A short guide to sowing and harvesting cut flowers

All seeds have different requirements and characteristics, so you should always follow the instructions on the variety label. The following are only general guidelines, but they are usually valid.

The material

For seed cultivation you will need:

Plant pots with potting soil

-Alternative for many plants: Multi-pot plate

Watering can with fine rose head

liquid fertilizer

The site

Finding the right spot for the seedlings isn't easy. It should primarily be very bright, as young plants need plenty of light to thrive. A bright windowsill is ideal. However, if the sun is very strong, it's crucial to ensure the soil doesn't dry out. Once this happens, the seeds are beyond saving. I've made it a rule to water them once a day. With 500 seedlings in multi-cell trays on my office windowsill, this only takes about three minutes.

The timing

As a general rule, starting seeds indoors is preferable, as the young plants are protected there and flower earlier than if sown directly in the garden later. Another disadvantage of direct sowing is that weeds usually grow faster than the seedlings. I usually start sowing seeds in mid-March to mid-April and repeat the process in May. Starting as early as February makes little sense; the light is still too weak, and you'll have to repot the seedlings frequently.

Many annual plants are sensitive to frost. They should really only be planted outdoors once the risk of frost has passed. In most regions of Germany, this is the case from mid-May onwards. Frost-tolerant varieties (Cool Flowers) can be sown as early as autumn or early spring. Here are instructions for these hardy annuals.

Sow seeds

Unless otherwise specified, the following method is recommended: Thoroughly water the soil in the pot so that it is moist but not wet. Use a pen to make a small hole, place two seeds in the pot, and lightly cover them with soil (this does not apply to light-dependent germinators; simply sprinkle these onto the soil).

Water lightly once a day (not too much!). The pots should be repositioned every 3-4 days, as the seedlings will orient themselves towards the sun and otherwise grow crooked. Once both seeds in the pot have germinated, remove one seedling or transplant it into a new pot (pricking out). Only one seedling should grow in each pot. Four weeks after germination, you can begin fertilizing; this will encourage more abundant blooms.

Once the pot is fully rooted and there is no longer any risk of frost, the young plants can be planted out. It can be helpful to harden them off beforehand by placing them outdoors for a few hours at a time in a spot that isn't too sunny. If there is still a risk of frost, the plants can also be transplanted into a slightly larger pot to allow the roots to continue spreading optimally. However, this is quite a lot of work with a large number of young plants. In this case, it helps not to start sowing them too early.

Planting out and caring for young plants

When planting, please observe the spacing indicated on the label for each variety. Ideally, plant in good, weed-free soil. In the garden, you should also water and fertilize the plants regularly. However, their care is not nearly as demanding as that of vegetables, as most varieties are exceptionally robust. For tall plants with large flowers, provide support in good time. This can be a stake to which the main shoot is tied. For many plants, a net stretched approximately 30 cm above the ground, into which the plants can grow, is also suitable. Thin, long willow rods, inserted into the ground and bent over to form a "net" for the plants to grow into, look even more attractive.

Cut flowers

Pinching back is an important method for many annual cut flowers to encourage stronger branching and thus increased flower production. When the young plant is about 20-30 cm tall, simply remove the main shoot about 15 cm above the ground using scissors or your fingers.

As soon as the first blossoms appear, they can be cut for a vase. Many varieties are encouraged to produce more flowers by regular cutting. Other varieties, such as Nigellas, only produce flowers once, but can be resown every 2-3 weeks (do not pinch back these). Always remove faded flower heads.

As a general rule: Flowers should be cut in the morning or evening if possible and placed directly into clean water in the shade for a few hours to recover.

Newsletter

Receive regular helpful gardening tips, special discounts, and be the first to know when our flowers go online this season! Plus, you'll get our digital planning maps. Print them out and easily plan long-blooming, low-maintenance flower beds! Please also check your spam folder for the confirmation link after registering.