Peat based (or a peat alternative) type compost is ideal.

Now this is the time to decide how many zinnia seeds you want to sow.

You will be sowing one zinnia seed in a plug pot (preferred) or peat pot. So if you are sowing 20 seeds you will need, surprise, surprise 20 pots.

Sieve enough compost, on to your potting bench, or potting tidy/caddy, to fill all your pots.

Don't discard the sieved out lumps and bits. These can be used in the bottom of larger patio pots when planting them up with your own home grown plants. (Save the lumps and bits in an old compost bag until needed).

Fill the plug pots (preferred) or peat pots with compost to about 5mm below the rim (this does not need to be exact - about 5mm will do).

Settle the compost in the pot by gently, *(and it must be gentle), tapping it on the potting bench.

Take your correct size tamper and gently level the surface of the compost. DON'T push the tamper with any force. All we want to do here is level off the surface of the compost, NOT compact it.

*This gives an ideal surface to sow the seed on.

That's it. You have now successfully filled your first pot with compost.

Now Fill the rest of your pots in the same way.

*(Doing this correctly will increase your propagation success rate)

This is the fun part, sowing the seeds.

Zinnia seeds are large to handle individually quite easily.

Sow one seed on the surface of the compost centrally in each plug pot (preferred) or peat pot.

When you have sown all zinnia your seeds all that is needed is to cover the seeds with a very light "dusting" of sieved compost. Just enough to cover the seeds and no more.

When you have lightly covered all your seeds don't forget to label them with plant name and date of sowing.

Watering

Water your pots with great care.

With your mist sprayer, set at it's finest spray, filled with tepid water and held at about 100mm (4 inch) above your pots, lightly spray the surface of the compost. Don't get to close, or overdo it here, you will disturb the seeds which is exactly what you don't want to do!

The idea is to settle the surface of the compost with the fine mist from your sprayer. This prevents the seeds being disturbed.

Now fill a container which is large enough to put your pots in with tepid water *(preferably water that has been standing in a warm place for about twenty-four hours) and definitely NOT rainwater, use good old tap water!

Stand your pots in the container of water and leave them until you see the surface just becoming moist.

This usually happens fairly quickly so don't be tempted to go off and do something else.

*Do not overdo the watering process, you don't want the compost saturated, or your zinnia seeds may rot and not germinate.

*(By doing this correctly you will greatly increase your chance of success).

Germination

Cover your pots with glass or clear plastic (or preferably, for ease of use, place in a propagator - unheated will do).

Keep your pots in the light, (not direct sunlight) and maintain a temperature of 15C to 20C (60F to 70F).

After Germination

When your zinnia seeds have germinated pot them individually into 7.5cm (3inch) pots.

Do not remove the seedling from the plug pot or the peat pot.

The roots will grow through the holes in the plug pot.

The peat pots will gradually disintegrate allowing the roots to grow through it.

Use a good quality potting compost to transplant your zinnia seedlings into.

A sieved peat based or peat alternative compost will be fine.

When you have transplanted all your seedlings don't forget to label them with plant name, sowing date and transplanting date.

Water your pots with great care.

Fill a container, that is large enough to put your pots in, with tepid water *(preferably water that has been standing in a warm place for about twenty-four hours) and definitely NOT rainwater, use good old tap water!

Stand your pots of zinnia seedlings in the container of water and leave them until you see the surface just becoming moist.

This usually happens fairly quickly so don't think about going of and doing something else.

*Do not overdo the watering process, you don't want the compost saturated, or your seedlings will rot and die.

*(By doing this correctly you will greatly increase your chance of success).

Keep the transplanted seedlings in good light (not direct sunlight) until they are large enough to be hardened off.

Aftercare

Plants should be gradually hardened off by placing them outside, in a sheltered position, during the day.

A cold frame with the lid open is ideal for this. If it is very cold during the day close the lid, but watch out for excess condensation.

If there is excess condensation prop the cold frame lid open slightly until the condensation disappears.

Bring them in at night to avoid severe frosts.

When they are ready for planting out, make sure it is after the last frosts.

If you have any queries or comments please feel free to

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