When to plant Zinnia
The easiest cut flower there is — fast, heat-loving annuals in every bright colour. Pinching young plants and cutting often makes them branch and bloom harder right up to frost. They're a magnet for butterflies.
Companions: Tomato, cucumber, melons — draws pollinators and predatory insects
How to grow Zinnia
Zinnia is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this tender crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun and space plants about 9 inches apart. It takes roughly 60 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include tomato, cucumber, melons — draws pollinators and predatory insects.
Grower's tip: A cut-flower workhorse. Direct-sow after frost and pinch young plants for more stems.
When to plant Zinnia by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same zinnia goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors May 18–Jun 1 Transplant outdoors Jun 22–Jun 29 Direct sow outdoors Jun 15–Jun 29 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors May 13–May 27 Transplant outdoors Jun 17–Jun 24 Direct sow outdoors Jun 10–Jun 24 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors May 8–May 22 Transplant outdoors Jun 12–Jun 19 Direct sow outdoors Jun 5–Jun 19 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors May 2–May 16 Transplant outdoors Jun 6–Jun 13 Direct sow outdoors May 30–Jun 13 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Apr 27–May 11 Transplant outdoors Jun 1–Jun 8 Direct sow outdoors May 25–Jun 8 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Apr 22–May 6 Transplant outdoors May 27–Jun 3 Direct sow outdoors May 20–Jun 3 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Transplant outdoors May 22–May 29 Direct sow outdoors May 15–May 29 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Apr 12–Apr 26 Transplant outdoors May 17–May 24 Direct sow outdoors May 10–May 24 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Transplant outdoors May 12–May 19 Direct sow outdoors May 5–May 19 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Apr 2–Apr 16 Transplant outdoors May 7–May 14 Direct sow outdoors Apr 30–May 14 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Transplant outdoors Apr 28–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Transplant outdoors Apr 22–Apr 29 Direct sow outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Feb 22–Mar 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 29–Apr 5 Direct sow outdoors Mar 22–Apr 5 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Feb 15–Mar 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 22–Mar 29 Direct sow outdoors Mar 15–Mar 29 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 31–Feb 14 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Transplant outdoors Jan 22–Jan 29 Direct sow outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |