14th April 2016 - "Creating a Cut Flower Garden" - Top Tips from Karen Phillips

Here are some notes I took from the latest talk by Karen Phillips

https://www.widehaughhouse.co.uk/

 

 

1. Silicone cup case holders along with test tubes & small vases give diversity in displaying cut flowers
2. Hellebores will not droop if cut once the seed pod has set
3. Floral place settings look good
4. Twisted hazel provides a great scaffold for floral displays
5. Rosa Souvenir de Mal Maison – grows best in own root stock – so take a long term view & make cuttings this autumn
6. Don't sow seed directly into soil in these northern climates: sow in trays & prick out – tiresome but worth it for healthy plants. However sow calendula directly into prepared seed bed.
7. Make sure you can walk between your cut flower beds – carefully think about paths / stepping stones etc.
8. Ensure the cutting bed is in direct sun light
9. Feed your cutting beds as years go on
10. To encourage flowering – keep picking your annual flowers
11. Consider the need for 'crop rotation' of annual flowers. E.g. wallflowers (erysimum) are in the brassica genus (Family – cruciferae) so are likely to develop 'club root' if sown annually in the same spot!
12. Yellow & white flowers look good in a grey vase
13. Get off to a great start each year by using a 3' x 1' heated propagator. You can reduce germination time by 5 days or so.
14. Species plants come true from seed e.g. Orlaya
15. Poppies provide a great mid-season splash of colour
16. Consider foliage combinations with flowers
17. Take care with euphorbias – can develop allergies due to latex content
18. Always support your cut flowers with 12” to 6' stakes & pea netting
19. Experiment & have Fun
    from Trish Rodgers' Notes