Cut flowers are wonderful and colourful additions to home decor. They bring joy, and growing them at home can be a meaningful and rewarding activity. Growing cut flowers does not require much space or skill, and you can choose the flowers you want to grow according to your desired colours and varieties. Here you will find the best tips for planning a cut flower garden, sowing seeds, pre-cultivation, planting, and care.
@katarinadahlin Finally the growing season starts again 🌱🤍🧡 #cutflowergarden #cutflowergardening #slowflowergarden #slowflowers #growingseason #growyourownflowers #thisisthelife ♬ This Is The Life – The Sunnefield Remix – Micky
Growing cut flowers in the Nordic region
Growing cut flowers in the Nordic region works well, even though the season is short. I myself grow cut flowers on a garden plot in Aspegrens prästgårdsträdgård from the 18th century. In the Nordic region, you can grow many different cut flowers. Growing cut flowers has become trendy among both home growers and professional growers. The cut flower season in the Nordic region is short, so it is good to choose both early and late cut flower varieties so that you can enjoy cut flowers for a longer time. It is recommended to study the needs of different plants and adapt them to your own conditions before you start growing.
Choose suitable cut flower varieties
The first step in growing cut flowers is to choose the varieties you like. If you are a beginner, choose varieties that are easy to succeed with. Easy-to-grow cut flowers include cosmos, scabiosa, phlox, zinnia, or pansy. These varieties are grown from seed and are annuals, except for the pansy which is biennial. Many cut flowers need pre-cultivation, and the growing location should be sunny and warm. Other cut flowers are perennials and grow from roots like dahlias or bulbs like tulips.
Get soil, growing substrates, and other necessary tools
Once you have chosen suitable varieties, you will need a growing substrate and accessories such as seed compost or growing substrate, and preferably also additional lighting. During pre-cultivation, it is good to have a grow light to increase the light so that the seedlings do not become too long and weak.
It is also important to provide the flowers with enough water and nutrients to keep them healthy and thriving. During pre-cultivation, you can conveniently label the plants with name tags.
Cut flowers should be supported with plant supports or strings and sticks so that they do not fall over in the wind and rain. Common garden tools are also good to have when caring for your cut flower bed. Invest in good garden shears so that the flower stem stays as healthy as possible when it is time to pick flowers for a bouquet. With quality shears, it is also easy to cut the stems to the right size for the vase. I have Fiskars shears, florist shears, and general garden shears. A small trowel is also a good tool when it is time to move the plants outside.
Save money by growing cut flowers yourself
Growing cut flowers at home can save you money, as you can choose exactly the varieties and colours you want, and you do not have to pay for expensive plants from the florist. Additionally, you can enjoy growing cut flowers and follow their growth from seeds to cut flowers, and of course, be proud that you have grown your bouquets yourself.
Cut flowers and sustainability
Growing cut flowers is an environmentally friendly option, as you do not always need to buy flowers grown abroad. You can also reuse growing substrates. Products you invest in for flower growing last a long time and can be used for many years to come.
Growing cut flowers as a hobby
Growing your own cut flowers from seeds is a fun hobby, and even beginners can succeed with these tips. Growing cut flowers can also offer relaxation and a way to channel your creativity. You can enjoy growing flowers and admire their blooming. You can also create different flower bouquets and arrangements for various occasions. And on social media, you can follow other cut flower growers’ work and gather inspiration and new ideas for your own cut flower hobby. On social media, you can see which cut flowers and bouquets are trendy right now.
Sources:
Benzakein, E. (2017). Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms. Chronicle Books.
Proust, M. (2022). From Seed to Bloom: A Year of Growing and Designing With Seasonal Flowers. Quadrille Publishing.
