Today, we have zinnias in a vase on a Monday – or rather, five zinnias in five separate test tubes. From the cutting beds, second right is ‘Purple Prince’ whilst the orange one is either ‘Orange King’ or possibly a bright product of the ‘Giant Dahlia Mix’ that the others have come from. It replaced what was definitely ‘Orange King’ but which suffered the same ignominious fate as two test tubes when lined up in their original location on top of the wall; I did not chance the same setting with their replacements, set up more safely at ground level.
It took a few years to achieve successful zinnia production but I finally cracked it last year, as mentioned yesterday, and zinnias not only look good in the cutting beds have a great vase life, so I shall be enjoying these at close quarters for over a week – don’t they have the most intriguing centres? And I particularly like the white zinnia, with its merest hint of green.
I am my own prop today, having been pinged by the UK’s NHS app and advised to isolate until midnight tonight. Having visited Elder Daughter by train last week, I had already taken a lateral flow test on my return (which was negative), before I was ‘pinged’, and am fairly sure it was my phone rather than me physically that was in contact with a positive case. But hey ho, at least the app was doing its job… and in the meantime, I hope everyone else is well and Covid-free. If you would like to join in IAVOM today and share findings from your garden or foraged nearby, we would love to see them, so leave the usual links to and from this post.
Rambling in the Garden 
I love zinnias, they are such fun with amazing detail on closer inspection. I’ve grown Queen lime this year and it’s still considering its options. Here’s my vase from the cutting patch https://lifeonalondonplot.com/2021/07/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-4/
I tried Queen Lime last year but it didn’t grow well, so I thought I would try this mix along with the stalwart Orange King and Purple Prince, and it has produced a good mix of colours so far. I am sorry to say that the dahlia tuber you sent me did not survive the winter 🙄, one of only a couple of casualties, but it was so kind of you to send it
Sad to hear about the tuber but it was an exceptionally cold spring
I hope all your own tubers got through the winter. I decided to keep mine in the greenhouse this year (which is kept at a minimum of five degree), in boxes of used used compost, and this seemed to work well
So what is your secret for growing zinnias? I had another go this year, but they are still very tiny plants which got nibbled even inside the conservatory. At the moment they are in a trough on a seat, I just daren’t plant them in the garden 😧 but I’m not sure they’ll grow big enough to flower where they are.
When I first tried and achieved only scruffy apolgies, I was told the perceived wisdom was not to sow too early, perhaps even leaving it till the end of May, so the next year I did that, but they didn’t begin flowering till the end of August and didn’t like it when temps dropped, giving a very short flowering season. The other tip given was not to crowd them amongst other things, so when I tried sowing early (as packets of seed do suggest is OK), when they were ready to plant out I gave them a half a bed to themselves. I also planted some spares in the shrub border last year where they also did well, but snails found them there this year. Incidentally, I did a second sowing in mid April and they were ready to plant out almost at the same time as the others! There were some teeny slugs around in the g/h when they were at the potting on stage but I used ‘friendly’ pellets when I discovered them. No reason why they shouldn’t flower in a trough, I wouldn’t think…
I love Zinnias and your display today is a perfect way to showcase their beauty. There’s an earwig population explosion this year (not just my garden, people all over the county have been saying the same thing…) and many of my Zinnias are looking very lacy, but they’ve started to bloom at least!
Thanks Chris, I tend to forget about earwigs as they are rarely a problem here, but realise that the odd holey leaves and flowers around may well be earwigs rather than S&S. Is it a weather thing in Canada, or lack of their usual pradators, do you think?
Good question…what eats earwigs, I wonder…the weather has been wetter than normal so that may indeed contribute to the Dermaptera population explosion…
Oh I do love zinnias! My grandmother always said they had artistic colours and I think they do! All sorts from bright and zingy to soft and muted. Your five are so lovely all lined up there, especially seen from above. I am sorry that this is yet another week without a vase from me. I am beginning to feel guilty but I have only just got my garden planted up (looking promising I hope!) and not had time to deal with the vagaries of WordPress!! I love dropping in on everyone though! Thanks Cathy. A lovely post! Amanda
Glad you liked the zinnias and I am pleased to read that you have got your garden planted up (you must have got really stuck in!!) and that you feel it is promising. I hope that once you do have the time WP is not creating insurmountable problems for you again…
Lovely. Glad you are having zinnia success. The flowers are always most interesting and I really like your orange one. I’ve had only one flower so far after rabbits ate my first two sowings. Normally they are very reliable here sans rabbits. Hope you enjoyed seeing your daughter. Good to know the app works. I use a similar one in US (fortunately without exposure notices). Enjoy your week!
Oops! Here’s the link.
Hope you have success with other zinnia sowings, assuming you are persisting with them! And thanks, yes, it was a good trip and the trains and underground were quieter than they would have been pre-Covid, despite my return leg coinciding with the day of England’s semi-final at Wembley (Euro football)…
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I have never grown zinnias, but a friend has them in big pots, and they look wonderful – such a bright mix of colour and texture. I love the white one too. I hope you stay well! Here is my vase this week. https://absentgardener.com/2021/07/12/lots-of-scents-in-a-vase-on-monday/
Thanks Cath, I tend to avoid mixed colours when buying seeds, but decided that Dahlia Mix was worth a try for some variation
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That is a lovely way to display your zinnias Cathy. They are such intricate flowers, and I do like them, but hardly ever grow them after not having much luck. Must try again! Perhaps I should also have a cutting bed… Here is my vase for today. Thanks for hosting as always! https://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2021/07/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-overflowing/
Thanks Cathy, and with your big plot I am sure you could find a suitable spot for a cutting bed or two of your own…. 😉
I should grow some but all I have are paper ones.
Zinnias are so pretty and I was growing a few for the time this year and then we had an out-of-season freeze on Memorial Day that killed them. So maybe I’ll try it again next year. I do love this white one you have with the hint of lime towards the middle. So pretty.
My garden is finally blooming and I’m sharing a little cheerful vase for this week! https://angiethehappygardener.com/blog/vqdq0k47er2oa5poja872gzdeu2390-Xk0pV
What a shame about your zinnia – I find a later sowing can still reach flowering stage really quickly, so it worth trying again?
I love the setting for the photo and the test tube display..I hope you will share your zinnia secrets, I have terrible luck growing them from seed. What is a lateral flow test? Does the app mean someone near your phone had Covid?? Here is mine, Happy Monday. https://theshrubqueen.com/2021/07/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-posey-shots/
I find sowing them early and planting out in a dedicated area as soon as frosts are unlikely works for me, and gives a long flowering season. Yes, if the phone is 2m or less (for at least 15 minutes) from someone who has tested positive, you will be notified and advised to isolate for 10 days from when you were in contact, and take a PCR test if you develop symptoms. The lateral flow tests can be done at home and involve a swab from throat /nostril but are not as accurate as the others where the sample has to go to a lab
I was pleased to see your colorful zinnias today, especially as I most definitely haven’t cracked the code in getting my seeds sown on a timely basis. I’m impressed with the UK’s ability to track – the US (or Los Angeles County anyway) offered phone-based tracking but, like vaccinations, the number of people opting in was lower than was sought. I’m glad you’re feeling fine. Here’s my post: https://krispgarden.blogspot.com/2021/07/in-vase-on-monday-ive-got-lilies.html
I think people were suspicious of the original plans for the app, but it doesn’t actually know where you are and is just recognising another user who has a positive test recorded in the app. It works well where you are genuinely close-ish to someone for 15 minutes or more, but of course there is a delay before someone is aware of symptoms and gets a test. I only have to isolate for 5 days, because the contact had been 5 days earlier. I have found sowing early works for me, and not crowding them in a border
Sorry to hear that you are confined to barracks Cathy but there can be some advantages to that especially if you remain well and the weather obliges. We’re testing twice a week and will be taking the Monday test shortly. Not a pleasant experience but needs must. I’ve yet to get on a train and remain apprehensive about doing so. Hope that you enjoyed your visit to older daughter. Well done on cracking dahlias, sweet peas and now zinnias! There’s no stopping you now. They are really fabulous flowers! Here’s my vase :https://greentapestry.blogspot.com/2021/07/iavom-sweetest-pickings.html
We had a pack of tests each as we had to test before we were on polling duty, and I have continued doing a weekly or so test. I decided after the last one it was probably easier NOT looking in the mirror to do the back of the throat! It was definitely quieter on the trains and tube than pre-Covid, but am conscious I may still be pinged from my journey. You are right about dahlias, sweet peas and zinnias, and I also have other things in the garden that look as if they are going to flower for the first time…perhaps there is hope for things like echinacea yet!
Test tube babies!
😁
Well done on growing such beautiful zinnias. My problem is keeping the slugs off them.
In a dedicated half-bed of their own, they have been fine, not so if I plant them anywhere else – one of the things I have learned!
I love Zinnias, especially the orange and red ones.
And I am still thrilled with whatever colour they are!!