I know a few of you grow flowers exclusively for cutting flowers, either to sell or just to keep fresh and/or dried arrangements in your home.

These gardens sometimes or most of the time, do not fit into your landscaping or show gardens.

I would like the "pros" to share their advice to the others their experience and expertise in this area. From the best way of growing from seed, to how to care for them to get the best "vase life" from them.

But, not exclusively from "pros", as many gardeners on this forum are multi-talented in gardening, growing from seed to bloom, as well as floral design and setting up separate areas especially for this purpose. All ideas and suggestions are welcome.

I used to grow flowers for dried arrangements and wreaths, as well as pick wild ones. I had uneven success. One of the best perennials to grow is lavender (many uses) . I did all right with globe amaranth but not the other kind. Sea holly was hopeless, but bells of Ireland did fine. Strawflowers were pretty reliable, as was sweet William. Of the wild ones, I liked yarrow (for its scent) and pussytoes (because it looked pretty in small dainty wreaths) best. Sweet pea is easy to work with and looks good for a while, but fades over time. The one to start with, I think, is baby's breath - I found it abundant, trouble free and attractive in any combination.
For large arrangements, I liked to cut young bullrushes and Alexanders and hang them upside down in my semi-dark storage room until the goldenrod (including galls), the teasel, globe thistle, and Pampas grass were ready.

Vera ~ Did you grow the annual Gypsophila or the perennial one?

evelyninthegarden said: Vera ~ Did you grow the annual Gypsophila or the perennial one?

Annual - I tossed seed in among all the other flowers. Lovely things! I kind of miss them... I should toss some in among the beans!

When I had my cutting garden, I relied on winter sowing to have easy and economical access to perennials. I love delphiniums but they are expensive to purchase and don't live long in the Midwest heat. I would usually sow those and others in my containers on my outside porch the first week of January. Many do not bloom until the following year; however, I had more than enough for bouquets in that second year. For annuals, I relied on larkspur (sowed in Autumn but no later than January), zinnias (sowed when much warmer), Bells of Ireland (sowed very early), Celosia, Cosmos, Ageratum (taller variety). What was even better, is that some of the annuals reseeded and are around even today. I was tickled to see the Ageratum growing in several corners of the pasture even 5 years later. There are several other varieties I do not recall. I learned of some unusual, beautiful selections from the Cutting Garden forum on Houzz over ten years ago before it was Houzz. A wonderful giant selection of seeds is available from GeoSeeds. It is more of a commercial site; however, their prices are extremely reasonable for the volume of seeds and the variety. Their catalog is online; however, there are no photos and you may need to do some sleuthing as Latin names are used.

TBipp ~ Welcome to the floral design forum! And NGA.:hurray:
I too, used to be a GardenWeb member, many years ago. Then Dave's Garden, now here, founded by the "original" Dave of Dave's Garden.(cubits, too!)

I grew some delphiniums this year. Some I got seeds from New Zealand. Others were Blue Mirror and Connecticut Yankees. I started them in January. I just had to stake a couple of them today. This has been the coolest spring on record. I imagine the summer heat will be coming soon. Usually we are hot and dry by now, but it has actually rained lately. Maybe we will get a cooler summer this year, but probably not. If they bloom next year, I will be happy. You are right! They are expensive to buy as plants. I hope I will see some flowers on them next year. Then I will try to take some cuttings as well as sow more seeds.

I grow flowers in my garden because I like the potential of having cut flowers year round. One early reason was that my mom likes to go to the cemetery on all the holidays and it was always nice to be able to go out to the garden to pick flowers rather then go to the store to buy them. Now my mom is starting to bring flower arrangements to her church.

I sprinkle flower clusters throughout the garden. In full bloom right now are these Asiatic lilies.

These two varieties have mutiplied and rebloomed for last 5 years.
Royal Sunset and Blackout


Royal Sunset


Closeup of Blackout

Soilsandup, I love your lilies and I'm a huge fan. I have spent so much money only to have them eaten by deer. I finally found a deer protectant spray that works and plan to plant more this Autumn. I probably lost 3 dozen this Spring and have about 2 dozen remaining to bloom. Sadly, my favorite lily grower just closed up shop so I'll be looking for another source.

TBipp - so sorry you have deer problems. I am lucky - snails and slugs are my worse problems. The birds, mice, and squirrels eat the fruits, but leave the flowers alone.

A couple of weeks ago, these Pink Perfection trumpet lilies were in full bloom.



They make great cut flowers.

Dianne, pretty lilies. What else are you growing this year?

Hydrangeas and tracheliums are in bloom.

Got a cutting of this hydrangea about 20 years ago and it grows so vigorously that I have to trim it regularly. Since it is in the rear of the garden, I do let it get tall.


Trachelium (I think variety Hamer Pandora) with scabiosa


What I do is walk around the yard and pick and choose what is in season for bouquets. I picked these for my mom who likes to bring flowers to church.

@ soilsandup pretty color combos you made gorgeous florals . Your flowers are way ahead of mine. Still waiting for this seasons flowers.

Last Seasons bouquets.

I love a restrained colour scheme! The blue-and-white one is elegant... but I think I prefer the one with purples, for the basic shape and the contrasting textures. There's so much of interest there!

I don't grow flowers anymore on purpose, so I mostly appreciate the wild ones. Pick those near in my year within easy walking distance.
Day lilies should be coming along soon, and there's a patch out back of those tall yellow yarrows that smell so good (the leaves, not the flowers)and black--eyed Susans. A few broad beech fern leaves to relieve the yellow... That sound like a harmonious bouquet? Something to look forward to!

My foraging a picking range used to be a fair chunk of the county - now it's pretty much just my front and back yards. (Don't get old - it sucks!)

Serpent said: I love a restrained colour scheme! The blue-and-white one is elegant... but I think I prefer the one with purples, for the basic shape and the contrasting textures. There's so much of interest there!

I don't grow flowers anymore on purpose.
(Don't get old - it sucks!)

You sure got that right! Gardening for me right now is a big challenge. And I am past 80!

evelyninthegarden said: And I am past 80!

Hey, that's no mean feat! We got this far, right? Remember:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Serpent said:Remember:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Vera ~ Thanks...for the memories...🎵🎶🎵🎶