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We're ready to guarantee that zinnias will not fail you. But if you live where late summer nights are cool and humid, brace yourself for a potential encounter with powdery mildew. Prevention is your best defense against this troublesome fungus, says Larry Hodgson, author of Annuals for Every Purpose. He recommends protecting zinnias from the grayish white growth by maintaining good air circulation around them, watering at the roots, and choosing mildew-resistant varieties (see "5 Top Choices" for specific recommendations). Last summer, Japanese beetles clustered on the zinnias growing in the OG Test Garden. However, our research editor and garden manager, Pam Ruch, observed that the beetles flocked more to the lime and white zinnias and were less attracted to bright orange, red, and purple varieties. If you live where these beetles are a pest, simply hand-pluck the marauders off the foliage and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
