'Funfair Mix' Zinnia Seeds

Days to Maturity: 60 to 70

The varieties in the 'Funfair Mix' Zinnia are half-hardy annuals offering early summer through fall interest, typically blooming until the first frost. The plants flower abundantly and continuously, setting bold bicolor blooms, creating a massive neon burst of color. Borne singly at the end of a branch, the daisylike flowers are a great nectar source and attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators. They make brilliant, long-lasting cuts for bouquets, bright garnishes for salads, and nice dried everlastings.

The 'Funfair Mix' Zinnia varieties have a dense, upright, mounding habit of lanceolate leaves and a fast growth rate. Old garden favorites, zinnias are shown to best effect grouped or massed in beds, borders, and patio pots.

Extremely easy to grow from seed, zinnias love heat and prefer full sun and rich, organic, well-drained loam or soil, raked to a fine tilth. Although zinnias are low maintenance, pinching young plants promotes a more compact, bushier plant, and deadheading spent flowers keeps zinnias blooming. The plants are drought tolerant and deer resistant.

Direct sow zinnia seed after the last frost date, once the soil has warmed, or start seeds indoors, acclimatize sprouts for 10 to 15 days, and transplant seedlings carefully when they are very young, after all threat of frost has passed. Good air circulation is vital for best performance, so provide generous spacing. Succession planting every week or so for several weeks extends the flowering period.