Zinnia Dahlia 'Candy Stripe'

150 Seeds

Seeding Zinnia Dahlia 'Candy Stripe' is a fantastic way to grow big, dahlia-type blooms with striped and speckled petals — typically in shades of white, pink, and red. Like other Zinnia elegans, this variety is easy to grow, fast to flower, and loved by pollinators.

Here’s your full seeding guide:

🌼 Zinnia Dahlia 'Candy Stripe' – Seeding Guide

(Zinnia elegans – dahlia-flowered type)

📅 When to Sow

✅ Indoors (for an early start):

• Start 4–6 weeks before last frost date
  → Example: Sow in late March–April for a May transplant

✅ Outdoors (direct sow – easy):

• After last frost when soil is warm (60°F / 16°C and up)
  → Usually mid to late spring, depending on your region

🌱 How to Sow

Soil & Light:

• Full sun (6+ hours daily)

• Well-drained soil, not too rich — overly fertile soil leads to lush leaves but fewer flowers

Sowing Instructions:

• Depth: ¼ inch (6 mm)

• Spacing: Sow 2–3 inches apart

  • Thin to 12–18 inches apart once established for best air flow and large blooms

🌡️ Germination

• Temperature: 70–75°F (21–24°C)

• Time: 5–10 days

• Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy

🌿 After Germination

• If started indoors, harden off seedlings for 7–10 days before transplanting

• Once growing outdoors, water at the base to avoid powdery mildew

• Pinch early growth to encourage branching

🌸 Blooming

• 60–75 days from sowing to bloom

• Produces 3–5 inch, fully double blooms with striped or bicolor petals

• Blooms summer through frost with deadheading

🪴 Growing Tips

• Deadhead spent flowers regularly for non-stop blooms

• Avoid overhead watering to reduce risk of mildew

• Stake if necessary in windy areas — these can grow 2–3 ft tall

• Excellent for cut flowers, pollinator gardens, borders, and beds

🐝 Pollinator Friendly

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects

• Great for companion planting and biodiversity