Gardening for the Flower Vase-MG

Nothing adds to the beauty of a room like an arrangement of fresh flowers, and growing those flowers at home only adds to their appeal. In order to fill very many vases with flowers, however, it might be necessary to cut so many flowers that our flowerbeds could begin to look ragged and bare. Having a special garden just for the purpose of providing the home with fresh flowers alleviates this situation. Cutting gardens are easy to establish, maintain, and harvest, as they usually consist mainly of annuals grown from seed.

The cutting garden must be established where its occasionally picked-over appearance will not be a factor. I have mine on one end of the vegetable garden, but a sunny back fence area or side yard will suffice, also. Most annual flowers do require a lot of sun, so before starting your garden take some time to observe how many hours of sun a day your chosen area receives. Your garden will need at least six to eight hours of direct sun each day.

Soil must be prepared for a cutting garden, just as in any other. First, deep-till the soil, and then lightly till in some organic material (such as compost) to increase drainage and to add to the soil’s fertility. Be careful, however, not to make your soil too fertile, or your plants will put out more green growth than flowers. Rake the soil smooth, removing any rocks and debris that might get in the way of germinating seeds.

The type of arrangement desired determines the variety of flowers grown. Informal arrangements can be made with zinnias, cosmos, daisies, asters, and marigolds. Snapdragons, sunflowers, and stocks are also good choices, along with cornflowers and carnations. Baby’s breath makes beautiful filler, and it is easily grown.

Using more stately flowers makes a more formal arrangement. Gladiolus is a common choice, but the annual lisianthus is equally charming. Tuberoses will fill the home with a wonderful fragrance, but they, like glads, must be stored in a frost-free area for the winter. Larkspur, delphiniums, and digitalis will provide tall, flower-filled spires for large arrangements. Long-stem roses also belong in the category of flowers for formal arrangements. Many of the varieties of plants for formal arrangements are not annuals, but they can be grown in their own cutting garden, just as annuals.

The enjoyment of homegrown cutting flowers need not be limited to the warm seasons, as everlasting flowers can easily be grown for arrangements to be enjoyed perpetually. Baby’s breath, bells of Ireland, gomphrenas, and money plant are easily grown from seed. Other good selections include rudbeckia, safflowers, statice, scabiosa, and strawflowers. Information about drying and preserving flowers can be found in a multitude of books and magazines, so be sure to consult your local library for details. I have found that a simple method of drying flowers is simply to hang them upside down in a dark space until they are thoroughly dry.

The varieties of flowers for cutting are too vast to be encompassed in one article, but seed catalogs are an excellent source of ideas. Pictures of the flowers, along with the needs of the plants, are readily available. Try experimenting with flowers for arrangements of one color, or all pastels, or all bright. The possibilities are endless, and with the point of the garden being to cut it, failure is next to impossible, and success is easily assured.


		University of Missouri Extension Jasper County jasperco@missouri.edu Web site maintained by: Virginia Bryan bryanv@missouri.edu Last updated: 09/02/2009