are the dominant colors in my garden with the exception of the orange, Bright Light Cosmos.
ordairygirl
12 years ago
I bought purple prince from dianeseeds and they are blooming now true to form, but only about half are double of the first blooms. One is a siamese zinnia with two heads...kind of interesting. I also bought Benary's giant from Johnny's seed and had a 90% germination rate in 3 days. These are doing great even though I seeded in late June, should be blooming in the next couple of weeks. This is my first year of growing them and I LOVE them. Lots of color to fill in a sparse bed.
spartangardener
12 years ago
The only cultivars I really like are state fair and profusion. State fair always germinates well from multiple sources, and the o ly problem I sometimes have with it is mildew (albeit in a hugely overgrown annual bed).
terrene
12 years ago
Spartan I love the State Fair too. They are tall, rich bright colors, and they have a lot of single and semi-double blooms. Many people like the doubles (like Benarys) but I actually prefer Zinnias with fewer petals, because they are easier for the butterflies and bees to nectar from.
paulan70
12 years ago
I get my zinnia seeds from a variety of places. Mainly i check out the catalogs and other seed sites and make a list of the ones i want then go trolling for them at the cheapest place I can find them. I eally like the swallowtail seeds site but the queen lime seeds I recieved from them did not germinate so I then ordered from ebay and got a 50% germination so at least I will be able to collect seeds from them.

As for saving my own seeds I do not mind waiting to see what I get. It might be less than the parent or who knows it might become a new favorite.

Paula
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
12 years ago
There is a lot of interest in zinnias at Annuals - GardenWeb. Five threads on the first page a few minutes ago. I do not follow zinnias so I cannot vouch for the quality of the posts but most read quite well.
mantis__oh
12 years ago
Had the some problem with Swallowtails as did girlgroupgirl. My State Fair mixes have been mainly purples and pinks; sometimes, the Benary mixes produce the same. I appreciate this post.

Where do you get your zinnia seed from?

Comments (16)

bakemom_gw

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