[Jeanieblue]

Does anyone else grow flowers in a 'cutting patch' on their allotment? I fancy giving it a go this year. Any advice will be welcome!

[fletch]

Hi Jeanie, I only got my allotment in April 2007 so didn't have time to cultivate it all. I had a bed approx 15ft x 4ft that I had no clue what to do with.

In Lidl I found a tube (a bit like what you get hundreds and thousands cake decorations in) full of "wildflower seeds". I sowed them and forgot about them.

It was the highlight of my year tbh... there were sweet peas, cornflowers and tons of other stuff all excellent for cutting. I was cutting bunches every few days and giving them to neighbours.

The tube cost 99p  

They required no maintenance and attracted tons of insects. Thats the way I would go if I were you. Or were you thinking more Dahlias etc....?

[brucesgirl]

I use one patch to sow flower seeds and then once they are big enough to transplant I take some home, plant some around the allotment and give others to family.

This is the patch right in front of the shed so I can sit and look at them whilst having a cuppa. Got bulbs coming up round the border of it at the moment.

[Scribbler]

Next time SWMBO buys carnations from T*scos, I'm going to put some slips in water, root them and grow some more in a spare corner.

[gobs]

Next time SWMBO buys carnations from T*scos, I'm going to put some slips in water, root them and grow some more in a spare corner.

The thing is, that the carnations that are for sale as cut flowers usually have the slips already removed.

[Ruth Cross]

Being new to allotments I have never ever heard of a cutting patch, sounds like a really good idea.

I've planted some dwarf fruit trees recently and was going to let the 1m2 around the trunks go to grass, but I assume a cuttting patch would work there too??? any comments :?  :?

[gobs]

It depends how dwarf, Ruth. Some dwarfing stocks are not recommended for grassing over for a good crop.


Some flowers and herbs that don't need much in the way of feed might be considered if there won't be too much shade from the trees but I wouldn't do it in the trees' first year.

[Ruth Cross]

M9 stock? They are two years old but only planted end of Nov 07. If grass or flowers aren't a good option what else could I do??

[sweet nasturtium]

I had a row of gladdies last year which were great.  I didn't do wild flowers because others would think of them as weeds and it being my first year didn't want to upset the neighbours.

I'll definitely do more cut flowers this year, but nothing that I can't keep under control.

[gobs]

M9 stock? They are two years old but only planted end of Nov 07. If grass or flowers aren't a good option what else could I do??

Well, for good fruiting M9 is recommended to be kept weed and grass free, well fed and watered in dry weather.

Crop from year 3 onwards can be anything 10-20 kg. You shall wait and see, how yours are doing.

Whatever you decide to do in the future, I would leave well alone in the first year of planting to settle in well.

[Ruth Cross]

gobs you are the fountain of knowledge thanks

[digital_biscuit]

I have 2 flower beds on my allotment. A Lilly bed in front of the greenhouse and another bed for Lupins, Red Hot Pokers, Chyrsanthemums, all the fav's i grew as a kid!! Was very basic this year as was the first year and was a little late but they looked lovely!! Totally recommend doing it!

[muddywellies]

Hey, it's great to hear that other folk are doing this or thinking of doing this! We only got our lottie in October so there's not a lot going on it 'growing' wise at the moment but we marked out a 3m x 2m bed for cutting flowers at the weekend. I have to admit that I'm as excited about this as the veggies  :oops:  I'm planning on growing dahlias (Bish of LLandaff type - no dodgy pompoms), sweet peas, a few perennials I bought from B&Q the other week and some hardy and half-hardy annuals from seed. I received 'Grow your own cut flowers' by Sarah Raven for Christmas and have been really inspired - I'd heartily recommend it.

[Jaye]

ooooh i remember looking at sarah raven's website a while ago and being inspired! And also that she had some good books out. This was a couple of years ago - one was about cut flowers iirc.

Jaye (who is going to try and look at her website now)

[Selkie]

I've got that Sarah Raven book - it is lovely and helpful too. Gives you loads of inspiration