It’s high time for zinnia farmers to save seedlings next year. The zinnia blooms turn brown and dry after the growing season. Note that if you want to keep your lovely blooms every year, you’ll need to collect zinnia seeds.
The seeds have brown coats and a shape like arrowheads. Before you can harvest those seeds, they must first reach maturity. They fail to mature if you gather them too early, meaning they will not be viable. Immature seeds can appear white, but as they grow older, they change into brown.
Once the flowerhead is faded and turns brown in late fall or summer, it’s harvest time. Discover how to harvest zinnia seeds so that you can continue to grow fantastic zinnia flowers.
How to harvest zinnia seeds
Remember that you can’t see the zinnia seeds without tearing the flowerhead apart, which puts an end to everything. Suppose you have a lot of flowers; you can only sacrifice one to check within it.
Before harvesting the Zinnia flowers, allow them to dry
Let the flower heads completely dry on the crop before removing them. Once the flower is fully ripe, it’ll be brown and dry to the hands. If you pick a flower quite early, the seeds will be immature and not germinate.
Pull or cut them off their flowerhead once ready, and bring them inside. Crack open the flowerhead softly and spread the seeds and petals out in a display to dry completely. It could take even a week based on the moisture level and seed head. Keep varieties labelled and separated unless you want a mixed bag full of twists and turns.
Set the zinnia seeds free
Place a few paper towels on a smooth, flat surface and gather the seeds. Position a plate on the region and use a marker to write the various array names directly on your plate.
Pick a dry zinnia bloom and “flail” its seed head by gently hitting it with the fingers above a piece of paper to unleash the seeds or by pulling it apart or rubbing it between one’s fingers to remove the seeds. Note that the seedlings are tiny and arrow-shaped. Some may still connect to a petal’s base. If this is the case, softly pull the seed off.
Remove petals
You can remove individual petals to unveil the arrowhead-shaped seeds at the ends. Choose whether to keep your petals connected to help you identify the color or to lightly detach and discard them to save space in the seed storage.
Break apart your whole zinnia seed head to see any more viable seeds. You can also find the floret seeds of the zinnia within your flower head. Save them as well, since they could produce some healthy flowers.
Labelling system
Consider implementing a labelling system. You might want to print labels with the zinnia parent photos of where you harvested the seeds. However, only if you’re reproducing your zinnias.
TIP: If you have no time, save several seed heads whole instead. Keep them in a prescription envelope or brown bag until you’re fully set to plant.
Allow the seeds to dry
Spread the seeds out and leave them to air dry for some days. It will help keep them from moulding or rotting while you store them.
Store your zinnia Seeds
Put the seeds in a bag or paper envelope for storage after they dry. Unless you wouldn’t mind combining zinnia seeds in the garden, save them in small containers or separate envelopes; if you already have multiple varieties. Label every envelope so you can remember what’s inside. If you’re breeding the zinnias, a specific container, for instance, a diamond gem drill case, might be helpful.
Put the seed package in a glass container with a lid and keep it cool and let it dry out from direct sunlight. A closet would be ideal. You could even cultivate your seeds outside once the frost risk passes for the coming growing season. Strive to use the seeds within 3-5 years for the best results.
How to harvest zinnia seeds: Final thought
Zinnias are among most people’s favorite flowers, and they’re also one of the most straightforward to grow. The drought-tolerant plants produce a large number of blooms and require little maintenance. You can grow zinnias for fresh-cut flowers or simply enhance your garden’s appearance.
How to harvest zinnia seeds: Conclusion
It’s essential to think about the harvesting technique of zinnia seeds and saving for the upcoming season now that you’ve got all those stunning zinnia blossoms!