Zinnias

“Literally the easiest thing in the world to grow. Don’t get the average brights. Go to Johnny’s and get the desaturated interesting colors. Like Ballerina!”

“Zinnias, you gorgeous, heat loving, fast growing Ace-up-my-sleeve. You took me from kid gardener to late thirties woman with a garden.”

“My zinnias are sprouting and I'm thinking about which varieties I like best and usually have the most success for me in Zone 7b: + Ballerina + Linen + Oklahoma Series (I like Salmon, Ivory & Scarlet) + Queen Lime Series (I like the Orange and Red best) + Benary's Giant (Salmon is the only color I've found that I like in this series) **Special mention: Zinderella Peach - I found these to be a lot less hardy in my area and often grow as singled instead of the advertised fluffiness because the double-petal genetics are less strong. Apparently only 15% or so will be double/fluffy, and less if your climate isn't on the cooler side. I still like to grow them, just keep my expectations low. Year after year I try to love and nurture the Floret and Dawn Creek mixes, but they don't seem to be as voracious and hardy for me in our Zone 7b. Will keep trying because they are insanely beautiful! Easy to direct sow and get so many cut flowers for arrangements! I space these 9" apart.”

“I planted a bunch of starts and way more seeds than is "recommended" in a small garden bed outside my home-office window. (Credit where credit is due goes to my partner who added drip irrigation, 'cause otherwise one would definitely need to do some watering...) And they all just grew! And bloomed! And I keep cutting them, and now I have jars of zinnias all around my house! AND they're still blooming out my window! Unfussy miracle plants, I tell ya. I never use this many exclamation points. That's how you know this is a serious rec.”