Who doesn’t love a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers? Let me tell you- nothing beats harvesting them out of your garden and making them yourself! Not only does this allow for creative freedom in the designing process- but it also means you aren’t skimping on quality! Grocery store flowers are packaged from a wholesaler, and shipped to the store in a box. This means you aren’t getting them at their peak quality. Growing your own fresh-cut flowers is super easy and even more affordable than buying those pre-made bouquets from the store. The best part is that you’ll have plenty to go around- so you can gift them to friends and neighbors too! Here are some of my favorite cut flowers that are easy to grow.
Sunflower
These beautiful flowers are literally sunshine in a vase!
They do tend to attract birds that will destroy your flowers- so be sure to have some kind of deterrent to keep this from happening. This could be as simple as adding some shiny pie tins around the garden or even putting up your own scarecrow!
If you want the blooms to look the best for their longest- try adding 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and/or 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water.
Tulip
These flowers start as bulbs. They come in all sorts of color combinations And make a great focal flower in a bouquet.
Prepare the soil by removing weeds and then start to dig a trench from 6″ deep to 4′ wide. Once you place your bulbs into the trench- cover them back up with your choice of compost and a layer of soil. You should apply some flower fertilizer for the best results.
An optimal time to harvest them for vases is when they just get their color, and before they open up.
Rose
These are obviously a classic. They make do just fine by themselves in a vase- or commonly paired with some baby’s breath.
There are around 150 wild species of roses and nearly 30,000 cultivated varieties. So needless to say- there are plenty of ways to mix it up.
What you do need to keep in mind is to choose a long-stem variety if you’re using them for bouquets!
Daisy
These flowers bring such a cheerful vibe to your creations. They can come in a variety of colors and patterns. They are easy to grow perennials so you can enjoy them for many seasons!
The best types of daisies to grow for cutting include Shasta, Gerbera, and Golden Marguerite.
Sow your seeds in the spring and you will have a constant harvest through the summer.
Marigold
These flowers are easy to grow and a superstar in the garden! Not only will having them a part of your garden ward off pests and disease- But they are great companion plants to pretty much anything.
If you’re going to grow marigolds for cut flowers- I suggest you opt for the African Marigolds. They have a thicker stem and are heavy producers! They also have a longer shelf life compared to other types of marigolds.
These are great pollinator plants as well. Just be sure to place them somewhere with full sun to guarantee a decent continuous harvest.
Hydrangea
These flowers are absolutely stunning outside, but did you know they make great cut flowers too? They come in so many vibrant colors and make great focal pieces.
These flowers only truly last up to 3 days… 5 with immaculate care. You need to cut them early in the morning and be sure to choose the ones with bright open flowers.
Hydrangeas are heavy drinkers. After cutting the stem at an angle, place it immediately into water.
To keep your blooms from wilting you can pick up some Alum from the spice aisle at your local grocery. Dip the end of the stems into it and place it into a clean vase.
Dahlia
These are some of my all-time favorite flowers! With a variety of colors and patterns- they make the perfect addition to your cut garden.
The shelf life of these flowers is incredible. With proper care, they will provide you with flowers all season long!
Be sure to deadhead during the growing season to encourage as many blooms as possible.
Like with most flowers, you want to harvest in the early morning after the dew is gone but before the heat picks up.
Carnation
These flowers’ long stems and great vase life make them perfect for your arrangements.
Carnations are often paired with roses in bouquets.
They come in multiple colors and really help with a bright pop of color.
They add a sweet clove-like fragrance to any space.
Lily
Lilies make beautiful pieces in simple arrangements and they also are great for a more complex centerpiece.
These flowers can last up to three weeks in a vase with proper care!
If you’re looking to use lilies as cut flowers- go for the Asiatic and Oriental hybrid varieties.
These flowers are popular for their outstanding fragrance as well.
Lavender
Lavender is such a great pollinator plant- and serves to function as a great piece in your arrangements!
Lavender is widely used in the medicinal world and for aromatherapy. The scent has a calming effect on the nervous system.
There are tons of different varieties of lavender but if you’re growing them to be cutting flowers- look for the ‘Hidcote Giant’ variety. They have longer stems that make them easier to handle in arrangements.
Having a floral arrangement in your home brings a sense of clarity, and happiness to your space. These flowers are easy to grow, manageable in arrangements, and prove to be great additions to your own cutting garden!
Thank you for stopping by! Feel free to drop any comments or questions below
Happy Gardening 🙂
Native Grounds Farm 