Making a song and dance

Brilliant Zinnia ‘Jazz’ brings a lot to the party, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

THIS week’s free seeds are enough to make anyone sit up and take notice.

Zinnia ‘Jazz’ are half hardy annuals that pack a massive punch of colour with their large flowers in vivid shades of pink, orange and purple.

They are bushy plants that grow to 30in (75cm) and are suitable for borders and containers. They also last well in vases after they have been cut.

They are also popular with pollinators, which will help the other plants around your gardens.

Because they are half-hardy annuals it is still a little early to sow them directly in a flower bed, so I have split my pack in half. The first lot I have sown in a pot and am germinating them on a light windowsill. The rest will be sown in the garden in April or early May.

The large seeds are easy to scatter thinly and if any fall too close together, you can easily move them.