The cutting garden

[pigletwillie]

I aim to get maximum value out of my allotments and part of this involves growing flowers for cutting in a couple of beds.

I grow the following but would like further recommendations. They must be quite maintenance free, perenials if possible but annuals are ok and cover as much of the year as possible.

Dahlias
Gladioli
Liatris Spicata
Rudbekia
Sunflowers (please name varieties)
Cosmos
Annual Lavatera
Larkspur
Calendula
Michaelmas Daisy
Roses (lots)

Other varieties are grown as well but please give reccomendations

[Snadger]

Chrysanths spring to mind?

[Snadger]

And gypsophilla for foliage?

[rustylady]

You forgot sweet peas (or I didn't read it properly). I know you have to keep cutting to stop them seeding, but I wouldn't be without them.

[pigletwillie]

Yes to both of those and Achilea too. A chap on another allotment sells me Chrythanth plants in the spring. The Gyp sounds good Snadger.

[roitelet]

Hi Snadger,

For something really spectular how about some trumpet lilies? They look wonderful and smell superb and mixed with Gladies or Delphiniums make a really impressive bouquet

[rustylady]

Cottage garden pinks - smell gorgeous

[Snadger]

Hi Snadger,

For something really spectular how about some trumpet lilies? They look wonderful and smell superb and mixed with Gladies or Delphiniums make a really impressive bouquet

Can they be left in ground?

[Beryl]

cut flowers

Statice is a great one to grow on the lottie. I grow a mixture of colours and the more it is cut it the more it grows. Stands all weathers and goes on till the frosts.
They can be dried but I find I find the ones I cut get one vase full of water then nothing, and they go on almost for ever.

Asters make another good cut flower for a later picking.

Beryl.

[nick the grief]

how about Helichrysums as well Them & Statice make great winter vases as they can be dried

[JennieAtkinson]

I've had some super shows of large lillies. But try Peruvian Lillies, they have a long flowering season and look very pretty and are a good cut flower.

[Alice]

I'm with Rustlady on this one. If it's cut flowers you're after it MUST be sweet peas and whatever kind of pinks (carnations) you're after. Everything else is the icing on the cake. I'm very impressed with the list you have, but a bit surprised at the omission of these basic cut flowers. Maybe it's different in different parts of the country.

[nick the grief]

.............. Other varieties are grown as well but please give reccomendations

.

Dahlias - I'd go for any of the Waterlily types or the small/Minature varieties as they won't suffer from weather damage like the bigger ones
Gladioli - I grow Primulinas or 200's mainly but most will be OK. try and plant in succession to get a longer flowering
Sunflowers - Depends if you want ones 2ft across & 8ft high or not Vanila Ice is a nice one (please name varieties)
Chrysanths - I'd go for Sprays mainly. Any of the Talbot Parade family for Doubles, or the Enbee Wedding family for Singles. The Margarets are good for later on in the year (October flowering) but they can get WHite Rust really badly & need constant attention to keep on top of it. If you want some varieties for November flowering (grow them in pots & lift into you poly tunnel) I'd suggest the singles or Anemones as you could grow 8 to 10 blooms easily on a plant more if you're not worried about showing them. So 2 plants of 6 varieties would give you loads.

There are varieties that you can grow for christmas flowering but they may need a bit of heat.

If you want some cuttings, our Chrysanth & dahlia society has a plant sale on the 1st & 3rd saturday in May so you culd stock up then if you want or I could give you some places that you could send for them.