Zinnias Fading Here’s When to Save the Seeds for Next Spring, by The Easy Yard on YouTube. 8 min 42 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 42 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes plus drying time
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Wait until the flower head is dry and brown, not just faded. The petals should be shriveled and the base of the head should feel papery and stiff.
Pick only healthy, open-pollinated plants with the color and form you want to grow again. Skip weak plants and any head with mold or rot.
Harvest on a dry, sunny day once dew has lifted. Snip the head off with a short stem and drop it into a paper bag.
Spread the heads in a single layer on a paper plate or sheet. Leave them in a warm, dry, airy spot for one to two weeks until fully crisp.
Rub each head between your fingers over a plate to break it apart. Pick out the flat, arrow-shaped seeds and blow away the chaff.
Put the clean seeds in a labeled paper packet or small jar. Write the variety, color and harvest date on the label.
Store the packets in a cool, dark, dry place, such as a sealed box in a cupboard. Keep them away from damp and heat until spring.
Test a few seeds before planting by placing them on a damp paper towel in a sealed bag. Check for sprouts after about a week.
Tips and common mistakes
Never seal seeds in plastic while they are still soft, since trapped moisture causes mold.
Saved seeds from F1 hybrids and cross-pollinated flowers may not match the parent plant next year.
Label by color and variety as you harvest, because loose seeds all look alike later.
Harvest before heavy rain sets in, as wet heads rot quickly on the plant.
Questions
How do I know a zinnia seed head is ready to pick?
The head turns dry and brown and the base feels papery. If the stem is still green or the head feels soft, leave it a bit longer.
Do saved zinnia seeds grow the same flower as the parent?
Not always. Open-pollinated and hybrid zinnias can cross with nearby plants, so next year's flowers may differ in color or shape.
How long do zinnia seeds stay good in storage?
Kept cool and dry in a labeled packet, they usually stay viable for a few years. A quick germination test in spring tells you if they are still good.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
