Confused about spacing for perennials

[AllotmentMummy]

I'm just planning my perennial cut flowers and am a bit confused about spacing. I see the individual advice on each of the flowers on the Claire Austin page (which works out at an average of 60cm spacing from memory) - yet the implied spacing from their recommendation of 0.9 by 1.2m is only 30cm. Is this so the flowers support each other as they grow? Just wondering how many plants I can fit in and whether to work to individual plant spacing or not. Grateful for any advice. Not necessarily thinking of ordering these particular flowers but just mulling it all over (often at 2am when I can't sleep!).

https://www.claireaustin-hardyplants...cts/cut-flower

[veggiechicken]

Don't overthink it - flowers aren't planted in rows if you want them to look natural. Plant in groups of 3 or 5 in triangle shapes.

[AllotmentMummy]

Okay thanks. So its worth growing multiples of each perennial (presumably because once the flowers are cut that's it!)?

[Scarlet]

What perennial flowers are you wanting to grow.

[Scarlet]

When growing cut flowers I think you need several plants of each. There maybe only one or two blooms to cut from each plant. They won't flower all at the same time.
Obviously things like sweet peas you can pick everyday but there's others that take time to grow until the perfect time to pick. So it really depends on what varieties you are thinking of growing.

[AllotmentMummy]

Thanks Scarlet, can't remember the names off the top of my head but have the seed packets somewhere so will dig out tomorrow

[veggiechicken]

The packets will give you a better idea of spacing than that website. Each variety has different needs and you can't generalise.

[nickdub]

Most perennials can be sown closer together to begin with, then as they get larger you can move some of the plants to other places to open up the distance between them. A lot depends on the habit of growth too, as some plants grow tall and skinny whereas others bush out and need plenty of room.

[Scarlet]

Some of those plants on that link I wouldn't bother with growing for a cut flower.

As VC has said each plant has different needs - you also need to take into consideratio their growing habits - you don't want the short plants being shaded out with taller growing varieties. Also flowering time, what goes in a vase together and when each plant will flower.

I know they aren't loved by everyone but there's some great chrysanths or dahlias that are more suited for picking than some of those on that link.

[veggiechicken]

Are you planting these in your garden or allotment?
Are all the plants for cutting or do you want it to look nice year round?