a hint for zinnias

[grasswire]

For two years now I have had enormous success with zinnias -- huge masses of flowers, luxurious greens, showstoppers. I learned the secret from a chiropractor who grows them outside his building, and from whom people are always stealing the gorgeous plants!

The secret is fish emulsion. I have applied it only twice in the season, diluted in water.

I bought the State Fair variety in pony pack of eight starts. It's my favorite. Two months later, those plants are now three feet tall, and pedestrians stop to comment on them. I have another, shorter variety in front of the State Fairs, and they are bushy, covered with big blooms. Not as good for cut flowers as State Fairs, tho. My garden shop was out of the liliputs, or I would have some of those, too. Nothing is more cheery.

So, if you love beautiful zinnias, give that stuff a try.

[Blue Gardener]

1. I lost most of mine to powdery mildew this year

We've had kind of a damp year here in Iowa. I have a few in a pot that survived. Normally, I start mine from seed and they do great until the frost gets them. Oh well, there's always next year.

[NJCher]

2. thanks for the tip, grasswire

I love zinnias. Nothing says summer to me like zinnias but I've not done especially well with them. The slugs go after them but if I am diligent, I can control them.

I'll give the fish emulsion a shot next year and see how I do.



Cher

[grasswire]

3. I should have mentioned...

...that I'm not growing them from seed. I know they are pretty easy to grow from seed, though. Is that when the slugs get yours? When they are tiny?