Lovelly, I started a whole bed for cut flowers a few years back, started out with roses, mostly scented, some sun flowers,cosmos peren sweet peas, last year, dahlias, dianthus, nicotianas, and nigelas which self seed. sowed my sweet peas in autumn and will be adding them this year, instead of growing in a tub as usual.
I think the best stocks are Brompton stocks, overwinter in the poytunnel for early spring flowering.
Don't forget gladioli. Grown in a row in the veg patch or cutting garden. Bulbs available now. I bought some Priscilla today from Lidl, along with some agapanthus. £5 for five bags. Agapanthus are single, but 15 corms in a bag of gladioli.
Another good one is Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Nice purply red leaves and a good furry spike of flowers.
Dahlias are good. Whilst singles are best for bees, I find that doubles last longer in vase. For a show stopper, try Cafe au lait. One bloom fills a vase.
Ooo , I’ve just ordered Dahlia cafe au Lait, it looks gorgeous and the variations in colour unusual. I’ve not tried stocks but another one to add to the “ I must try this” list.
Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.
My dahlias got a bit mixed up last year so they're all going into the cutting garden until I can sort them out when they flower.
I've got lots of very dark, nuit d' été, chat noir, Arabain Night, Soulman, etc along with a FAB unknown orange from Lyn which looks great with the dark flowers.
Obelixx said "Busy Lizzie does very good vases of cut flowers so I suggest you have a chat with her RG and see what she grows." - Thank you, Obelixx
Cornflowers, pot marigolds, clarkia, ammi, sweet peas, cosmos, zinnias, antirrhinums, dill, Love in a Mist, annual rudbeckias. But the dahlias I pick from the garden. I have been sowing flower seeds in a patch in the veg garden for a few years now and I also plant out some annuals there that I have grown in the greenhouse for the pots and flowerbeds, if I have some left over.
There was a thread somewhere called Jam Far Flowers, I'll see if I can find it.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Different flowers for different times of year. The cafe au lait is the dahlia on its own between the centre and right hand copper jugs, on the third photo.
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Lovelly, I started a whole bed for cut flowers a few years back, started out with roses, mostly scented, some sun flowers,cosmos peren sweet peas, last year, dahlias, dianthus, nicotianas, and nigelas which self seed. sowed my sweet peas in autumn and will be adding them this year, instead of growing in a tub as usual.
Coo, I'm liking this thread.
I've not got to the " what shall I plant?" stage yet so I'm loving all these lists.
I've got agapanthus I'm bulking up too so some of them will go into the " cutting " garden.
What about stocks for scent? Which are the best?
I think the best stocks are Brompton stocks, overwinter in the poytunnel for early spring flowering.
Don't forget gladioli. Grown in a row in the veg patch or cutting garden. Bulbs available now. I bought some Priscilla today from Lidl, along with some agapanthus. £5 for five bags. Agapanthus are single, but 15 corms in a bag of gladioli.
Another good one is Amaranthus hypochondriacus. Nice purply red leaves and a good furry spike of flowers.
Dahlias are good. Whilst singles are best for bees, I find that doubles last longer in vase. For a show stopper, try Cafe au lait. One bloom fills a vase.
Ooo , I’ve just ordered Dahlia cafe au Lait, it looks gorgeous and the variations in colour unusual. I’ve not tried stocks but another one to add to the “ I must try this” list.
My dahlias got a bit mixed up last year so they're all going into the cutting garden until I can sort them out when they flower.
I've got lots of very dark, nuit d' été, chat noir, Arabain Night, Soulman, etc along with a FAB unknown orange from Lyn which looks great with the dark flowers.
Obelixx said "Busy Lizzie does very good vases of cut flowers so I suggest you have a chat with her RG and see what she grows." - Thank you, Obelixx
Cornflowers, pot marigolds, clarkia, ammi, sweet peas, cosmos, zinnias, antirrhinums, dill, Love in a Mist, annual rudbeckias. But the dahlias I pick from the garden. I have been sowing flower seeds in a patch in the veg garden for a few years now and I also plant out some annuals there that I have grown in the greenhouse for the pots and flowerbeds, if I have some left over.
There was a thread somewhere called Jam Far Flowers, I'll see if I can find it.
Here it is - http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/jam-jar-flowers/996008.html
Different flowers for different times of year. The cafe au lait is the dahlia on its own between the centre and right hand copper jugs, on the third photo.
Last edited: 08 February 2018 20:32:32
Some lovely flower displays here
I'm making lists, got the Chiltern Seeds catalogue out (I browse the Sarah Raven one, Ob, - as you say, a bit pricey but lovely pictures)
Last edited: 08 February 2018 20:43:31
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
The Hellebores are particularly beautiful, do you have the names for them?