Zinnia seed collection - a question

[dugaresa]

I love zinnias.

So I bought 20 packages and grew them all over my yard. The question however is, when do I start harvesting seed heads?

To I leave them on the plant to dry or pick them off and dry them myself?

I recall letting them stay on the plant and then harvesting but it has been years since I did this last.

Next year I hope to plant a huge swath of them across my back yard.

[GardeningGal]

1. I always left them on the plant to dry and then harvested. nt

[ginnyinWI]

2. leave them to dry

just like marigolds, the seeds from a zinnia are like little black sticks. Just so the birds don't get them before you do. In that case, pick some and put them in a brown paper bag to finish drying.

[FloriTexan]

3. After the flower wilt...

and the tops start drying, I sometimes just cut the flower head off and ziplock it in a dry place with the baggie open so it doesn't get humid and rot.