Handout-Cut Flower & Veggie Recommendations
Download the PDF above for all my recommendations for a cut flower garden. The information is reprinted below.
Cut Flower Recommendations (In Order by Season)
Daffodil
- Plant bulbs in fall
- Cut or pull it at the “gooseneck state” when it is showing color and the neck is bent
- Can be placed with other flower but need to change water to avoid daffodil ‘slime’
Tulip
- Plant in November as an annual
- Pull up the bulbs so you have a longer stem for arranging and cut where the stem meets the bulb
- Can be planted in soil-filled milk crates outside over winter
Corn Flower
- Mostly blue, but whites, pinks, and dark almost black
- Direct seed in fall or early spring; will reseed
- Fizzles in heat, cut down once seeds form and it will reseed
- Cut at the base of plant for arranging
Snapdragon
- Fall or spring planted; transplants recommended
- In spring, start the seeds indoors in March to plant out in April; seeds slow to germinate
- Cut stem at base of plant, right above branching stem just as a couple of bottom flowers have started to open
- Long lasting cut in arrangements
Nigella (Love in a Mist)
- Direct seed in late winter, or early spring
- Flowers in May and June, flowers aren’t long-lasting
- Grown for the seed pods and feathery foliage
- Yank up entire plants when seed pods start to form and place in a vase or hang up to dry
- Reseeds easily
Anemone
- Plant in Fall from tubers; soak first before planting
- Plant in soil filled crates and place outside under plastic tunnels or in a cold greenhouse
- Grows all winter, just be sure they don’t freeze
- Blooms in early spring, cut at base for arranging
- Long vase life of a week
Bells of Ireland
- Direct seed in fall or late winter; seeds needs to be stratified with cold; I plant these in old milk jugs that make mini-greenhouses in mid-February
- Flowers in May and June and has wonderful foliage
- Long vase life and can be dried
- Needs support
- Cut at the base of the stems; reseeds
Larkspur
- Direct seed in late winter or fall
- Needs support
- Long lasting in vase and dries well
- Doesn’t like heat and excellent reseeder
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
- Perennial that can be planted in early spring
- Sends up foliage in early April followed by trusses of blue bell-like flowers
- Cut at the base of the stem and use to drape over the edge of a container
- Disappears when warm weather hits and you can plant annuals it its place
Feverfew (Matricaria)
- Direct seed or transplant in fall or early spring
- No support needed
- Flowers in June, and fades with heat
- Long lasting in vase
- Cut when flowers are developed and open at the base
- Great filler like baby’s breath but better
Yarrow
- Annual or perennial
- Direct seed or transplant in fall
- Flowers in June
- Long lasting in vase
- Cut at low branching stem when flowers are almost open
- Great filler
- Varieties suggested: Colorado Mix, Colorado Sunset
Rudbeckia
- Direct seed or use transplants in spring
- Flowers June until frost
- Long lasting in vase of week+
- Cut at base just as petals start to open
- Suggested Varieties: ‘Indian Summer’, ‘Cherry Brandy’, ‘Cherokee Sunset’
Strawflower
- Direct seed or use transplants in early spring
- Support netting helpful and will flower June until frost
- Long lasting in vase and dries nicely by hanging upside-down in cool dark space
- Cut at base as soon as the yellow centers appear; flowers last for weeks in a vase
Nasturtiums (Vining and bush)
- Direct seed outside 2 weeks before last frost or in peat pots a month before last frost
- Scarify and soak seeds, needs dark to germinate in 7-10 days
- Cut low at a branch to remove several stems of flowers
- To remove for edible blossoms, cut at base of flowers
- Trellis taller varieties
Hot Peppers (Mirasol)
- Sow inside 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Transplant outside when weather is warm
- This pepper turns red very fast and the peppers are held up and outwards, so they make great cuts in arrangements
- Cut an entire branch of peppers off and insert in flower arrangements; dries nicely
Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum ‘Tulsi’)
- Native to Southeast Asia, this leafy basil is not like the usual culinary basil
- Start in early spring indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost and set outside when warm; the warmer the better
- This basil grows into a shrubby mound and spikes long racemes of violet flowers; the entire plant is extremely fragrant
- Cut branches off the base of the plant for arranging
Sweet Million Cherry Tomato
- Start early 6-8 weeks in spring
- Set out when warm outside
- Train on trellis or cow fence support, tying in branches when needed
- Harvest large trusses of tomatoes when just starting to turn red and use in arranging to drape over the container
Sunflowers
- Direct seed or use small transplants; watch for rabbits! Lay out prickly holly foliage to deter them
- Single stem varieties should be planted every two weeks to have a constant supply
- Use support!! These can get tall and heavy. I use large heavy stakes or rebar
- Flowers start in June and continue until frost
- Cut when the petals start to unfurl from central disk for longest vase life
- Suggested single stem varieties: Procut series, Sun-Fill, Sunrich, Sunbright
- Suggested branching varieties: Lemonade, Moulin Rouge, Italian White, Strawberry Blonde
Zinnias
- Direct seed or transplant after frost
- Flowers all summer until frost
- Cut when flowers are open and the more cuts made, the more it flowers
- Provide support
- Long lasting in vase
- Suggested varieties: Oklahoma, Queen Lime, Senora and Cactus Flowers, Benary’s Giant
Cosmos
- Direct seed or use transplants after frost
- Cut often for more blooms
- Provide support and pinch when a foot tall
- Cut for both foliage and flowers
- Cut just as the buds swell at base of plant
- Delicate stems can be brittle and fragile; handle with care
Celosia
- Direct seed or transplant after frost
- Crested and feather types are great cuts
- Heat lovers -needs full sun
- Cut when heads are fully developed but before seeds form
- Long vase life and dries beautifully
Ageratum
- Direct seed or transplant after frost
- Great filler (tall varieties)
- Heat lovers, will flower until frost and can take some cold
- Cut at the base where the plant branches
- Suggested varieties: Blue Planet, Blue Horizon
Clary Sage (Salvia hormium)
- Start seeds inside 8 weeks before last frost
- Or plant transplants out 1 week before last frost
- Start harvest when at least 8 inches high and cut the flower stalks when at least ¾ of the flowers are open
- Dries beautifully and lasts long in a vase
Dahlias
- Grown from tubers
- Start in warm soil in full sun and don’t water until the plant sprouts
- Pinch in July to force branching
- Provide support – tomato cages, heavy cattle fence, or rebar
- Cut when the flower starts to open
- Ball varieties have the longest vase life
- Dig up tubers in late fall and store in dark cool space for next spring
Lisianthus
- Grow from transplants and set out when danger of frost is over
- Needs full sun and support
- Pick when the flowers just start to open
- Long vase life of a week+
Milkweed or Balloon Plant, aka Hairy Balls (Gymnocarpus physocarpus)
- Start 6-8 weeks before last frost date
- Set out when warm and pinch the stalk to encourage side shoots
- Blooms for a long time in late summer and the large pods start to form soon afterwards
- Pick the pods when fully mature (bronzing will appear on the pods)
- Sear the ends with a propane torch or lighter to stem the white sap
- Long lasting in arrangements and save the seed for next year
Globe Amaranth
- Start from seed when warm or plant out transplants
- Likes heat and full sun
- Needs support
- Cut at the base of the branching flower
- Long vase life and dries beautifully
- Suggested varieties are ‘Fireworks’, ‘Bicolor Rose’, ‘Carmine’
Book Resources
Starting & Saving Seeds by JulieThompson-Adolf
Cool Flowers by Lisa Mason Ziegler
Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein
Floret Farm’s A Year In Flower by Erin Benzakein
From Seed to Boom by Eileen Powell
Martha’s Flowers by Martha Stewart with Kevin Sharkey
The Art of Flowers by Victoria
Seed/Bulb/Plant Catalogs
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Harris Seeds
Burpee Seeds
Swan Island Dahlias
Sunflower Selections
Brent & Becky’s Bulbs
West Coast Seed
Park Seeds
The Gardener’s Workshop- free videos
Botanical Interests
Renee’s Garden Seeds
Baker’s Rare Seeds
The Whole Seed Catalog
Adelman Peony Farm
Longfield Gardens
Old House Gardens
Transplants Available in Baltimore Area