Cut Flowers

Hi all,

Couldn't find a thread on this topic. I'm looking to grow some flower for cutting this year to do some nice bouquets/arrangements for the house. I was wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this? I'm going to dedicate an allotment bed specifically for growing such flowers.

Any advice? Recommendations? Have I missed the boat planting out bulbs etc?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

Hi Snorky,

Now is the perfect time to start off most. The main ones I can think of are Dahlias ( from either tubers or seed ), Chrysanths ( from plugs ) and from seeds you've got Sweet Peas, Larkspur, Statice.

 

@KFFY love those for cutting
@Snorky85 I grow loads of cutting flowers in my wildflower beds one of my top favs is Cosmos sooo many color varieties to choose from ....You can actually buy cutting flower seed selection pkts now, also Sarah Raven has a brill video that i learned a lot from
Oooo seed sowing the promise of happy gardening times ahead

 

@JWK

Her book my ultimate go-to flower bible

 

Hi @Snorky85,

My uncle used to grow Chrysanths as an hobby but also sold them regular...he had a massive green house for the seeds in different colours and when they established he'd move them into his garden in sections and also treat them and has the heads was developing brown bags was then covered over the heads and he used to have a lovely show.

People would buy them for their homes / graves on a sunday...worth thinking about

 

Another useful link Snork
"Most of us think bulb-planting goes on primarily in the autumn, but there are several classy bulbs that can be planted now"
Exotic bulbs for summer borders

 

Don't forget cut flowers in pots!

I bought 3 packs of 30 and planted them 4 to a 75mm/3" dia. pot and kept them in a polytunnel over winter, putting the first 6 (out of 23) pots in my greenhouse a week ago, and here they are ...



P.S. I only managed to squeeze 4 (branching) bulbs in each pot, the pots were free 2nd hand and the saucers were 5 for 10p reduced at Wilkos, so less than 20p per pot including compost.

 

These are just a few of my seeds that make up some of my cutting flowers the top four from left to right are just some of my cosmos varieties.... YES im addicted to them

 

Are you sure the same shop still as any

 

Thats just the first batch I grow lots, for my family and friends and for charity stalls too ... its true....im a seedaholic

 

Ooh brilliant - thank you everyone!!! And for the useful links - I'd done a search for Cut Flower but nothing came up for me?!

@BeeHappy @JWK fab - just seen the Sarah Raven cut flower book - might have to treat myself! :D

Good news is that I've got some dahlia seeds already sprouting (I think they need potting on now).

I'd also bought some Gypsophila so need to get that planted but it's a bit wet still.

That's a bargain @Scrungee - I'm looking for ways of also doing this cheap as funds are low at the mo! Ah - I know that Bunnings - I need a trip to MK for a bargain!

@Gail_68 Sounds like a great idea about the Crysanths - apparently my great grandad used to grow and show them so would be great to grow them like he did

I've been seriously looking for a different career as the accountancy (despite spending a fortune studying and working in for the last 12 years) is just a bit dull. I want to be able to get outside, do something creative that isn't behind a computer screen for 10hrs a day. Looking to do a course in floristry this year.

 

I reckon if they're seed sown, then they could well be bedding dahlias, and might be too short for cut flowers. Might be worth re-checking the details.

 

ah poops - didn't know there was a difference. They were a packet from wilkos.

 

Wilkos appear to sell 6 varieties of Dahlia seeds, only 2 of which are of sufficient height for cutting.