Overview: Zinnias are easy to grow, come in six distinct colors and can be used for seasoning and flavor in several dishes.
Seed Starting: Zinnias prefer warm environments with plenty of sunshine, the soil should preferably be +70 degrees Fahrenheit and should be planted at ¼ inches deep. Different variants, like Envy, Burpee, Carousel and “Will Rogers”, will require differing amounts of space between plants, but only to allow proper air flow between them and to prevent diseases. The soil must be well fed and kept moist, but must not become soggy or risk the seeds drowning. (Source: The Spruce – make your best home) Zinnias can even be transplanted easily either indoors or outdoors.
Growing Advice: Zinnias are best planted a week after the final frost of winter, usually around mid to late April. If you want the flowers to appear more bushy, pinch the bulb off of the younger plants, this will encourage the plants to grow even bigger bulbs to replace them.
Harvesting: Be sure to allow a few flowers to develop to the point of seeding, then simply collect them from the bulb. To transplant the flowers, simply dig up the flower without removing the roots and place it in a replacement patch with properly tended soil. (Source: Garden Gate Magazine)
Recipe: Zinnia Limeade
Want to prepare some fancy drinks for a party? Try this recipe to make your zinnias taste as good as they look.
Source: Gazette Journals – Flower Recipes
Ingredients:
- 1/8 c. zinnia petals, tightly packed
- 4 c. water
- Zest from 1 lime
- 2 sprigs fresh mint leaves
- 1 c. lime juice
- 1 c. sugar
Steps:
- Step 1 Rinse zinnia petals and place in a small saucepan.
- Step 2 Add 1 c. sugar, 1 c. water, lime zest and mint.
- Step 3 Heat mixture until sugar dissolves. (Don’t boil.)
- Step 4 Remove from heat and let syrup cool for 5 minutes.
- Step 5 Strain syrup through colander.
- Step 6 Add lime juice and remaining water by pouring through a strainer that still contains boiled zest, petals and mint.
- Step 7 Chill and serve over ice.
Note: Can freeze ice with mint leaves in them. CANDIED OR CRYSTALLIZED FLOWERS
Post written by Patrick Aucella