Before planting, it’s essential to establish your growing zone and understand any frost risk and when it is safe to plant.
Choose flower varieties with long bloom periods, like hydrangeas, zinnias and sunflowers. Also consider cold-season blooming sweet peas and plants with striking foliage such as kale or lavender to complete your arrangement.
Location
Location is of utmost importance when planting cut flower gardens, and full sun throughout the day should be given preference over shade as most blooms don’t like being shaded from direct light.
Make sure the location is easily accessible for harvesting and weeding, and think carefully about how its layout will complement other garden beds and structures – for instance if planting cutting flower gardens in rows allows easy deadheading access.
Watering should be easy with either a hose or drip irrigation system; that way you can avoid overhead watering that could lead to fungal diseases, and promote healthy growth with abundant blooms. Water deeply and regularly for maximum impactful blooms!
Soil
Flowers thrive best in soil that has been amended with organic material such as compost or leaf mold, then worked into the top 6-8 inches of a planting bed.
Remove any weeds that compete for water and nutrients with plants in your garden, to ensure that cut flowers receive enough to bloom fully. A weed-free garden will give them all they need for healthy blooming!
Once the ground can be worked, most cutting gardens should be planted in spring once conditions permit. To get an early start and produce varieties not offered in local nurseries, start seeds indoors using hardiness zone timing instructions from seed packets.
Water
At times it seems almost miraculous that tiny seeds can blossom into full-grown plants with flowers that bloom into stunning bouquets – yet their transformation seems almost miraculous! Even more remarkable is the way those blooming blooms can then be harvested to form stunning armloads of beautiful bouquets – yet more magical still.
Growing from seed is challenging, and knowing your chosen flower varieties’ blooming and growing requirements is essential to successful results. Some need to be planted at certain months for blooming on time while others require cool temperatures before being exposed to summer heat.
Before planting tender seedlings outdoors, ensure they have been hardened off for two weeks by hardening off and then planting indoors again. When planting outside, space out taller sunflower plants at the back and medium-sized ones like zinnias at the front using a soaker hose or drip irrigation system which provides deep soil watering without excessive evaporation.
Fertilizer
Utilizing fertilizers specifically formulated for cut flowers will assist your plants in maintaining vibrant foliage and blooms, often featuring higher concentrations of nitrogen as well as other elements that promote growth. Apply these twice every week throughout the season in your garden.
Maintaining a weed-free cut flower garden is integral to maintaining healthy blooms that look their best. To simplify harvesting and weeding tasks, consider planting in long rows or grid system.
Once your flowers are harvested, place them immediately into a bucket of clean water to rehydrate them and extend their lifespan by several days. You may even consider adding flower preservative for extra protection.
Sun
Cut flower gardens are specifically designed to offer flowers for cutting – including buds, blooms and stems – in order to attract pollinators.
Cut flower plants must receive plenty of sunlight; full sun is ideal. Always referring back to your seed packet for specific growing requirements is advised. Water your cut flowers early morning as this allows their roots time to soak up moisture before the heat of the day arrives.
Consider mixing vegetables into your cut flower garden to reap the rewards of companion planting, which attracts pollinators, boosts growth, and reduces pests. Also, organize your garden so taller flowers like sunflowers are in the back while shorter ones like zinnias are front.