Flowers, are they worth it?

[lynda66]

im only growing flowers from now on .... veggies are too much hassle lol

[Bigmallly]

Like many other grapes, I also grew Nasturtiums & Marigolds in with my veg but must say my greatest pleasure were Petunias, they were & still are beautiful.

[northmaid]

I've gone for the last option. Started off only growing veg when I first got my plot two years ago but this year have grown flowers as well. Sweet peas 'cos I love the scent, nasturtiums and marigolds to deter nasties, buddleia for the butterflies. Cornflowers, scabious, hostas around the small pond area. Looking to establish some early flowering plants such as wood anemone and snowdrops for next year as I'm hoping to start keeping bees next spring and they will be looking for early pollen and nectar sources in future years.

[jackie j]

Flowers are a must I grow all sorts and change what I grow each year in my flower bit, sunflowers, holyhocks, spring bulbs, sweetpeas, marigolds, dahlia's, a few poppies have self seeded from elsewhere. These are all at my allotment, only flowers at home with tomatoes.

[annacruachan]

1, 2 and 3 like everyone else, but in addition they lift your spirits. The scents, the colours, the bees, butterflies and birds they bring into the garden, the sheer magic of the eruption from tiny seeds to tubs full of glory! Who could not want to grow them?

[Aggienator]

I went for 1, I suppose 2 & 3 in theory, but I'm not that convinced, however as I sit at my computer and gaze out the window at my higgeldy piggeldy mix of fruit, veg and flowers it makes me feel happy! Sunflowers where the birds buried the seed from the feeders and forgot to go back, the Penstemon from the cuttings my brother gave me before he died, the sungold tomatoes I will absent-mindedly munch as I wander round the garden in an hour or so if the sun is still out.............................

It all makes life worth living

[Gardenveg]

I use marigolds to keep those pests away.

[Ruth M C]

The beauty of flowers feeds the soul, and the pollinators, and some pests! Vegetables are great to look at but are complimented by flowers and vice verse. The two go together. Vegetables also have flowers even though we try not to notice these as it means we're too late in harvesting the crop.

[bobleponge]

I'm clearly a killjoy devoid of hope, I went for option 4.
I dont grow flowers because I cant eat them.
Yes I could sprinkle some dandelion fronds in my salad or something equally bizarre if I chose to, but I dont.

No flowers for me thanks.

[reetnproper]

I ticked 'Yes for other reasons' because 1, 2 and 3 apply to me .

Reet
x

[loopylou]

I grow flowers for the reasons stated in 1, 2, 3.

I also grow them to use as a cut flower in the house as they are so much cheaper that costly bought flowers and you have that satisfying feeling you've grown them yourself.

The allotment looks so much prettier with companion planting.

Emma

[Sara]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for posting. We'll fit as many of your comments as possible into the magazine's November issue.