I normally have a simple rule in my garden - if you can't eat it, I don't grow it.
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| A nice bunch of non edible flowers |
This year I've made an exception, my mum kept on to me to let her plant some flowers for the girls to pick. She haggled with me to give her half one of my 10ft by 4ft foot beds to grow some flowers in.
So my mum and the girls planted up this bed back in May (and I planted the other half to carrots), all I've done is to keep it watered and pull up a few weeds.
We've been rewarded with so many flowers, I've been picking a good bunch every week for the house as well as picking bunches to give friends that we've visited.
The girls also love going out and watering their little patch as well as picking some flowers to give to their mum.
I hate to admit it but this has been one of my favourite things in the garden this year. It makes my plot look more beautiful and you're constantly rewarded for months with flowers to bring into the house.
Without doubt I'm going to dedicate a whole bed to growing cut flowers next year (although I am increasing the number of beds that I'll be growing in anyway!).
Do you grow flowers to cut to the house?
Which are your favourite flowers for this?
I had made a start on a cut flower area, although all I go in was Cosmos and Sunflowers, I think its a wonderful idea and it attracts beneficial insects, well done to your mum and girls :-)
ReplyDeleteThe sunflowers are me and I always grow nasturtiums and marigolds, they self set each year now anyway!
DeleteBob Flowerdew (haven't seen him on the telly for ages) used to have the rule "If you can't eat it OR SMELL IT, I don't grow it." Maybe you could say that's your new rule? Flowers feed our souls!
ReplyDeleteSounds a good rule! Except sweet peas, nothing gets my hay fever more than those flowers!
DeleteMy dad only ever grew what he could eat, my mum was the flower gardener. I don't cut our flowers, but our plot is tiny, I like to throw flower seeds into my cottage garden bed and see what comes up, it was a huge success.
ReplyDeleteMy mum used to grow more veg when we all lived at hiome but as she's got older she grows more and more flowers, her garden is open to the public next year with the NGS, it's quite stunning.
DeleteAlthough I don't grow cut flowers as such, we do have them in the back garden. So many insects thrive on them.
ReplyDeleteAs I have so much space it makes sense to grow some really, I'm thinking of chaning my planting plan next year anyway, as we've got a bigger family I need lots more of certain veggies (like carrots) and less of other things.
DeleteI relaxed my rule a couple of years ago and have more flowers and flowering plants now than ever. I grow flowering plants ro attract the bees and other beneficial insects. The bees need all the help they can get or one day there won't be many vegetables left that we can grow.
ReplyDeleteIt's good for the bees. I've also been planting veg for seed so biannuals go back int he ground on year two to flower - great for the bees and for me as I get free seed!
DeleteI would like to grow some flowers. it will probably be sweet peas.
ReplyDeleteThey are the one I won't be growing. i love them but they get my hay fever like nothign else. I remember my mum giving me a bunch to take home for my wife once and I had to chuck them out the car window as I just couldn't stop sneezing!
DeleteAlstromeria are brilliant for cut flowers, florists love them as they stand for ages before going over and once youve planted a few they spread, and sell really well too of course!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great flower then! I'll write that down and plant some next year, I thought that selling a few bunches would be a good idea. I like statice flowers for the smae reason. It's one I remember well from when my mum had a dried flower shop and I used to work there bunching them up!
DeleteI think flowers add so much to the garden. I think that's what makes it so enjoyable to spend time in. It's also great for luring pollinators in and we all know how important that is to the success of the garden. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI do grow some edible ones as well, my garden is full of colour at the moment. It always seems full of bees and things as well which is good!
DeleteA small area, even within a veg plot, so planted aids pollinating insects which is no bad thing.
ReplyDeleteNo it all helps. Like I said above I've been letting some veg go to flower so I can save seeds as well. I get seeds and the bees get flowers, everyone wins!
DeleteMany flowers are edible or have healing properties and some of them are beautiful. You might look into them, as well. Nothing wrong with having them do double duty. I love the way they make my salads look.
ReplyDeleteI grow quite a few edible flowers, nasturtiums are everywhere in my garden as are marigolds. I have electric daises for something fun and flowering veg for seeds. I think the more of everything I grow the better.
DeleteI would like to look into more herbal flowering plants as well though if you have some suggestions?
Kymber and Jam have a blog post about healing plants. Not from that long ago
DeleteI'm in the southern US, so not sure about how well these will grow there, but lavender, marsh mallow, yarrow, purple coneflower (echinacea),Roman chamomile and anise hyssop are all regulars in my garden. Some for flavor, some for medicinal purposes. All add beauty to the garden.
DeleteThese were all from seeds, not that I planted them, these were all my mum!
ReplyDeleteI have grown sunflowers though (about 10 huge ones at the back of the garden).
I needed to send a thank you to a business partner and I have been rather disappointed with my previous florist. So I took a chance with these Flower Delivery NYC guys! And I am so happy I did. Got exactly what I wanted.
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