Good cut flowers to grow on lottie...

[Snadger]

I am already growing chrysanths and Gladioli for cut flowers

I don't fancy dahlias as they don't last very long once cut

Any ideas of good easy to grow cut flowers that last a while and preferably are perennial?

Thought about carnations also????

[nick the grief]

Hi Snadger,

Dahlia's don't last long your right, but they produce so many. Last year I picked a bucket full literally every 2 days !!!

You could grow border carnations or Pinks but why do they have to be perennial? Asters make really good cut flowers & last well & they are easy to grow from seed each year as are cosmos.

A lot depends on what you want your cut flowers to look like, do you just want a vase full of colour or do you want a "classy" arrangement? How about some Roses & a row of helichrysum & statice for Drying

[Snadger]

Hi Snadger,

Dahlia's don't last long your right, but they produce so many. Last year I picked a bucket full literally every 2 days !!!

You could grow border carnations or Pinks but why do they have to be perennial? Asters make really good cut flowers & last well & they are easy to grow from seed each year as are cosmos.

A lot depends on what you want your cut flowers to look like, do you just want a vase full of colour or do you want a "classy" arrangement? How about some Roses & a row of helichrysum & statice for Drying

Just fancied something on the lines of chrysanths that I can either split up or take cuttings from each year. Statice and helchrysum sound good and naturally gypsophilla. Grew cosmos this year and cornflower with my sweetcorn. Asters & calendula are supposed to be good for companion planting I believe, so would be a good bet
I suppose what I am after is to be able to bring a bunch of flowers home over as long a period as possible
Having said that the oh may get suspicious if I keep landing home with a bunch of flowers. Lol

[nick the grief]

.......Having said that the oh may get suspicious if I keep landing home with a bunch of flowers. Lol

I know what you mean If you've got a cheapo bookshop keep your eye out for Grow your own cut flowers By Sarah Raven, it grieves me to say it but it's good for ideas but I son't think it's worth the full price of £19 (her other one - The Cutting Garden is £25!!!) I paid £5 from the Publishers bookshop or whatever they are called.

Other posibilities are Dr Hessayon - Flower Expert or the Month by Month gardening books do one called The flower arrangers garden Month by Month it looks like this

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...07096?v=glance

[scottie]

with love

Alstromeria's are great cut flowers, come up every year last ages in a vase, easy to grow the only thing is they have no perfume so plant lillies they are easy and with a perfume to die for, she will think you are definitely the tops.

[nick the grief]

Good One Scottie, I'd forgot about them. I've tried to grow some from seed before but no succes so I'll have to bite the bullet & buy some plants I guess.

[Alice]

Nothing stands better in a vase than Carnations, Snadger, and great perfume too.

[Birdie Wife]

Sweet peas! There are some absolutely stunning colours available, they're very easy from seed and deliciously scented too.

[Snadger]

Sweet peas! There are some absolutely stunning colours available, they're very easy from seed and deliciously scented too.

One ahead of you there Birdie.....got some growing up a trellis I fixed to my hut!

They are about five foot high now and should be coming into flower soon...I hope

[SueA]

How about rudbeckias, echinaceas or asters, they're all nice big daisy-like flowers that look good in a vase?

[Snadger]

Thanks all

Keep em coming as I building up a list for next year

[Nicos]

I grew rudbeckias for the 2nd time ever this year from seed and they have been absolutely fantastic
Once planted out, they needed no attention other than watering. They never wilted , and once cut keep inside for a couple of weeks easily. These are my favourite flower at the moment...like heads of sunshine at the bottom of the garden.
Must tell you... last years were a disaster as I sprinkled the seeds directly onto the soil and promptly weeded them out as they germinated Nothing like a tidy seedbed eh??