Starting a cut flower garden begins by selecting an ideal location. Most varieties require full sun; check the back of a seed packet to determine their optimal growing conditions.
Strive for a combination of perennials and annual flowers to reduce bare spots to cut. By choosing bloom times with varied characteristics, this will prevent unnecessary trimming down of beds.
Location
Ideal locations for cut flower gardens include sunny locations. Annuals and perennials need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day in order to produce abundant blooms, while taking into account wind exposure is key as tall flowering plants can easily be damaged by strong winds.
Start by planning your garden on paper, noting the type of flowers and their bloom cycles that you intend to plant. Next, map out your beds to ensure a productive blend of colors, heights and textures is present within each arrangement.
Based on your space and needs, there are two approaches for growing cutting flowers: creating a dedicated bed or scattering them throughout existing landscaping or vegetable gardens. When creating separate areas, ensure they have good drainage by loosening and adding slow-release flower fertilizer before planting flowers in them.
Soil
When planting a cut flower garden, soil is just as essential. Most blooms prefer rich, well-draining conditions; to improve existing garden beds’ soil, add lots of organic matter such as compost or leaf mold to enhance drainage.
Testing your soil prior to planting can make all the difference when it comes to its success and should never be ignored.
Arrange your garden so it contains annuals with blooming petals all season, such as sunflowers and zinnias, at the back. Add short stature plants in between. Finally, consider adding climbing vines like sweet peas or nasturtiums for filling any empty spaces in between.
Water
Once the soil has been amended and irrigation lines installed, it’s time to plant! Referring back to your garden plan, place taller plants like sunflowers at the back, while shorter flowers like zinnias should be in front.
Consider starting your seedlings several weeks or a month in advance of the last frost date to speed their development and ensure optimal growth. Many gardeners also pin young plants to encourage branching out and longer stems, such as in zinnias or celosias varieties.
Once your flowers have been planted in the ground, keep them hydrated by selecting an efficient watering system that maintains consistent soil moisture levels without becoming soggy or encouraging fungal disease development. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems work well since they deliver direct moisture directly to their roots while simultaneously limiting evaporation loss.
Fertilizer
Magic! Watching tiny, seemingly lifeless seeds sprout into glorious bouquets. Arranging your cutting garden in long rows allows for easier maintenance and harvesting.
Be careful when fertilizing an outdoor cut flower garden by applying just the right amount of nitrogen fertilizer; too little could result in poor growth, while too much may cause leggy or weak stems.
To encourage more blooms, regularly deadhead plants throughout the summer and pinch plants when they reach about one month old by cutting below each set of leaves (this will also promote straighter stems). To maximize blooms, pinch plants when they have their third or fourth set of leaves in place (at approximately 30-40 days old) so as to promote more even stem growth and encourage additional flowers.
Pruning
Cut flower gardens can be standalone planting areas or an extension of existing gardens, but either way require careful planning so you can access your flowers without trampling nearby plants. Select varieties with staggered bloom times so that there will always be fresh cut blooms available to use as fresh cut bouquets.
Regular inspections for disease and pests is also essential, such as powdery mildew and botrytis blight that thrive in humid conditions, so controlling them is critical. Another key to long-lasting cuts is regular deadheading of flowers to encourage production instead of seed production, and after cutting immerse your blooms for one hour in water with flower preservative before arranging.