5 Easy Cut Flowers For Beginners

There is something so rewarding about walking out to your garden each day to cut fresh, beautiful blooms that you worked so hard to grow. Having flowers in your home is a wonderful way to bring nature indoors. If you are considering the idea of starting your own cutting garden, you may be wondering just how to get started and which flowers are best for beginners.

What Is A Cutting Garden?

First of all, what is a cutting garden? A flower-cutting garden is a designated space where flowers are grown specifically for harvesting and arranging. In a cutting garden, you will find a variety of flowers including annuals, perennials, and sometimes even shrubs. All plants in the garden are carefully chosen because they are known to produce long-lasting blooms in abundance. To make sure that you have a continuous supply of fresh flowers all year, you should include a mix of early, mid, and late-blooming varieties. Flower-cutting gardens require constant care. Be prepared to spend a lot of time deadheading (removing spent flowers), pruning, and sometimes even replanting throughout the season for continuous blooming.
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​What Flowers Are Best For A Cutting Garden?

Your main goal is to create a beautiful space that provides you with fresh flowers throughout the entire growing season. There are several things you will want to consider ​when deciding what flowers are best in your cutting garden, including:

1. Flowering Time: One thing you need to know is the bloom time of each flower planted. A mix of early, mid, and late-season varieties will ensure you have flowers throughout the season. You don't want to choose all spring blooming varieties, for instance, or you will only have flowers to cut during that time. Some flowers, like peonies, bloom early in the season, while others, like sunflowers, bloom in mid to late summer.

2. Vase Life: Pick flowers that are known to have long-lasting stems and a good vase life. Flowers like dahlias, lilies, sunflowers, and zinnias last around a week in a vase making them a good choice for cutting gardens. Cosmos, however, are absolutely beautiful in the garden but do not last super long once harvested. 

3. Color and Variety: Choose a variety of colors and flower types that you will enjoy in your garden and in your arrangements. I always like to have a mix of colors, textures, and shapes. This gives me a lot of choices when it comes to designing a bouquet for a friend or an arrangement for my kitchen table. 

4. Growing Conditions: The first thing I tell new growers is to find out what growing zone you are in before you even start planning your garden. Knowing this information will help you choose flowers that will survive and thrive in your area. You don't want to spend money or time trying to grow something that is just not going to make it in your climate. You also need to consider where your garden will be located. Pick a spot that makes sense for what you are trying to grow. For instance, some flowers may require more sun, while others may thrive in partial shade.

5. Foliage and Filler: Yes, focal flowers are the star of the show. But like all leading ladies, you must have supporting cast members.  That's where foliage and filler plants come in. These plants are essential for arrangements and bouquets. Not only do they add texture and visual enjoyment, but they also add volume. Besides the common foliage, I like to plant a variety of fragrant herbs to incorporate.

6. Pest and Disease Resistance

• Some flowers are more resistant to pests and diseases, which will save you time and effort. For instance, zinnias are relatively pest-resistant, while roses require more care.

Annuals Vs. Perennials

For anyone new to gardening or growing flowers, starting with an annual garden is a fantastic choice. Annuals are some of the easiest, most affordable, and quickest flowers to cultivate. By beginning with this group of plants, you'll gain valuable experience without spending too much money. ​

Why Should I Start A Cutting Garden?

Growing your own flowers can be a rewarding experience for several reasons:

1. Create Beauty: A cutting garden can be a peaceful space to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. There is nothing like harvesting stunning, fresh flowers to take into your home or gift to a friend.
2. Save Money: Buying flowers regularly can be expensive. Growing your own allows you to have a continuous supply at little cost, once your garden is established.
3. Design Your Own: Growing your own flowers means that you are creating a personalized garden that suits your tastes and style. You get to choose the colors, types, and varieties of flowers that you love.
4. Stay Healthy: Not only does gardening provide you with a great sense of accomplishment, but it can also be very therapeutic. My garden is my happy place. I find that it reduces my stress levels and improves my mood. Gardening is also good exercise. The physical activity that is involved in planting, watering, and caring for your flowers  are all good for your health.
5. Attract Pollinators: Planting a variety of flowers can attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These are vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems and seed development. You can find out more about what plants are best for pollinators here.​ ​

Recommended Flowers For First Time Growers

Zinnias are truly a garden favorite! Every year, I grow hundreds of these plants and I never tire of their beauty. I couldn't imagine a garden without them. These vibrant blooms are not only beautiful but also incredibly easy to cultivate. They are super productive, tough, and require little care. They also come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Zinnias can be direct-seeded in the garden after all danger of frost has passed in the spring. ​

Sunflowers

​Nothing says summer like a bright, golden sunflower. With their cheerful appearance and ease of growth, it's no wonder they are so loved. These days, sunflowers come in many colors including yellow, gold, green, red, and brown. They can be directly seeded in the garden after all danger of frost has passed. There are two types of sunflowers, branching and nonbranching. Branching varieties often have smaller blooms, but produce a lot of flowers over an extended period. Nonbranching varieties produce one flower per seed, but their blooms have long straight stems with a longer vase life. Sunflowers are known for their significant amounts of pollen, so if allergies are a concern, you may want to choose a pollenless variety.

​Snapdragons

Snapdragons are such a beautiful and highly productive plant. With their unique, "dragon snout" petals and their tall spikey appearance, they are definitely an eye-catcher in the garden. Snapdragons come in a large mix of colors from pale pastels to bright bolds - there are so many varieties to choose from. They also produce a lovely, mild fragrance. The only drawback to these beauties is the size of their seeds. They are tiny! The seeds are like small grains of sand, making starting them very time-consuming. But, with a little patience, your reward come spring will be worth it.

Marigolds

Marigolds are easy-to-grow, hardy flowers. They are highly productive plants with blooms that come in bright colors like yellow and orange. They have a strong scented foliage that people usually love or hate. I personally, love the way they smell, but if their fragrance is not one that you enjoy, you can easily strip off their leaves before bringing them inside. Marigolds are relatively easy to start from seed and they germinate pretty quickly. They are also good pollinators to have in the garden and are great pest repellents. ​

​Celosia

Celosia is a hardy group of plants available in various shapes and colors. The varieties best for cutting include the fan, feather, and brain types. They always serve as a great conversation starter because of their unique appearance and texture. They are vigorous growers that produce a large amount of blooms throughout the season. Their seeds are quite tiny, so patience is required when starting them. ​

I'd love to hear your experience with growing these favorite cut flowers! Which ones have you been successful with?

Happy Planting!
XOXO