ZINNIA HARVESTS
JUNE 20, 2025
Zinnias are a tried and true flower that will churn out blooms throughout the heat of summer.
I plant seeds indoors every month February through September to ensure continuous blooms. These gorgeous flowers are quite easy to grow and care for, and are darling in bouquets.
The only trick is that you must harvest zinnia blooms when “ripe” - harvesting them too early or too late may result in decrease vase life, so keep reading for all the details for how to ensure your zinnia harvest leads to a long-lasting bouquet!
01. wobble test
every zinnia should pass the wobble test before being harvested:
gently hold the zinnia about 6” from the bloom
shake the stem from side to side
if the bloom wobbles back and forth on a flimsy stem, it’s not ripe and you shouldn’t harvest it
if the bloom remains upright, on a rigid stem, it’s ripe and you can proceed to the next step
02. stem length
think of every snip as a conversation between you and the plant - when you cut short stems, you’re telling the plant you want more stems; when you cut long stems, you’re telling the plant you want more long stems
I know it can be heart breaking, but cutting DEEPLY into the plant - twelve to eighteen inches down - is the best way to ensure you have long, straight stems for bouquets (even if it means cutting off a few side shoots and buds in the process)
03. where to cut
short answer: just above a set of leaves!
since zinnias are “cut and come again” they will grow new blooming stems after they are cut, so it’s best to snip juuuuust above a set of leaves
the “elbow” where the leaves attach to the stem has a hormone that will stimulate blooming growth. when cutting just above that junction, you are enabling the hormone to start generating new growth right away.
if you snip leaving inches of stem above a leaf set, you’ll notice the stem die back and THEN the new sprouts grow. so it’ll still happen, just slower!
04. but wait!
double blooming zinnias CAN be left on the plant for a few days to a week after the pass the wobble test - they’ll grow more layers of petals the longer they stay on the plant
meanwhile “single” zinnias will a have a crown of pollen and one layer of petals - they will never grow any extra layers. so, go ahead and harvest those as soon as they are sturdy.
all in all - zinnias are a great heat tolerant beginner plant. these tips and tricks will optimize your harvest, but are not at all required! you can harvest short, wobbly stems, pop them in bud vases and still add a ton of cheer to your home!
remember, gardening is a perpetual lesson - perfection is never the goal!
if you’re more of a visual learner, I posted a long-form reel demonstrating all of these topics, check it out here.
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