Winter sowing Zinnias

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Has any one grown Zinnias For winter flowers?

[UMAR KHAN]

Brigd sb now is the right time to sow Zinnia for autunm flowering.flowers from this sowing has strong colors cuse the temp is not hot as hot in summer.i use to sow seeds in last week of August but this year i m not growing it.Marigold are much more beautiful than Zinnia in my personal view.secondly i wish to grow Decoratuve Dahlias.

[aykhan]

So Umar are you planting Dahlias now? Tubers?

[UMAR KHAN]

yes Inshallah after EID i,l plant rooted cuttings.

[aykhan]

I never knew you could have dahlias bloom from rooted cuttings!! When did you take your cuttings?

[UMAR KHAN]

Aoa well all the Dahlias you c flowering from NOV-APR are propegated from cuttings in local nursries.these cuttings are prepaired in hilly areas like Murree & Swat.cuttings are cheap than tubers.Dahlia & Marigolds come true to the type from cuttings.but the nurserymen will never reveal the secret to you.Fuchia & Hydrangeas are also prepaired but they do not bloom in our areas.i have planted rooted cuttings of Mari gold INCA.i purchase decorative Dahlias rooted cuttings from my friend Sarfaraz,owner of Pak flora nursery,Islamabad.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

You plant Dhalia tubers and take cuttings from its sprouts. The rooted cuttings give better results then the tubers.

[UMAR KHAN]

Yes cuttings give the best result.actually dahlias are suited to cool areas.when the cutting flowers first time it developes tubers.these plants do not flower in second year in hot climates.in the next seasons they again flower & the cycle runs.but in murree,abbottabad Dahlia flowers every summer regularly.

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

I have grown Kashmir Dahlia (now called Indian dahlia). If you leave the tubers in ground they sprout in August, take cuttings and root them in cool dry place. If they survive the heat/humidity they will bloom. You can store the tubers and sow them in September and then take the cuttings The results are better but by the time they are ready to bloom it is again very hot. So it is best to buy them every year.
In Lahore the rooted cuttings are brought in September due to local conditions.