[ecky]

I'm on my 2nd year on a plot. I would like to have a small portion for flowers to cut for the home. Has anyone suggestions as to what sort are easy to grow and provide colour for the house.

[Paul Plots]

Three easy enough suggestions:

Spray chrysanthemums give a good return and if you get the hardy variety they should give good return for a small outlay. They flower September (sometimes earlier) through to November down here in the south.

Gladioli are simple and take up small amount of space – the corms will last for years and even multiply if treated with a bit of simple care. Readily available in the spring – whack them in, keep watered, be prepared to support them with a stake at each end of a row or individual canes… sit back and enjoy!

Sweet William make good cut flowers but are biannual so you’d have to sow this spring, plant out and wait to the following year from flowers but sometimes they will over winter and flower again and again in the coming years.

There are also several plants that can be grown in summer for drying and then used through the colder, bleaker months - again quite easy if you have a shed or garage to dry them in. 

Hope this is helpful.

[Hey Jude]

Great suggestions from Learner, I could list scores of flowers but I shall restrain myself and offer Cosmos and Sweet Peas, oh and Dahlias, Love In A Mist, Calendula.........see I just can't help myself!

[mumofstig]

I'd always recommend sweet peas, and a row doesn't take up much room at all, and pop a few on the end of your bean frame to help the bees find the bean flowers

[Paul Plots]

Why didn't I think of sweet peas... what a twit! 

[mumofstig]

I was surprised they had been left out tbh 

[cob nut]

Can I add carnations & pinks to the excellent already suggested list 

[peapod]

Great suggestions from Learner, I could list scores of flowers but I shall restrain myself and offer Cosmos and Sweet Peas, oh and Dahlias, Love In A Mist, Calendula.........see I just can't help myself!

Seconded! However, Cosmos can take up a lot of room, so on a plot I go for the smaller flowers - especially sweetpeas that can grow up my fence without taking a lot of bed space.

[ecky]

Thanks for all the ideas I forgot that I had a few sweetpeas along a fence. Trouble was they went in as an after thought  and I didn't get many flowers. Pinks reminds me of my grandfather in my very younger days. I loved the smell of them. There have been lots of ideas given but there lies my problem. What to go for!!! I still have not made up my mind. I recall also an aunty  that sold cut flowers at the roadside. She had dahlias and asters? ;)Again that is going back to my early teens

[Paul Plots]

Dahlias are delightful but (unless I have it wrong  ) you need to wait for them to be fully open before cutting as once sliced they will not open in a vase.

[fatcat1955]

Echinacea, white swan to attract bees, and it also looks good in a vase.

[Paul Plots]

Echinacea, white swan to attract bees, and it also looks good in a vase.

These are rather nice too: Echinacea Sundown, Purpurea and Paridiso 

[ecky]

Wow. Slow down. Overload. Thanks for all the ideas.

[Paul Plots]

Wow. Slow down. Overload. Thanks for all the ideas.

I am going slow.... this is the time of year to develop those dreams good intentions! 

[ecky]

Hi Learner  Have finished digging over the flower plot today. A bit claggy on surface but just about loose enough underneath. Cut spade thru 3 tulip bulbs but rest are fine. They have smaller side bulbs attatched. can these be potted up and planted later. I don't really want to walk on what I have just turned over.  Also about gladioli. I have been advised to put to dry. What about greenery still attatched? Should this be removed? and when should they be replanted. Cheers