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Saving zinnia seeds

August 27, 2010
1:26 pm

monica

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February 3, 2009

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I planted zinnia in the spring and would like to save the seed for planting for next year. I am not sure what part to save. I can't remember what the seeds look like when I planted them. They are so pretty, but I refuse to buy another packet of seed! This is our first year of really trying to save seeds for next year. I have all kinds of stuff–beans, peas, sunflower, squash, tomato, peppers, cantalope.

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August 28, 2010
6:41 am

judydee

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July 24, 2010

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Monica,

I waited to answer, thinking someone more experienced might post. I'll offer my limited knowledge, and then maybe someone else will chime in. It has been a while since I grew zinnias. I plan to every year but somehow never get the seeds started in time. The last time I dried seeds, I waited until the best of the flowers had begun to look "old" on the plant, then cut them and hung them to finish drying. After they were well dried, I crumbled the petals from the centers, and was left with just little dried disks. I then crumbled those disks, and shook the chaff from the result. The seeds were what was left.

August 28, 2010
8:22 am

Jersey Lady

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April 8, 2010

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Hi Mighty Chicken, Just put zinnia seed picture into google. You will get pictures of exactly what part to save.Good luck!

August 29, 2010
1:36 am

floweringmama

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June 29, 2010

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After the flowers get nice and dried, go ahead and break them off the stem. Judy is exactly right. In my experience, I can only keep "reusing" the same flowers for 2-3 years.

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August 30, 2010
2:46 pm

RockWhisperer

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August 30, 2010

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I grow zinnia every year. Zinnias must be pollinated in order to make seed, but if you've seen bees, butterflies or even hummers visiting your flowers, that's been taken care of! Wait till the color of the flower begins to become brown and dry. Then pull out the petals along the bottom rows. A dark, shield-shaped seed will normally be attached to the petal. These are your seeds. A well-pollinated flower will have several rows of seed.

I find that zinnias cross-pollinate and so you will not necessarily get the same colors and/or shapes every year. I started out with just a few colors–red, yellow, purple, green, and candy-stripe — some were singles, some doubles. This year I got several that I had never had before, including a really pretty peach. I like surprises. But if you want the same colors every year you might want to buy new seed. Good luck!

September 3, 2010
8:42 pm

monica

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February 3, 2009

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Thanks for your input. I will have plenty for next year!

My budget plan is NOT getting a cart when I go to the store.

September 6, 2010
11:11 am

RockWhisperer

Big Chicken

Forum Posts: 31