Benary Giant Purple Zinnia
Benary Giant Purple Zinnia is the purple variation of the very popular Benary zinnia family. This cut flower variety will attract pollinators to increase garden production, but can also be used to harvest beautiful, colorful bouquets of flowers. Zinnias are one of the easiest cut flower varieties to grow and the Benary collection is the recommended variety by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. Plants produce vibrant blooms that are 3-4″ in diameter. Plant in spring and harvest beautiful flowers throughout the entire warm-growing season. Zinnias have great storage potential and will keep for several weeks once cut and placed into a vase or jar.
Benary Giant Purple Zinnia can be direct seeded or transplanted. Due to the papery texture of the seed and the oblong seed size, zinnias do not plant well with a walk-behind planter. As a result, direct-seeding must be done by hand. To direct seed, create a small furrow in the soil and scatter the zinnia seed along the furrow. Use a garden rake to lightly cover the seed and pack the planted area. Zinnias grow well when planted on double rows with drip irrigation. Lay one row of drip tape and plant on both sides of the tape to maximize garden space.
Zinnias also perform well when transplanted. They grow great in our heavy-duty seed starting trays. Transplants are ready to go in the ground when plants can be easily pulled from the seed starting trays. Zinnias are very heat-tolerant and will continue to produce throughout the warm months of summer. To maximize production, prune or “dead-head” plants to promote development of new blooms.
Benary Giant Purple Zinnia Planting Information
Planting Method: transplant or direct seed
When to Plant: after last frost
Planting Depth: 1/2″
Seed Spacing: 6″
Row Spacing: 2′
Days to Maturity: 75
Disease Resistance: Powdery Mildew
