Cutting gardens bring seasonal beauty indoors

BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER

A cutting garden can ensure lots of beautiful, homegrown flowers are always handy.

Some plants tolerate cutting better than others, said Robin Trott, University of Minnesota Extension Educator.

Many of the best cut flowers are annuals, she said. Most can be started from seed.

“Growing them is not hard in Minnesota, even with a short season,” Trott said.

It is best to avoid cutting during the day. That is when flowers are under more stress. Only cut flowers for arrangements in the early morning or evening, Trott said.

“If you are cutting a number of flowers and have buckets, make sure they are in the shade,” she said. “Always put your picked flowers somewhere cool, in the shade or a refrigerator. Strip out the foliage you don’t need in the field.”

Use a sharp and disinfected tool to cut the stems. A dirty tool can spread bacteria and disease.

And, before placing the bouquet or floral arrangement in a vase, remove any foliage that will sit in water.

“Cut the flowers right into a preservative,” Trott said. “It will make them last longer.”

Gardens page 7B

Gardens from page 6B

Here are Trott’s recommendations for selecting flowers for a cutting garden: FLOSS FLOWER

(Ageratum houstonianum):

These flowers retain color. Recommended varieties are Red Sea or Everest Blue. “It is a great cut flower because it fills in the spaces,” Trott said. “You want your main star flowers, but you also want the fillers.”

LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING

(Amaranthus caudatus):

Recommended varieties are Green Thumb, Dreadlocks, Autumn Touch and Velvet Curtains.

“Planting in a 9-by-9 configuration encourages them to be tall, strong and straight,” Trott said.

Laceflower

(Ammi majus): These flowers last five to eight days fresh. Dry them two to three weeks in a dark, dry place. “Chocolate is really popular,” Trott said. “Follow the directions and start from seed. It’s March. You need to start them soon.”

Snapdragons

(Antirrhinum majus): Recommended varieties include Rocket, Liberty, Twist, Chantilly and Madame Butterfly. Early season snapdragons are Trott’s favorites. “They get really tall,” Trott said. “They like cold weather.”

Plumed cockscomb or silver cockscomb

(Celosia argentea): This annual comes in many colors. “The seeds are very tiny,” Trott said. “You have to be very patient with them. They get really big and tall.”

Mexican aster

(Cosmos bipinnatus): Recommended cut varieties include Versailles or Double Click. Harvest when the buds show color. “If you are cutting it, and you are going to give a boutique to somebody, don’t wait until the flower looks spectacular. That’s too late,” Trott said. “It won’t last long.”

Blue lace flower

(Didiscus coerulea): The lavender-blue flat flower heads of this heirloom resemble Queen Anne’s lace. Its bountiful flowers, curving stems and delicate, deeply lobed leaves are graceful additions to cottage and cutting gardens.

Globe amaranth

(Gomphrena globosa): Like most true annuals, globe is a compact plant with upward growing stems that produce cheerful clover-like bracts in a lovely magenta color over a long bloom period. Strawberry Fields and Fireworks are common varieties. “It’s easy to grow, and it’s easy to dry,” Trott said.

Commons sunflower

(Helianthus annuus): Harvest when one to two petals begin to lift off the face. Recommended varieties include Lemon Queen, Sungold, Floristan, Moulin Rouge, Prado Red, Ring of Fire, Sunrich and Cherry Rose. “Sunflowers that are fully open last about three or four days before the petals start falling off,” Trott said. “Start picking them when the petals start lifting off of the face.”

Sweet pea

(Lathyrus odoratus):

This annual was introduced into English country gardeners in the late 1600s. These vining plants need support with a trellis or stakes. Floral preservatives and cool temperatures are necessary when harvesting. “Sweet Pea is such a pretty, cool season flower,” Trott said.

Love-in-a-mist

(Nigella damascena): It is best to harvest when these flowers are open or pods form. This flower works well with cottage garden annuals. Miss Jekyll has soft blue, semidouble flowers. Persian Jewels are a mixture of shades of mauve, lavender, purple, rose, light blue and white double flowers. The flowers and the green and burgundy seed pods can be used in fresh or dried arrangements.

Marigolds (Tagetes): Common types include French, African and Signet. These lowmaintenance plants thrive in full sun locations and provide abundant blooms until frost. Blossoms can be orange, yellow, red, gold, copper, brass, white or a combination. Marigolds benefit from deadheading.

Benary’s Giant

(Zinnia elegans):

Zinnias have a wide range of heights, growth habits and flower colors.

There are three distinct flower types based on floral structure: single, double and semi-double.

Zinnias work great in displays due to a wide color range and petals per head. Change the water every two days once cut. “Their colors are striking,” Trott said. “You have to go through and deadhead them.”