Do you ever wish you had fresh cut flowers for your kitchen table or a guest bedroom? It’s easy to grow your own colorful cut flower garden. You don’t even need a huge space.

You just need the right flowers, sunshine, good soil, and a little bit of inspiration. With a bit of care, you’ll soon have beautiful flower arrangements you grew yourself!

Grow a Cut Flower Garden

Today we are talking blooms. Beautiful, bright, pollinator attracting blooms. Who doesn’t love flowers in the garden? Maybe even better than flowers in the garden is being able to bring them inside!

I always have irises, sunflowers, and zinnias in my garden to bring indoors, but I recently decided to expand my floral horizons for a more complete cut flower garden. I can’t wait to bring those big, beautiful flowers inside and to use them as homemade bouquets for my friends.

Cut Flower Garden Layout

One of the first steps is to decide your cut flower garden layout. In general, cutting flowers need a lot of sun. Choose a place that has full sun. Test your soil to make sure it is good for flowers. If it’s missing any nutrients, add compost or manure as needed.

I think annual cut flowers are also beautiful in raised beds. Whether you plant in the raised beds or in flower beds, make sure your soil is good quality and has good drainage.

Make a plan that has the tallest flowers in the back of the bed or in the center of a raised bed for better access to cutting. I recommend making a drawing that shows your beds and which flowers will go where. This helps you envision a realistic cut flower garden layout.

Best Flowers for a Cut Garden

If you’re a beginner gardener, start with garden favorite varieties of flowers that are easy to grow. These include

• Zinnias
• Sunflowers
• Daisies
• Salvia

Once you are more comfortable, try starting flower seeds indoors for a wider variety. Choose flowers that have a long vase life, have long stems, and beautiful blooms. I also prefer flowers that have a long growing season.

Here are other flowers for a beautiful and colorful cut flower garden:

I also like to grow herbs and use the flower leaves as greenery to add to bouquets. Purple basil and dill are two of my favorites to add to cut flower bouquets.

Use seed packets to start your seeds indoors or buy seedlings from flower farmers or greenhouses local to your area.

Can Cut Flowers Grow in Containers?

Yes! If you’re limited on space, start a cut flower garden in containers. Just make sure you water them well as the containers dry out faster. Do you remember the Butterfly Garden in a Pot that I made a couple years ago?

Cut Flower Container Garden Tips

Selected large, well draining pots for a container garden. I like to keep my containers close to the house as I’m less likely to forget watering them. I can also bring them inside easily if the weather takes a turn.

• Use a large container so there’s room for growth.
• Use a high quality potting soil to give the plants better nutrients
• Don’t forget mulch because it’s not just for traditional gardens. It also helps the plants maintain moisture in containers as well.
• Find a high quality, natural fertilizer to keep your plants healthy.
• Don’t forget to water!!

Does a Cut Flower Garden Need Fertilizer?

Flowers benefit from regular fertilizer during the growing season. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer every 4-6 weeks, starting in early spring. Avoid over-fertilizing as it results in too much foliage and not enough blooms. Fish emulsion or compost tea are also great for cut flower gardens.

When to Harvest Cut Garden Flowers

Generally, the best time to cut flowers is early in the morning when they are fully hydrated from the cooler night air. They will stay fresh longer if cut in the morning.

Cut most flowers when the buds are just beginning to open. Always use sharp, clean shears to make a clean cut and prevent any disease.

Place them immediately into water after cutting. Harvesting at the right time will give you a longer lasting display.

As long as your soil is fertile and your flowers have enough sun and water, you will be well on your way to growing your own cut flower garden.

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