What Happens With Self Seeding Zinnias

Happy Saturday, friends! This is the story of what happens when composting and planting doesn’t begin early and you realize that you have self seeding zinnias.

Do you remember that post last year when I took the zinnia seeds that I harvested and then planted them? It was so easy to add a tiny bit of fresh compost to the bed, sprinkle the seeds and then top with more compost and water…right?

There were cute little guys who helped us with the process that created those 7′ tall row of zinnias across that flower bed.

Well…this year…before the compost…before the seed scattering or a time when little guys were scheduled to come help us plant the zinnia seeds? This happened. That’s when it dawned on me that we truly planted self seeding zinnias.

A reminder that just about the time you think you understand the growing patterns of a plant, they surprise you. Sort of like life, right?

Self Seeding Zinnia Story

• Long before that picket fence got painted or posts replaced or compost added began this story.
• Early into spring, we went to our local compost center to find the great compost we always use to mulch our flower beds and landscaping areas. The compost center had equipment issues and were closed. Bummer! Now, with trailer loads of different types spanning from $5-$20, waiting was no issue. We would wait.
• Now, if you remember my post about planting zinnia seeds, you will realize that early in spring, planting seeds using that compost was always the way that zinnias were planted. Well, evidently not this year!
• In the meantime…those little zinnia seeds that had fallen from plants in the garden bed last summer, began to come to life. Now, I have a bed in a side yard that reseeded last year, so it wasn’t a surprise. But, truly, I wasn’t prepared for the entire bed to self seed and be full and flourish.
• Be full and flourish was exactly what those little seeds did. They filled up the bed and began to grow.
• The next thing I realized in both the side bed and the large bed was that grass began to choke out portions of the bed. Weeding out the grass became a focus to keep the zinnias growing and even in each bed.
• My plan was to add compost to areas in the beds where grass had been removed and then add additional seeds to each bed to continue to make them full and vibrant.
• It was tricky trying to pull weeds out without uprooting the zinnias that they had begun supporting.

So, who knew I didn’t really have to plant those seeds?

It was really like they didn’t need my help at all. Those little seeds were just dormant and waiting for the warmth, sun and rain to bring them back to life again.

Sometimes I think that’s how we are. There are times in our life when we feel a bit “dormant” and just in a season of “waiting” like those little zinnia seeds. Perhaps, this was just a reminder to me that if we wait, a season of life full of beauty is just around the corner.

There is the ability in all of us to spring back to life if we just give it a bit of time and patience after those winter months.

Meanwhile, little bouquets of zinnia flowers will be added to vases and mixed with other flowers from my garden to grace the inside with their beauty, as well as the outside.

Zinnias have made the pollinators so happy.

There are bees, butterflies and hummingbirds already scurrying from one zinnia flower to another. I just stand in amazement and watch them enjoy the beauty that was planted LAST year.

Just like the perennials that always surprise and delight me—these zinnias have left their mark this year!

Glorious, friends!

Don’t worry. I’ll continue to harvest and plant seeds this year. Who knows? I may look for another bed location to create to expand their beauty and watch them self seed again. If you need to read about how to harvest those seeds, here you go.

Just a note about zinnias:

These great flowers love a soaker hose for watering better than overhead watering that can produce mold on their leaves. Our soaker hose has been in place since their arrival. They really prefer less watering to prevent mold on their leaves.

Air flow is important AND also support as mine often reach 7′.

And, another curious thing about the color of zinnias…the color of the seeds collected are actually determined by the pollinators the year that you harvest them.

My zinnias always seem to bloom more pink and purple as the years of harvesting go by. I may have to actually purchase different seeds to mix in with mine to get more variety next year.

If you don’t have these great flowers in your garden, go ahead and add them. You will be so glad you did.

If you need more zinnia seeds in your life…

Here you go! Aren’t these gorgeous? I may need to order these to expand my zinnia garden…

I am attaching links for your shopping convenience. As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission when you order, at no additional cost to you and helps this blog grow!

Thank you if you shop the links…plus you’ll be saving gas money looking for them, right? A win for us both!

A few more things to share this week:

• A great cantaloupe salad.
• It’s getting close to adding fresh corn to the freezer.
• Looking forward to canning this marinara sauce again–just used it for lasagna last night!
• Next week, adding blueberries to my freezer will happen for those great blueberry galettes.
• And, drumroll, those pepper plants are producing the most amazing jalapenos which are inspiring canning. Cowboy candy or pepper jelly? That is the question!
• Meanwhile, my friend shared these cinnamon pickles that I now have to make!

In other news this week, that deck is almost finished with painting so those containers can be added back in great arrangements. Can’t wait to have a reveal soon!

A trip took me by one of my favorite places places to shop for concrete…oh, goodness…I may have a problem! Do you remember the planter for the fairy garden tea party? I found their twin sisters! I’ll share more soon!

It’s a beautiful day after yesterday’s rain and lower than 100 temps with low humidity today. If you come by, you’ll find me in the garden or on the screened porch.

Yep! I’ve already been out pulling weeds from those zinnias again this morning.

Happy Saturday, friends!