Flowers for cutting question

[AlanP]

I have a bed at the allotment that is for cut flowers, I have pinks of various colours, a couple of rose bushes, sweet peas in summer and two perennial daises. This leaves me with a piece of land about 12ft x 3ft. I am looking for cut flowers that I can grow from seed, I would be grateful for any suggestions. I don't really want to go down the Chrysanthemums road as our site is quite windy

Alan

[Bigmallly]

Calendula are a doddle & really vibrant yellows/oranges.

[Guest]

Dahlias (yes you can grow from seed ) and sweet williams. Are these stand alone fresh flowers only as honesty is lovely for the seed cases, strawflowers for drying, lavender for scent/contrast, achillea, monarda. I will edit when I think of some more

Rudbeckia, sunflowers (there is a lot more than just the tall show giants), love in the mist

[AlanP]

Thanks for the suggestions, just been googling, as you do and came across 'Zinnia like the look of them but not sure how high they grow. Any one grown these?

Alan

[Martin H]

If you watch the first episode of the Big Allotment Challenge, they all have to grow Zinnias for their flower arrangements: BBC iPlayer - The Big Allotment Challenge - Series 2: Episode 1

[muddled]

Cornflowers make nice cut flowers, something of a filler, they bring out the form and colour of more showy blooms. I like them best with sweet peas and herbs for a real 'English country garden' bouquet.
They grow from seed and the time to sow them is NOW.

According to 'the Cut Flower book' by louise curley, zinnias should be sown mid spring to be planted out after last frost.
pinch out at four true leaves to strengthen stems.
a comfrey feed once flowering encourages more blooms.
height 18-32 inches.
Lime green ones are hard to grow, 'mixed sprite' is more successful apparently.
They don't like root disturbance but unless grown in a polytunnel have to be sown indoors to have time to flower.

Not grown them myself but to be honest....they sound like a bit of a faff.

[roitelet]

Thanks for the suggestions, just been googling, as you do and came across 'Zinnia like the look of them but not sure how high they grow. Any one grown these?

Alan

I love Zinnias the ones for cutting grow to about there feet. The only problem with them is that they need heat and it is only since I have been out here that I have had much success. I think that in your area you will struggle.

How about gladioli?

[WPG]

I agree with roitelet about zinnias - I've found them a bit difficult to grow here unless we get a really hot summer. I had better luck with asters, and some varieties look quite similar to zinnias anyhow.

I've been disappointed with some flowers which are meant to be 'cutting flowers' but hardly last more than a day or two in water. Among the longest lasting in water I've found are ox-eyed daisies and also rudbeckia. I also love nigella and cosmos for their foliage as much as the flowers. If your site is windy, dwarf cosmos would be better.

Am sure more will come to mind.

[MarkHackwell]

Larkspur looks quite nice and they are quite tall and carnations

[Guest]

If going for tall spikey specimens you have lupins, hollyhocks and delphinums all flower in their second year and take up a fair size foot prints but they are gorgeous

[Kristen]

carnations

Mrs K bought some from a supermarket the other week because they were reduced. In stripping off all the foliage (below the water line) each plant had at least one side shoot ... now all potted up as cuttings If they take it will have been a very cost effective bunch of flowers!

[MarkHackwell]

Mrs K bought some from a supermarket the other week because they were reduced. In stripping off all the foliage (below the water line) each plant had at least one side shoot ... now all potted up as cuttings If they take it will have been a very cost effective bunch of flowers!

That was a great idea of yours, at least your giving it a go and it could work

[MarkHackwell]

After some googling I found this:

Cut Flower Wall Chart and Growing Guide - Suttons Gardening Grow How

Thought it might be helpful

[Nicos]

Don't forget to put in daffodil bulbs in clumps so you can take flowers early on in the year.

We grow nasturtiums, English marigold and mutiheaded sunflowers for cutting. Also a few ox-eye daisies all of which are easy to grow.

Several small posies fitted around the house look just as pretty as one large vase display!

[muddled]

I grow nasturtiums for eating

Pinks and sweetpeas for scent
Daffs because couch grass hates them,
cornflowers, cosmos, sweet williams and crysanthemums for vases
herbs herbs and more herbs....

(blowin my own trumpet a bit here...) I was one of the (many) florists that made the olympic bouquets...they were simply roses with herbs. Well, I say 'simply' they were a nightmare to make but the herbs did make the perfect backdrop for the roses.

I grow lupins and sunflowers too but can't bear to cut them