Make sure to plant both annuals and perennials that can be cut for cutting, as well as some flowers that dry well, said Leigh. Additionally, support may be needed for tall plants.
Consider growing cut flower varieties that have been specifically developed for cut flowers; these tend to have longer vase lives, larger blooms, and longer stems than standard varieties. Select flowers with similar water and nutrient needs too.
Soil
A cut flower garden should be located in an area receiving at least six hours of direct sun per day and away from standing water and any competing trees or other plants that might compete for nutrients and moisture.
Once you know how much space is available to you, prepare the soil by loosening and amending with compost and slow-release flower fertilizer. Also perform a soil test to assess its nutrient and pH levels.
Once your flowers have been planted, group them according to their growing requirements in order to prevent unintentionally over-watering them or under-watering them. As blooms begin to fade, remove them and reseed with flowers that bloom at various times throughout the season so you’ll have flowers to cut all summer long! You might also consider planting perennial flowers like lilies or irises that rebloom year after year for maximum impact!
Water
For optimal results, cut flower gardens must be watered regularly. Regular but light irrigation will help your flowers keep their shape and last longer in a vase. However, beware of overwatering or underwatering as this could damage their health as well as lead to fungal growth in your soil.
Before designing the layout for your cutting garden, take time to understand each flower variety’s sun, soil and space needs. Grouping similar-need plants together will make it easy for you to provide exactly what they require.
When planting your cut flower garden, always follow the recommendations on the seed or plant packet. Annuals need to be planted on a grid while perennials can be scattered more freely – for instance zinnias and snapdragons perform best when grown on an 18″x18″ grid while dahlias and delphiniums work better on 9″x9″ grid. You should also separate plants that require staked support such as sunflowers from those that benefit from fences or grow-through netting (such as sweet peas). Pinch many zinnias/celosias plants to promote branching which produces longer stems suitable for cutting purposes.
Pruning
If you choose plants that require staking or support, such as sweet peas or clematis, plant them close together and install trellises or grow-through supports while the young plants are still small. Also consider filler flowers like zinnias, cosmos, rudbeckia or larkspur to add height, color and texture.
Strive for a mix of perennials (those which return every year) and annuals grown from seeds or starts. Design the layout so as to facilitate watering, weeding and harvesting as efficiently as possible.
Determine each flower’s growing conditions, including sun and soil preferences, before grouping them together so you can easily give them their care, such as pinching spent blooms. A liquid organic flower fertilizer or compost should be applied when planting and every two weeks during their growing season to increase flower production and flower health. A raised garden bed allows complete control over soil quality for healthier and more prolific flowers.
Harvesting
Cut flower gardens aim to produce blooms for bouquets. Ideally, their location should offer full sun with good drainage, with soil amended with organic compost or slow-release organic fertilizer for maximum bloom production. Flowers need regular pinching back or deadheading when their petals fade to encourage continued blooming while keeping your garden weed-free.
Ideal plantings should be arranged in long rows to facilitate easy access and harvesting. Some flowers require support structures like trellises or grow-through supports, like climbing nasturtiums, sweet peas, and sunflowers that need trellis trellising; group plants by their cultural needs to ensure they receive appropriate care without over- or underwatering them – for instance tall plants like dahlias and delphiniums should be located towards the back while shorter-stature annuals should be placed up front so as not engulfed by taller plants engulfing them all at once; you could group by bloom time to avoid overlapped flowering periods overlapping each year as if necessary.