Autumn Cut Flowers to Grow on Your Allotment: A Complete Guide

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, autumn is a time of transition in the garden. However, this doesn’t mean your allotment can’t continue to flourish with vibrant and colorful cut flowers. While many summer blooms begin to fade, autumn offers a variety of flowers that thrive in cooler temperatures and add beauty to your garden through the fall months.

In this article, we’ll explore the best autumn cut flowers to grow on your allotment, provide tips for planting, maintaining, and harvesting them, and guide you in keeping your garden vibrant until the first frost. With the right flowers and care, your autumn allotment can be just as abundant and beautiful as it was in summer.

Why Grow Cut Flowers in Autumn?

Autumn brings a fresh wave of opportunities for growing flowers that not only extend the beauty of your allotment but also serve practical purposes:

• Late-season blooms: Autumn flowers keep your garden colorful when summer flowers fade, ensuring you have blooms well into the fall.
• Attracting late pollinators: Flowers like dahlias and asters help support bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that are still active late in the season.
• Drought resistance: Many autumn flowers are hardy and drought-tolerant, making them ideal for lower-maintenance gardening.
• Bouquets and arrangements: Autumn flowers add a rich, warm palette to your home or market bouquets, bringing seasonal charm to any space.

Let’s explore the top flowers you should grow this autumn and how to care for them successfully.

Top Autumn Cut Flowers for Your Allotment

1. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums, commonly known as mums, are a quintessential autumn flower with their rich jewel tones and daisy-like blooms. These flowers are a favorite for bouquets because of their long-lasting blooms and vibrant colors.

Growing Tips:

• Planting: Plant chrysanthemums in spring or summer, so they’re established by autumn. You can also buy mature plants in late summer for immediate blooms.
• Spacing: Space plants 12-18 inches apart in well-drained soil.
• Care: Mums prefer full sun and regular watering. Mulch the soil to retain moisture and protect the roots from frost.
• Harvesting: Cut chrysanthemums when the buds are just beginning to open. They will continue to bloom for weeks in a vase.

2. Dahlias

Though dahlias bloom throughout the summer, they reach their peak in autumn. With their large, showy blooms in a variety of colors, they are a perfect choice for autumn cut flowers.

Growing Tips:

• Planting: Plant dahlia tubers in late spring or early summer. They need plenty of sun and well-drained soil.
• Spacing: Space dahlias 18-24 inches apart and provide stakes for support as they grow taller.
• Care: Regular watering and feeding are essential for healthy dahlia blooms. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
• Harvesting: Cut dahlias when the blooms are fully open, preferably in the morning or late afternoon when the stems are most hydrated.

3. Asters

Asters are star-shaped flowers that bloom in shades of purple, pink, and white. These autumn beauties are ideal for adding pops of color to your garden and arrangements.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Sow aster seeds in early spring or plant them as seedlings for a late summer bloom.
• Spacing: Space asters about 12-18 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: Asters prefer well-drained soil and moderate watering. Mulch around the plants to protect them as the weather cools.
• Harvesting: Harvest asters when the flowers are fully open for the longest vase life.

4. Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedum, also known as stonecrop, is a hardy perennial with fleshy leaves and clusters of small star-shaped flowers. The autumn-flowering varieties like Autumn Joy are perfect for cut flowers due to their unique texture and long vase life.

Growing Tips:

• Planting: Sedum can be planted in early spring or autumn. They thrive in well-drained soil and prefer full sun.
• Spacing: Space plants 12-18 inches apart.
• Care: Sedum is drought-tolerant, so it requires minimal watering. Once established, they need little maintenance.
• Harvesting: Cut sedum flowers when the blooms are fully open. They will last up to two weeks in a vase and can be dried for long-term arrangements.

5. Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)

Rudbeckia, or black-eyed Susan, is a bright, cheerful flower that blooms well into the autumn months. Its yellow petals with dark centers add warmth to any bouquet.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Start rudbeckia seeds indoors in early spring or sow directly outdoors in late spring.
• Spacing: Plant them 12-18 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: These hardy plants need little care once established but should be watered regularly in dry periods.
• Harvesting: Cut rudbeckia flowers when they are fully open. They make excellent cut flowers with a vase life of up to 10 days.

6. Japanese Anemones

Japanese anemones are graceful, long-stemmed flowers that bloom from late summer through autumn. Their delicate pink, white, or purple petals add elegance to fall bouquets.

Growing Tips:

• Planting: Plant Japanese anemones in spring or autumn in well-drained soil.
• Spacing: Space them 18-24 inches apart.
• Care: Japanese anemones prefer partial shade and moderate watering. They are low-maintenance but benefit from mulch to retain moisture.
• Harvesting: Harvest anemones when the flowers are fully open. They make beautiful cut flowers that last for about a week in a vase.

7. Cosmos

Though cosmos typically bloom in summer, they can continue to flower into autumn if you plant late or succession sow. These dainty, easy-to-grow flowers come in a range of colors and are perfect for cut flower arrangements.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Sow cosmos seeds directly into the garden in late spring or early summer for a late-season bloom.
• Spacing: Space plants 12-18 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: Cosmos require well-drained soil and regular watering. Deadhead regularly to extend their blooming period.
• Harvesting: Cut cosmos when the buds are just about to open for the longest vase life.

8. Amaranthus

Amaranthus produces long, cascading tassels in shades of red, green, and burgundy, making it a unique addition to autumn bouquets. These bold flowers add texture and drama to any arrangement.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Sow amaranthus seeds directly in the garden in late spring or early summer after the last frost.
• Spacing: Space plants 12-18 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: Amaranthus thrives in well-drained soil and needs regular watering. It is drought-tolerant once established.
• Harvesting: Cut amaranthus when the tassels are fully formed but before they become brittle.

Tips for Growing Autumn Cut Flowers on Your Allotment

While the weather cools down in autumn, there are still plenty of tasks you can do to keep your flower garden thriving. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your autumn cut flowers:

1. Extend the Growing Season

To extend your flower-growing season into autumn, consider using row covers, cloches, or cold frames to protect more tender plants from early frosts. These structures help maintain warmth and allow flowers to keep blooming.

2. Prepare Your Soil

Healthy soil is key to strong flower growth, even in autumn. Before planting, enrich your soil with compost or organic matter. This provides essential nutrients and improves drainage, which is crucial for the cooler, wetter months.

3. Mulching

Apply a layer of mulch around the base of your plants to protect their roots from temperature fluctuations and help retain moisture. Mulching also prevents weed growth, making it easier to maintain your allotment in the fall.

4. Water Wisely

While autumn usually brings more rain, make sure your flowers aren’t waterlogged. Only water if the soil feels dry, and avoid overwatering, especially as cooler weather sets in. Soggy soil can lead to root rot, particularly in flowers like dahlias.

5. Deadheading and Pruning

Continue to deadhead spent blooms to encourage new growth and extend the flowering period. Prune back any damaged or diseased growth to keep your plants healthy and prevent the spread of disease.

6. Harvesting for Longevity

For the best vase life, harvest flowers in the morning when the stems are well-hydrated. Use sharp scissors or garden shears to make clean cuts at an angle, which helps the stems absorb water more efficiently. Immediately place the stems in a bucket of water to prevent wilting.

Conclusion

Autumn is a season full of rich colors and textures, and by growing the right cut flowers on your allotment, you can enjoy beautiful blooms well into the cooler months. From bold dahlias to elegant anemones, there are plenty of options for creating stunning arrangements that reflect the warmth of the season. With a little planning and care, your autumn garden will

continue to provide vibrant flowers that brighten up both your home and your allotment.