I've got this crazy idea about creating a cutting garden...

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I've got this crazy idea about creating a cutting garden...
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dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45505
Location: yes

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 11 9:22 pm Post subject:

Mary-Jane wrote:

dpack wrote:

physick and flower?

Look - don't start getting all alternative/St. John's Wort/la-de-da/hippy with me dpack.

plenty do both

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 11 9:32 pm Post subject:

Mary-Jane wrote:

"I've got a massive cock you might be interested in..."

He's a roast this week if you don't want him, so you'd better let me know

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 11 9:35 pm Post subject:
Spit roast?

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 11 9:37 pm Post subject:
In your head. And mine, now.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 11 9:45 pm Post subject:
Did you want a sensible answer, or is it too late? get hold of Sarah Raven's book 'Grow your Own Cut Flowers' loads of ideas and pretty pictures. The actual growing bit is just the same as veg - largely hardy annuals - so you won't have any trouble with that.

shadiya

Joined: 02 Feb 2008
Posts: 1285

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 11 10:21 pm Post subject:

Yep, Sarah Raven is definitely the way forward, I have both her books and can highly recommend them, though I haven't actually got around to planting a cutting garden yet....

!/4 acre seems like an awful lot of flowers, I don't think you need even half that much unless you are thinking of planting things like roses etc and even then, that's quite a lot. I'd start small, you know how starting big so often goes weedily wrong - and I speak as a woman who actually created a new veg patch because she couldn't face the weeds in the old one

Good luck with it, I'm feeling all inspired to have a go myself - maybe this year it might finally happen?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 11 10:59 pm Post subject:

shadiya wrote:

!/4 acre seems like an awful lot of flowers,

It does. I'm planning an area 2.5 x 2.5 m for my cutting garden.

shadiya

Joined: 02 Feb 2008
Posts: 1285

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 11 12:17 am Post subject:
Oops - is that an exclamation mark instead of a 1? Must get new glasses!

woodsprite

Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 2943
Location: North Herefordshire

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 11 12:37 am Post subject:
Sorry MJ It's been a harrowing week in the sandpit so I stopped by for a little distraction and made a right tit of myself! It will be gorgeous I'm sure, remember to include Alstromeria. Gorgeous in the garden and cut and they last for ages in the vase.

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 11 1:05 am Post subject:
if you want year round flowers, grow some that you can dry effectively.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 11 7:19 am Post subject:
Think windbreaks. Cut flowers are very prone to being wind blown.

Rosemary Judy

Joined: 08 Aug 2005
Posts: 1215
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 11 8:02 am Post subject:

The thing about a cuttings garden is that you have to be a bit more regimented than just a pleasure garden, and you have to have rows of things rather than just an garden, and if it becomes too attractive a place and you can sit and admire it, then you will never cut any flowers for your home.

I'd love a proper cuttings garden, and I'd grow sweet peas, small multicoloured sunflowers and those big red dahlias that Sarah Raven is currently advertising in the saturday paper. And loads of green plants that look amazing, that I can't remember the name of

Can you get a plough in to start to clear the ground ?

and I am very envious..... enjoy

Katieowl

Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4317
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 11 8:07 am Post subject:

Thirded Sara Bloody Raven...but whatever you do DON'T BUY HER SEEDS - I think they sell her duds from the seed factory, and laugh behind their hands as she sells them at four times the price of everyone elses.

We did cutting flowers at the allotments in London...you won't need your whole field! No unless you are planning on buying a kaftan and handing them out free in Cardigan

I think ducks is the way to go for the rest....

Kate

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 11 8:50 am Post subject:

Katieowl wrote:

Interesting - not bought any so can't comment on 'dudness' but her tomato seeds were 49p cheaper per packet than the T&M ones from Wyevale garden centres

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Sun Mar 20, 11 9:04 am Post subject:
If you have a big enough cutting garden you could flog flowers to supplement your meagre pension . Lots of flowers are edible, so you'll have an extension to your salad garden too. With a lot of space you could also plant some shrubs and evergreens for foliage... What a lovely project - have fun!

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