Make MONEY growing zinnias! The best and worst varieties to get bucks for your blooms

[@dawnmitchell11]

San Antonio area here, howdy "neighbor"! One of the zinnias I have had the best overall experiences with was Floret 'Little Flower Girl'. They weren't giant heads, I would say small to medium sized. But I had two plants, only had enough room for two, and they were bloom workhorses! Huge 5'+ plants! Tons of blooms! Really pretty colors, ballet pinks and soft whites. Lots of compliments from neighbors! I'm 5'5" and the plants were just slightly above my head at the end of the season. I think they went from late May until mid October, started looking diseased/powdery mildew. That was back in 2021. I also did their Unicorn mix. The flowers were stunning, but the plants themselves weren't quite as prolific or sturdy. Really bright, vivid colors though, and the stems were long for bouquets.

[@summerskyegardens]

Yes I've heard people say they really liked those varieties. Did you buy any of her new ones this year?

[@marytaylor9848]

I live in Allen ,Tx and I love Zinnias

[@summerskyegardens]

@@marytaylor9848 Yay me too!

[@TaureanDreams]

I’m just now putting two and two together that you were the one telling me my seed trays were too far from the LED lights on Facebook yesterday! Such a small world!!

[@summerskyegardens]

Well hello again! :)

[@3kidmama]

Its my understanding that Floret's prices are meant to include a "royalty" type fee, with her not only encouraging but even creating content showing gardeners how to harvest their own seeds from the Florette Originals flowers. In theory, I gather she's intending her seed line to be a one time purchase and that is built into the cost.

[@summerskyegardens]

That is very true, and I think it's part royalty and part funding the ongoing breeding project. I think that the saving seeds is a bit misleading since the average public don't understand that to save seed to come back true you'd have to isolate it. I know I can't do that, so if I like them, I'll try to buy more next year, if it's available.

[@tnijoo5109]

@@summerskyegardenshow do people isolate their flowers? Would bees get trapped? I’ve never heard of this.

[@uteberg4781]

​@@tnijoo5109Floret explains it herself in her videos. She has Hightunnels where flies pollinate the zinnias and there is always just one certain kind of zinnias per tunnel.

[@uteberg4781]

​@@summerskyegardensThats also what I thought. Did you understand the difference to Johnny's seeds? They also have seeds for flowers, that are open pollinated (cone back, as I understand it). I didn't get the difference. But I also love florets new breeds, I just didn't understand what is meant by the fact, that you can grow them again youtselves.

[@cmcneace1]

@@tnijoo5109they use net bags over the flower blossom , to keep pollinators off the bloom.. That way there is no cross pollination..

[@Barby9404]

I would love to see you do a video on snapdragons! What varieties you like best here in the south

[@summerskyegardens]

I'll see what I can do!

[@jennyh8392]

From Houston, I love your video! You are speaking my language ❤. This is my second year head over heals for zinnas. Keep up the hard work.

[@summerskyegardens]

Happy to hear it! Thanks for the love! And stay cool out there lol

[@jeannet9592]

I just came across your channel today and subscribed. I am a flower farmer in 7b GA. Thanks!

[@summerskyegardens]

Awesome I'm so glad to hear!

[@kellythompson2267]

Great video! I LOVE zinnias!!

[@summerskyegardens]

Thank you so much!

[@commonlaw5400]

Thank you so much for generously sharing your expertise.

[@summerskyegardens]

Thank you for watching!

[@marielyencasa]

I’m so glad I found your channel! Great information! I’m so happy you are in my area 🎉New subscriber🙋🏻‍♀️

[@summerskyegardens]

Thank you so much!

[@marthamatteson5280]

So glad to find a Texas garden channel! I lived in Cleveland TX many years ago, often went through Splendora. I’m in Brady, TX now, zone 8. I’m finding the heat just intolerable in the summer, but I did have a few zinnias last year! Looking forward to watching more of your videos.

[@summerskyegardens]

Well howdy! Where is Brady? Yes the summers are getting more brutal, that's why I tell my garden friends up north when they wait for flowers throughout winter, that's what I'm doing from mid July to mid Sept. It's hotter than Hades out there!

[@caroltomkovich9491]

Love this video, thank you! Just FYI, you can get individual colors of Benary giant or Queen Lime zinnias through GeoSeed. For example, at the end of the description of the Benary's Giant, it lists the colors you can purchase individually: (Bright Pink, Carmine Rose, Coral, Deep Red, Golden Yellow, Lilac, Lime, Mix, Orange, Purple, Salmon Rose, Scarlet, White, Wine) Same with the Queen Lime series.

[@summerskyegardens]

Yup definitely figured that out recently, thanks!

[@tinyshedlife]

Hi! New subscriber here! We just found your channel and we love how informative your videos are. Thank you so much for sharing all of this. We are located in South Texas too. Hoping to try some flowers this year 💛

[@summerskyegardens]

Thank you! Glad to be helpful!

[@madelinerivera7445]

Just subscribed. Thank for this information. I already started sowing my Zinnas seeds indoor. First year, so hopefully I didn't sow them too early. I also purchased a bunch of Zinnas seeds from Floret. They're coming up so healthy. Can't wait to see what blooms. Now the Dahlias are a different story. I planted 30 Dahlia Petite Floret seeds and only 8 germinated. They told me they are sporadic and to be patient and so I will. I love Geo Seed! I got soooo many seeds this year from them. You don't have to have a business licence to order. Onto the next video. :)

[@summerskyegardens]

Thanks so much!

[@joannsawyer4675]

Hi, sweetie, I'm new at growing my flowers by seeds. Last summer, was my first year Growing my flowers by seeds. So yes, I'm new with this. Thanks so much for your input. Joann From Circleville ohio

[@summerskyegardens]

Welcome welcome!

[@mkitchens8163]

I wanted so badly to grow the Zinderellas, but they just don't work in our hot climate. I read an article about how they won't double in hot/humid climates. I'm in zone 7B, N MS. I started them inside under lights last year and put them outside immediately after our last frost. The problem is, we had a long spring, so the ground did not warm up very fast and they just sat there and did nothing for several weeks. They didn't start growing until it heated up, which meant the nights heated up, too. So I think they only do well in areas that have hot days but the nights cool down.

[@summerskyegardens]

I've definitely heard that too, and it's such a particular climate that most of us don't have. Not worth it!

[@originalsixx]

I bought a packet of the pastel zinnias from Floret today. I'm anxious to see them this summer.

[@summerskyegardens]

Woohoo me too!

[@traceyj8237]

I've never grown these. Great information.

[@summerskyegardens]

Really!! Omg now you have to!

[@GrandmaSandy]

For a wonderful video today and some great information

[@summerskyegardens]

Great to hear!

[@chaparra71]

My growing season is generally mid-June through mid to late August. A very tough climate.

[@summerskyegardens]

Wow that is very tough! Can you do tender annuals?

[@TaureanDreams]

Another great video!

[@summerskyegardens]

Thank you!

[@katebarrett1924]

Just found you! New subscriber here too! I'm in 6a in central Ohio and my zinnias go and go until late fall when they get powdery mildew. So I've struggled figuring out when to pull out my first succession. Any ideas? And do you plant right into that area or hold off on planting an area for succession 2? I have a small space so I've found it difficult to not plant an area - and then what do you recommend to protect it from weeds? Thx from a snowy Ohio!

[@summerskyegardens]

Hey so glad you're here! So I would plant on a 2nd succession 1-2 months after your first. Or aim for a July planting if it's not too hot (it is here!).

[@brendav5187]

Thanks! You’re great!

[@summerskyegardens]

You're weocome and thank you!

[@karenbui7802]

I feel Florets New Zinnia kinda look like the Queeny Series. Whats your thought? Did you purchase any of the Florets varieties? Could you please get back to us when they are in bloom and let us know if they are similar or more prolific then the Queeny series?

[@anniewildmush1284]

what a weird winter for us in montreal canada.. im 48.. never seen this. it was warm and no snow.. very worrying for whats coming...

[@summerskyegardens]

Yup everything is warming up unfortunately

[@carladumas8373]

Florets new varieties are very expensive.

[@summerskyegardens]

That's very true!

[@originalsixx]

I've seen packets of blue zinnia seeds on ebay. Has anyone tried them? I'm wondering if they are really blue.

[@summerskyegardens]

Do not buy these, they are fake and the pics are altered. No such thing as a blue zinnia

[@originalsixx]

@@summerskyegardens Okay, I was skeptical. Thank you.

[@smpbiker9233]

Sounds like the pink sunflowers l fell for once upon a time