Growing zinnia from seed-potting out

Hi all,

I'm growing my first flowers from seed this year and i went for zinnia. I started them inside in a seed tray then transplanted them to individual 9cm pots as shown in attached image. I've been keeping them in the garage overnight then bringing them outside during the day. They have a pair of true leaves at least, how much more development do you think there should be before i transfer them to their final container. Their growth is quite slow i would say, they germinated maybe a month ago! I'm wondering if their growth is being hampered by these pots or if they're big enough for them to grow bigger before moving them.

I know zinnia don't like root disturbance but hard to avoid i would have thought..

Thanks for the help!

 

I've got a few zinnia on the go,they are hardening off now.
I'd keep them in the pots another couple of weeks , snails are dining on mine ATM.

 

Let them grow taller before planting out, mine are slow this year with the erratic temperatures. The slugs and snails love them so don't be in a hurry to plant out.

 

The size of the pots looks fine, they can stay in them for a couple of weeks until ready to plant out. I'd give them a weak liquid feed once a week to give them a boost though, any general fertiliser would do.

 

Thanks all, seems to be consensus which is good to see. Whats your trigger to plant out? 2, 4, 6 pairs of true leaves? warming weather conditions?

We have a lot of slugs about at the moment too, i've been gambling leaving the zinnia out while i'm at work worried to return to find them eaten but it hasn't happened yet, they're just eating everything else in sight!

 

Wait until they are 'almost' rootbound. A quick check on a couple to see rootball by up-ending into a protected hand. Root disturbance is to be avoided so allow to partially dry out before release, thereby enabling planting intact strait from the pot. Thoroughly 'puddle' them in.
Bait slugs beforehand (pellets) or moist oatmeal, accompanied by a twilight patrol (armed!) Everyone despatched is one less. Repeat after planting until you cant find any 5 nights in succession.
Do you intend to stop them,ie pinch out the centre)?

 

I've just moved mine, with other seedlings onto the black membrane I have over on the veg patch, some of the trays had some giant snails hiding underneath, nothing tender is g oing to survive this year if we cant at least get one dry week.

 

Thanks all, makes sense. I'm getting the sense slugs/snails are bad this year? I have no prior experience.. I thought it was just our area for some reason. I planted out some correopsis plugs in the border that i bought from a supermarket in april, my assumption was they could go straight in the ground which i did and they were basically eaten in days, i've protected them now but i think they might be past the point of no return. You live and learn and plant labels could have been better..

 

Sorry i've thought of something else that's been on my mind regarding zinnia, mustn't have much to think about hey Spacing them in containers, i've read they should be 15-20cm apart but that would mean you'd have very few in even a decent sized container? Are these ideal spacings and in reality you somewhat cram them in for visual effect? Anyone got any rules of thumb for how many per unit area?

 

I've not grown them as container plants, I usually plant out, but the smaller varieties can probably be container grown, most things can.
I think if using in containers you are going to need some kind of infill plant lower down.

 

I agree with @pete, I've not grown them in containers as they tend to be too tall, I use them for spaces in the borders. There is a very short variety that is more suitable for containers and front of borders, not sure if they are available in the UK. The tall ones need to be in a fairly sheltered spot as they tend to get wind blown in my garden!

 

Ah I see, this variety says it's about 30cm tall, I think that's quite short for zinnia, might need to support them perhaps

 

Zinnia update, seem to be doing ok. Anyone planted out yet?

 

I planted some out this morning, a variety called "Old Mexico" which had gotten very leggy. Not sure why they're so leggy as the other two varieties I sowed at the same time, and treated the same way, look great.

Anyway, I planted them deep so I'm hoping they take off now they're out in the ground. The "Envy" and saved seed of a dwarf variety I liked last year will be planted out as soon as I decide where to put them.