Zinnias, sunflowers and marigolds can be grown easily from seed. Other varieties, like sweet peas or climbing nasturtiums needing netting or trellises in order to flourish successfully.
Consider selecting an area that receives ample sunlight. For easier care, grow flowers in long linear beds to facilitate weeding, staking and picking more efficiently.
Planting
Successful cut flower gardening requires more than just pretty planting beds; it takes thought and planning. First, decide the purpose for which you wish to cultivate flowers; for beginners I suggest starting out with long-stemmed annual and perennial flowers with good vase life as these will have the longest vase life. Next, choose an area with rich, well-draining soil for best results; make sure it receives adequate sunlight each day (full sun is best); consult the back of your seed packets for the exact requirements for growing specific varieties if necessary – they should provide helpful instructions.
Consider that different plants require different amounts of time to mature and bloom. Make sure that fast-growing flowers – like zinnias and cosmos – are planted alongside slower-maturing varieties at the same time to achieve a balanced harvest throughout the season. Succession planting will extend your cutting garden’s bloom time for fresh blooms throughout summer and fall.
Care
Cut flower gardens require full sunlight and well-draining soil, with the addition of organic matter and slow-release flower fertilizer for best results. Flowers should also be easily accessible when it comes to harvesting; to maximize accessibility for this task, consider Jennifer Gulizia from PepperHarrow Farm who wrote Small Farm, Big Dreams: Turning A Backyard Passion Into A Profitable Floral Business as she recommends grouping together those that share similar growing conditions (hardiness zones or sun requirements).
If you have enough space, plant flowers in rows for easier weeding and harvesting. Otherwise, Louise Curley suggests scattering the blooms among vegetables or ornamental beds for maximum impact. When selecting annuals to grow for bouquets or floral-based crafts such as weaving or crafting projects, choose those with long stems suitable for creating bouquets as well as those that feature intriguing foliage like ferns. When adding fragrance such as peonies or lilyturfa to the selection.
Harvesting
Once your cut flower garden has been established, it is crucial to provide enough water for its proper maintenance. Overwatering can lead to root rot and nutrients being washed away while under-watering will leave your plants stressed out – therefore providing just the right amount of moisture will ensure long stemmed blooms with good vase life!
Make sure to regularly cut your flowers as well. Annuals like cosmos and zinnias, which bloom once annually, will continue blooming if cut back, while perennials such as peonies and lupines can rebloom if their spent blossoms are removed from their soil.
Use a clean bucket and sharp gardening tool to collect harvested flowers, cutting at an angle for increased surface area for water absorption and stripping away leaves at the base of stems to avoid fungal disease. Store flowers outside in cool, dark conditions until ready for storage in another bucket or the house.
Arranging
Cut flowers grown in your own garden are an economical and eco-friendly solution that will save both money and resources when purchased as cut bouquets from other countries. Furthermore, this type of garden may be easier to manage because much of your time will be spent cutting instead of weeding!
As you plan a cut flower garden, keep in mind the number of plants and types of flowers you intend to cultivate, as well as which varieties would work best in arrangements. Opt for varieties with long, strong stems for better vase life if possible and fillers such as arugula, echinacea and kale to add color and texture.
Keep in mind that cut flowers thrive best in full sun and well-drained soil. Soil tests can help determine whether your garden lacks essential nutrients; adding organic matter or special fertilizers may replenish these essential elements, leading to healthier plants with extended blooming period for your cut flowers. Incorporating crop rotation, companion planting and natural pest control techniques into your gardening strategy may also be effective ways of controlling diseases or insects that might infest it.