Zinnias make great bedding plants as they are easy to grow and will provide months of colour. They were cultivated by the Aztecs and can definitely be described as sun-lovers. The 'Dahlia Flowered' cultivars are an heirloom zinnia, which was first introduced in the early 1900's. It produces flat-faced, tightly packed flowerheads (10 - 15cm across) throughout summer in a wide range of bright colours. They make excellent cut flowers and will encourage bees.
                                    
                                        Growing instructions:
                                         For early flowers, sow under glass in early spring. Fill a seed tray or pot with good quality compost and space the seeds at 2.5cm intervals and just cover with a sprinkling of compost. Water moderately and when the seedlings are large enough to handle pot on and harden off before planting outside. Alternatively sow thinly outside in a sunny bed after all risk of frost has passed. Thin to 25cm as they grow on. Sowing several batches with a couple of weeks in between each will ensure the flowering period stretches from early summer to the first frosts.
                                     
                                        
                                        
                                            Flowering period:
                                            
                                                
                                                    - Jan
 - Feb
 - Mar
 - Apr
 - May
 - Jun
 - Jul
 - Aug
 - Sep
 - Oct
 - Nov
 - Dec
 
                                                
                                             
                                         
                                        
                                        
                                            Eventual height:
                                            0.75m
                                            Eventual spread:
                                            0.3m
                                         
                                        
                                        
                                            Rate of growth:
                                            Fast-growing
                                         
                                        
                                            Soil:
                                            Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or peat-free general purpose compost