Zinnia ‘Benary’s Giant Wine’
Zinnia elegans
Description
This cottage garden classic comes in a dramatic deep wine hue. Featuring extra-large blooms and long, strong stems, this easy-to-grow annual thrives in heat and is great for beginning gardeners. Considered a cut-and-come-again variety, zinnias perform well when harvested frequently. The more you cut, the more they bloom.
Details
Plant type: annual
Height: 32 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall
Height: 32 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall
Seed Sowing & Growing Notes
Start seed indoors in trays 4 to 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Zinnias can also be direct-seeded once the weather has warmed.
Harvesting/Vase Life
Use the “wiggle test”: Grab the stem about 8 in down from the flower and gently shake it. If the stem is droopy or bends, don’t cut yet. If the stem is stiff and remains erect, it is ready to harvest. Do not put in the cooler. Zinnias are notorious for making their water murky. To combat this, add a few drops of bleach to the water. Expect a vase life of 7 days.
Details
Description
This cottage garden classic comes in a dramatic deep wine hue. Featuring extra-large blooms and long, strong stems, this easy-to-grow annual thrives in heat and is great for beginning gardeners. Considered a cut-and-come-again variety, zinnias perform well when harvested frequently. The more you cut, the more they bloom.
Details
Plant type: annual
Height: 32 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall
Height: 32 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall
Seed Sowing & Growing Notes
Start seed indoors in trays 4 to 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Zinnias can also be direct-seeded once the weather has warmed.
Harvesting/Vase Life
Use the “wiggle test”: Grab the stem about 8 in down from the flower and gently shake it. If the stem is droopy or bends, don’t cut yet. If the stem is stiff and remains erect, it is ready to harvest. Do not put in the cooler. Zinnias are notorious for making their water murky. To combat this, add a few drops of bleach to the water. Expect a vase life of 7 days.
Sources
How to Grow
Sources
How to Grow
Seed-Saving Mini Course
Learn how to save seed from zinnia, dahlia, and celosia
In our upcoming free, three-part video series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to save seeds on a home scale, including how plants are pollinated and isolation techniques to ensure varieties come back true, how to tell when plants are ready to pick and how to harvest the seeds, and how to properly dry, clean, and store seeds long term.
