Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: FatGaz on February 20, 2007, 23:43

Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: FatGaz on February 20, 2007, 23:43: Hi All,

OK..... 99% of my gardening is veg, but I would like to grow some flowers that I can 'cut' and bring a bunch home for the wife each week from the allotment.

What flowers would be easy to grow, and be suitable for cutting. :D
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: WG. on February 21, 2007, 05:35: Nice idea and a Big subject, fatgaz, since each flower has its own season too. It would take up a fair bit of room in your plot (and a lot of effort) for you to be able to take flowers home weekly for even 6 months of the year.

Veg are a major priority in my garden so I am not the best qualified to answer. I make some room for the following all of which can be cut although I really only pick the sweet peas and oregano since the garden surrounds the house and the other flowers are left to bloom in place :

daffodil
gladioli
sweet pea
oregano (yes, the herb, the flower spikes are lovely)
dahlia
rose

Have a scan of this forum http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewforum.php?f=6 since you'll find others there who actually know what they are talking about (unlike me).
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: shaun on February 21, 2007, 06:55: sweet william and wall flowers for me also sweet peas
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: WG. on February 21, 2007, 08:52: Quote from: "shaun"
sweet william and wall flowers for me also sweet peas
Yeah, wallflowers are a good one because they can fit in quite well with the rotation on a veg plot. Take on the seedlings in a nursery bed and then transplant into flowering position after lifting potatoes.

Watch out though ... they do harbour clubroot so treat them as part of your brassica "quota" in a rotation
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: sorrel on February 21, 2007, 09:57: Sweet peas (loads of flowers) and a fragrance to die for..... my hubby cuts them daily for me in the summer and its always well appreciated :wink: :lol:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Trillium on February 23, 2007, 00:10: I agree, Sorrel. Sweetpeas - specifically, the older single named varieties with gorgeous flowers and loads of fragrance. Give them lots of support as they'll get tall and regular cutting will keep them going for many many weeks. Mulch them as well to get them through dry spells or they'll bolt to seed on you - which you can save for next year. Calendulas give loads of flowers all season but watch they don't self seed everywhere; easy to pull out tho. Same with cosmos - masses of flowers until frost.
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: DD. on February 23, 2007, 07:20: Asters are also another easy grow, long stemmed flower & come in many colours & varities.
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Trillium on February 23, 2007, 19:15: FatGaz, there's another advantage to planting the calendulas - your wife can make a dandy hand cream from the flower petals. Check out Sarah Raven's recipe/video clip on bbc.co.uk/gardening/tv_and_radio/factsheet/pages/36.shtml#plant642

Sorry, I don't know how to enable it, try pen and paper. :wink:
Title: flowers on plot
Post by: big green bloke on February 23, 2007, 21:43: yes growing flowers on plot is and good idea it help bring in the bees and other to your veg flowers been and peas get fertlized and produce a better crop , we grow a lot of flowers but they are mixed in with the veg in small patches all over the graden and we have load for the home four about seven month sof the year try out all types and seeen what does best in your alloment yours big green bloke
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Annie on February 23, 2007, 22:04: I think it`s a nice idea(here speaks a wifey who gets no flowers).Sweet peas,also they don`t take too much space and the more you pick the more you get.Sweet william,stock.why not have some sneaky pots with aneamonne de cean,plant in april they will flower sept/oct,lilly bulbs can be planted now as well,both can be cut but take the pots home and they will flower longer-now that kind of forward planning is v.romantic and....
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: muntjac on February 23, 2007, 22:13: ok you cheap skates we talking real flowers for the wifey here . i grow a bed of crysanths
small bed just passed the leeks on bottom right
http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=1690&highlight=aching+back

i have 2 different ones in there colour wise and i grow em for close ones graves and friends etc . you can take cuttinga and refresh them .just dump a few barrows of manure on em every couple years and you can cut them to your hearts content ,when the heads form i put brown paper sweetie bags over them to stop the rian spoiling them .also earwigs area problem but grease on the stems sorts that out . but the crowns from good suppliers .one tip i reccomend is never take them off a friends plot as they closesness of the roots etc can hide loads of eel worm and othernasties .i lime only once in 5 yrs and only lightly
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Annie on February 23, 2007, 22:21: Thats why chrysanths are such a bad idea,the are winter grave flowers!
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: muntjac on February 23, 2007, 22:26: nooooooooooooo, thay are beutiful flowers in thier own right .to see some of the collections like wisley had/has was a delight over 500 different flowers .its only old fellas like me who grow a few " ont plot " that spoil the real charm of them
try here for some loverlyones
i can recomend them
http://www.hallsofheddon.co.uk/pages/catalogue/19_index.html
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Annie on February 23, 2007, 23:10: I don`t know,along with long stemmed carnations they smack of garage shop buys.
Don`t spoil my fantasy of you as a rough diamond with a heart of gold by calling yourself an old fella!
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: muntjac on February 23, 2007, 23:18: im 50 .with the body of a 30 yr old ................. well i would if i could catch up with one :wink:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Annie on February 23, 2007, 23:43: ..I could run slowly?! :wink:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: muntjac on February 23, 2007, 23:54: lmao .. ok got me zimmer frame out lolol n me batteries on charge fer me pace maker lolo
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Clodagh & Dick on February 24, 2007, 15:17: We grow sunflowers, gazanias, roses and marigolds partly for cutting but also as companionplants to attract benicial insects
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Trillium on February 24, 2007, 18:17: A benefit of growing calendulas on the plot, besides loads of flowers and good pollination, is that the petals can be incorporated for herbal teas and also used to make a dandy hand cream, as Sarah Raven did on this video clip. Your wife can reap many benefits from this flower.
bbc.co.uk/gardening/tv_and_radio/factsheets/pages/36.shtml#plant 642
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Celtic Eagle on February 24, 2007, 18:50: I'm doing dahlias from seed this year and a few Xthans if I can get some to follow the daffs might try some gladies as well
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Bigbadfrankie on February 24, 2007, 20:25: Quote from: "Digger Dave"
Asters are also another easy grow, long stemmed flower & come in many colours & varities.

I am with, Digger asters or wallflower
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Flower on February 24, 2007, 22:46: What about some dried flowers for the winter months when theres nothing else around? I like to grow some helichrysums and statice. Not such exciting plants in the flowerbed but great on an allotment. You pick before the helichrysum buds open. Tie a good bunch very tightly and hang in the shed upsidedown.Similarly with statice pick before fully open and hang the same way.Lasts a long time and needs no water.
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: mr dave on February 25, 2007, 13:29: how about some of the smaller varieties of sunflower or perhaps you could try some perennials like alstromeria or any of the tall daisy type flowers like pyrethum or aster or cosmos &HHA such as zinna :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Beetybops on February 27, 2007, 12:56: We grew zinnias and dahlias last year and were picking both right through until November time. We also grew love in a mist, which have lovely flowers and also very pretty seed heads. We're going to try asters and crysanths too this year.
Title: Re: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: WG. on February 27, 2007, 13:07: Quote from: "FatGaz"
99% of my gardening is veg, but I would like to grow some flowers

Quote from: "whisky_golf"
Nice idea and a Big subject, fatgaz

So fatgaz, how is the flower garden doing. Are you going to find space for a lettuce or two? :lol:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: king cauli on March 01, 2007, 00:50: not only are the petals edible on calendula also the leaves,they have an extremely long cutting season and have a superb vase-life,we were still cutting ours at Christmas last year,not much perfume though,try adding some pinks for perfume and what about some good old english roses?
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Muppet on March 05, 2007, 15:08: :lol:

I've just bought a pack of everlasting flower mixture, loads of varieties, and I'm intending to bung 'em all over the place for cutting, and you can just pick the flower heads off and put them in a bowl, bottle, whatever! :D there's chrysanths, calendula, sunflowers, achillea all sorts.

Fingers crossed.. :?
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: frazzy on March 16, 2007, 12:47: crysanthemums and dahlias ,you cant beat them i get asked for bunches in the summer and a good bed of mixed annuals , gypsophila
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Dabhand on March 25, 2007, 22:46: Quote from: "Beetybops"
We grew zinnias and dahlias last year and were picking both right through until November time. We also grew love in a mist, which have lovely flowers and also very pretty seed heads. We're going to try asters and crysanths too this year.

You could also cross 'Love in a mist' with 'Love lies bleeding' and end up with
'Love in a bleeding mist' :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: WG. on March 25, 2007, 22:49: Quote from: "Dabhand"
You could also cross 'Love in a mist' with 'Love lies bleeding' and end up with
'Love in a bleeding mist' :lol: :lol: :lol:

Oooo ... someone has been taking extra sugar on their Frosties!!! :lol: :lol:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: agapanthus on March 26, 2007, 11:15: I love to grow...cornflowers, nigella, clarkia...all the old cottage garden flowers. These grow on top of small area where I've put in daffs for their lovely spring-yellow colour :D ......and 'cos they are annuals they self seed :D :D
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: flowerlady on March 26, 2007, 18:49: I've just looked at your photos mj ... with that much space you could grow more than 'mums !! Wow that's soooo not fair!

My plot friendly flowers include ....

Monada ... the leaves I use to relieve the bites I get on the plot :D
Tansey ... magic for hover flies and friendlies
Daisies ... the tall sort ... either shasta or michalmas
Lavender ... everyones fav
and
SUNFLOWERS :D
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: muntjac on March 26, 2007, 20:29: i only cut a few flowers for graves etc other than that if a visitor calls she gets some to go home with ,i do grow a load for my garden tho . big show of tulips in at the minute then it will be 100 begonias 200 geraniuks and a few other bits wall pots hanging baskets ect. will post this years show in summer
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: purplebat on March 26, 2007, 20:32: Quote from: "muntjac"
i only cut a few flowers for graves etc other than that if a visitor calls she gets some to go home with ,i do grow a load for my garden tho . big show of tulips in at the minute then it will be 100 begonias 200 geraniuks and a few other bits wall pots hanging baskets ect. will post this years show in summer

when do yu get time to sleep Munty? you seem to do a bit of everything? :shock:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: muntjac on March 26, 2007, 20:41: i do do a bit of everything but simply my timing is what makes it easier to get done . sounds bit far fetched coming from an occupation where i had 4 mins to shower shave and get into full ceremonial dress or having to target and knock down a missile coming in at the speed of sound kinda makes you make sure your time is used to its maximum .. i only do what needs to be done on any given day . lots of the folks on here arout planting stuff that doesnt need to be in at the minute around here .sowing a row of seeds takes 20 mins max .why hang around for an hour discussing it with someone else on the plot . there plenty of time to chat when your watching it grow in the summer .. i learned a very sobering lesson when i went ill with my pump .time is running out faster than you think and the clock stops when you die .. im lucky to still be here for many reasons .ii have had mates hit by a bullet when i know it should have been me but i moved a fraction of a second before . died when i had my heart attacks so im not hanging about no more . hope that explains a bit about me bit " deeep " but its the only way i think now . :wink:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: WG. on March 26, 2007, 20:49: What a great attitude to have. I'm delighted not to have had these experiences but, even second-hand, they are strong enough to help me stop wasting any more of my time. Well spoken MJ.
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: purplebat on March 27, 2007, 21:28: you took the words right out of my mouth WG, definitely the right attitude, and you nearly (but not quite) made me lost for words; and that ain't easy! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: flowerlady on March 11, 2008, 11:52: Lovely Munty! :tongue2: In that case be sure to grow the most spectacular Gladioli for your lady ... they are wonderfully showy and last for ages in water ... she will be SO chuffed :wink:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: robbodaveuk on August 07, 2008, 14:53: Quote from: "Dabhand"
Quote from: "Beetybops"
We grew zinnias and dahlias last year and were picking both right through until November time. We also grew love in a mist, which have lovely flowers and also very pretty seed heads. We're going to try asters and crysanths too this year.

You could also cross 'Love in a mist' with 'Love lies bleeding' and end up with
'Love in a bleeding mist' :lol: :lol: :lol:

I don't know why but that really had me p*****g my self laughing.

Dave.
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Christine on August 12, 2008, 12:29: Quote from: "Dabhand"
You could also cross 'Love in a mist' with 'Love lies bleeding' and end up with 'Love in a bleeding mist' :lol: :lol: :lol:

Me mother did once and she was NOT popular with the uncle who kept his best rose bushes that he used for gathering blooms to show - :shock:
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: judas25 on August 15, 2008, 11:52: I grow cosmos on my plot.
Title: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Mrs SpudtheBinx on August 15, 2008, 17:01: Quote from: "judas25"
I grow cosmos on my plot.

We've been growing cosmos as well, they're stunning now they're in flower :D We also have sweet williams, lillies, roses, freesias and crocosmia to mention but a few :lol:
I do love our flower patch!
Title: Re: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Enfield Glen on March 14, 2013, 16:26: I reccommend Asters. Easy to grow and you get a great crop. Only draw back is they do not have much perfume.
Title: Re: Cut flowers on the plot?
Post by: Sweetpea C on March 17, 2013, 07:42: Quote from: DD. on February 23, 2007, 07:20
Asters are also another easy grow, long stemmed flower & come in many colours & varities.

I agree with dd, asters are really easy and last all through the summer. They also last ages after they have been cut where sweetpeas only last a couple of days. I haven't found anything that smells as lovely as sweetpeas though. Dahlias take up room but again make a beautiful cut flower. I have all of the above and more in the garden :)

edit to clarify quote