Zany for zinnias

I always plant zinnias in the veggie garden. I didn't really find them that appealing. I just planted them because they are eatable. ( I only plant eatable flowers in the veggie garden, we don't eat them, but we can). Great pollinators, and at least where I live super easy to grow.
This year I decided I needed more flowers in my life. So when I was ordering and buying my veggie seeds this year I also picked out some pretty flowers.
Wow I got some very pretty zinnias. They are so beautiful and last so long. I have always loved cosmos, but they are in constant need of deadheading, zinnias stay pretty quiet long.  I also read zinnias tea helps fight bronchitis.  It's antioxidant, antifungal, and antimalarial properties.They are also good for helping to remove LED and toxins from the soil.Please remember I'm not an expert, that the information is what I have read, or watched.
This year the zinnias are my favorite veggies garden flowers.

I couldn't agree more.  I'm with you all the way.  Zinnias may just be the bestest of flowers to grow.  Such a wide range of colors, festive and fantastic!

I first started growing Zinnias with my daughters many years ago.  Almost 100% germination rate, no or little care, and the bees love them too!

Peace

So pretty!

What do they taste like? Have you had a nibble? And how drought tolerant are they?

And zinnia seeds are incredibly easy to save, so you can grow even more of them next year!

At about what temperature in spring do y'all sow your seeds? I tend to get veggies in first and then try to get my zinnias going when I have the time. Usually just after the spring thunder storms are gone. The roots don't get very deep. They get overlooked at watering times... Bye bye zinnias. I'm down to pink genetics from two survivors last year. One healthy volunteer, and one row in a very dry spot I pass every time I visit the gardens. So far they are getting watered. We'll see if I can keep it up.

Before I began mulching, I used to get lots of volunteers. But weeds were too much for my desired crops. Mulching is needed in my garden.

I discovered zinnias years ago and have tried to grow them wherever I have had a garden. After moving to Ohio and getting my garden up and running, I discovered one of the most amazing things about zinnias. The hummingbirds love to sip from the little yellow flowers when they come in. Truly a sight to see. Of course, no pics of that wonderful phenomenon. I am able to grow them outside of the protected garden space, and the deer will leave them alone, for the most part. I start most everything I grow indoors to get a head start on outdoor temps. And I agree that they are incredibly easy seeds to save. That is when the goldfinches decide to leave them alone. I do get a few seeds each year, though the finches end up with the better end of the deal. Same can be said for almost every seed head in the landscape. Those goldfinches are lovely and hungry.

Jane even though I grow eatable flowers I don't eat them. For you I gave them a try.  The pretty petals don't have much of a flavor. The little yellow ones in the center are a little sweet.  It was funny when I was trying the zinnias a hummingbird came about 4' from my face and stared at me for a moment, as if to say why are you eating my flowers?

Joylynn I don't have a typical time to plan zinnias. I plan them about the same time as I plan my veggie. I have some I planted pretty early in the spring, and some that were planted maybe 3 weeks ago. I just fill spaces when they become available.  We are lucky to have a very long growing season, so I think they will have enough time to flower.

That's so funny about the hummingbird, Jen!