Saving Zinnia Seeds?

[GardenGeisha]

Well, the wind did my coral zinnia in just now. Toppled it over, severed at the crown. Is there any chance the flowers remaining on the stalk will go to seed? How can I help them do so? I'd love to save seeds from this plant. I'm so glad I got a picture of it in bloom (see my previous post entitled 'Coral Zinnia.' I have the flowers in a bucket of water with aspirin and 7-up in it, trying to prolong their life.

When does one gather zinnia seeds, anyway? How do you know when they are ripe? I always thought it best to wait right until before the frost. Do you just let the flower heads die on the plant and then cut off the head when it's brown and save the whole thing in a paper bag?

 

[so lucky]

I have my doubts whether the cut flowers will go ahead and make seeds, but it won't hurt to try. There is an article on the net that says to just wait till the flower heads are completely brown and dry, then cut or pull them off and store them in a paper bag till next spring.
If this effort fails, you can buy zinnia seeds in specific colors now, if you find a store that has large seed racks. Your coral one might be a "cut-and-come-again" variety.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Thanks, so lucky! I did plant some of the Cut and Come Again, and I wonder whether it might be a Lilliput from the Burpee's seed tape. Also planted some State Fair.

 

[GardenGeisha]

So Lucky,

I just Googled 'Cut and Come Again' zinnias, and I think you are right! They do look just like mine. Here is a fun Blog about them:

http://hedgerowrose.com/annuals-perennials/annuals/2011/08/18/growing-cut-come-again-zinnias/

Sadly, the wind took out a 2d coral zinnia this afternoon, one with smaller flowers. That's it for corals this year. Next year I'll grow a bunch of them!

 

[so lucky]

I love that website that Marshall mentioned. I am putting together an order from them; gotta have some of those Edwardians, and some others, too. I did a mixed row of zinnias, larkspur and a few dahlias in the garden this year. Oh, and some volunteer cosmos.
I really like flowers that reseed easily. I had cosmos, 4 O'clocks, morning glories, marigolds and calendula volunteering this year. Maybe I should stick to flowers; they seem to do better for me than veggies. :/