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Flower breeders have been producing many marvelous garden salvias in recent years, but many will not reveal their potential because of a caterpillar that is spreading across the country. That caterpillar is the Southern Pink Moth, also known as Salvia budworm. This beautiful, petite moth (Pyrausta inornatalis) lays its eggs on salvia plants. The larvae…
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Some of the specialty zinnia seeds on the market are really expensive compared to a basic zinnia mix. But in my opinion, they are absolutely worth it for the beginning breeder. Once you introduce some of these zinnias into your garden, let them cross with others, and save your seeds, you will start to see…
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Tiffany Jones of Blomma Flower Farm did not plan to be a zinnia breeder, but one thing led to another and now she is producing and selling some of the prettiest new zinnias available. She has also become one of the most prominent educators in the grassroots zinnia breeding movement, through her frequent videos on…
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From a single plant to a new variety, Prairie Peach zinnia was six years in the making. Here’s a quick summary of the work involved.
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I’m a believer in doing tasks by hand in the beginning. Having a close-up, tactile relationship with any task imparts knowledge. At times, when I am engaged in hand labor, I may not even know I have learned something. But I always realize it later; there is always some small but important fact I gleaned…
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Zinnias are one of the easiest and most carefree flowers you can grow, if you provide the right conditions. They need full sun to perform well. They can be grown with as little as six hours of sun per day, but they will bloom later and less profusely, and the plants will not be as…
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If you are intrigued by the new zinnias being bred by small farmers, consider getting into the zinnia breeding game yourself. It’s easy to develop your own signature zinnia — really! All you need is a little technical know-how and lots of time and patience. There are two paths to the goal of creating a…
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Zinnia breeding is a grassroots movement with plenty of information sharing. It is my goal to bring together more information about zinnia breeding over time, so check back. Meanwhile, here are resources that should get you started: The best resource for beginners is a book, The Zinnia Breeder’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Flower Farmers,…
Flower Territory 