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

Summer is the season when your allotment bursts into life with vibrant blooms and lush greenery. If you love fresh, colorful flowers, summer is the perfect time to grow cut flowers on your allotment. Not only will these flowers beautify your space, but they also provide pollinators with essential food and allow you to create stunning bouquets for your home or for sale.

In this article, we’ll explore the best summer cut flowers to grow on your allotment, give you expert tips on how to care for them, and guide you through harvesting to ensure you have flowers that last long in a vase. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, you’ll find everything you need to grow a flourishing allotment of cut flowers this summer.

Why Grow Cut Flowers on Your Allotment?

Growing cut flowers on your allotment offers numerous benefits:

• Aesthetic appeal: Flowers add beauty and color to your allotment, creating a vibrant and inviting space.
• Pollinator attraction: Flowers like sunflowers and zinnias attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, which help pollinate your vegetables and other plants.
• Sustainability: Growing your own flowers reduces your environmental footprint by eliminating the need for imported flowers grown with chemicals.
• Bouquets and gifts: Cut flowers from your garden make beautiful bouquets for your home, or you can gift them to friends and family.
• Income potential: If you grow in abundance, you can sell cut flowers at local farmers’ markets or to florists for extra income.

With these benefits in mind, let’s explore the best summer cut flowers to grow on your allotment.

Top Summer Cut Flowers for Your Allotment

1. Sunflowers

Sunflowers are the ultimate summer flower, known for their tall, bright blooms that stand out in any garden. They make excellent cut flowers due to their long stems and large, cheerful heads.

Growing Tips:

• Planting: Sow sunflower seeds directly into the soil in late spring to early summer once the danger of frost has passed.
• Spacing: Space seeds 12-24 inches apart, depending on the variety.
• Care: Sunflowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Water deeply but infrequently.
• Harvesting: Harvest sunflowers when the petals begin to open, and the backs of the heads start to turn yellow. Cut the stems at an angle for a longer vase life.

2. Zinnias

Zinnias are hardy, drought-tolerant flowers that bloom profusely throughout the summer. Their wide variety of colors and shapes make them ideal for cut flower arrangements.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Start zinnia seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost or sow directly outdoors in late spring.
• Spacing: Plant seeds 12 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: Zinnias thrive in well-drained soil and require regular watering during dry spells.
• Harvesting: Harvest zinnias when the flowers are fully open. For the longest vase life, cut stems in the morning when they are hydrated.

3. Cosmos

Cosmos are delicate, daisy-like flowers that come in shades of pink, white, and red. Their airy appearance adds a touch of elegance to summer bouquets.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Sow cosmos seeds directly into the garden after the last frost or start indoors 4-6 weeks earlier.
• Spacing: Plant cosmos 12-18 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: These flowers prefer well-drained soil and moderate watering. Cosmos are drought-tolerant once established.
• Harvesting: Harvest cosmos when the buds are just starting to open for the longest-lasting blooms in a vase.

4. Dahlias

Dahlias are stunning flowers that produce large, showy blooms in a wide variety of colors. These flowers thrive in summer and are perfect for creating eye-catching floral arrangements.

Growing Tips:

• Planting: Plant dahlia tubers in late spring after the last frost. Bury them about 4-6 inches deep.
• Spacing: Space tubers 18-24 inches apart.
• Care: Dahlias need full sun, regular watering, and staking to support their tall stems and heavy blooms.
• Harvesting: Harvest dahlias when the blooms are fully open but still firm to the touch. Cut stems early in the morning or late afternoon for the longest vase life.

5. Snapdragons

Snapdragons are a favorite for cut flowers due to their tall spikes and vibrant colors. These flowers bloom from late spring through fall, making them a great addition to your summer flower garden.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Start snapdragon seeds indoors in early spring, about 8-10 weeks before the last frost, or sow directly outdoors in late spring.
• Spacing: Space plants 6-12 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: Snapdragons prefer cool weather and need regular watering, especially during dry periods.
• Harvesting: Harvest snapdragons when the lower third of the flowers on the spike have opened. This ensures a long-lasting display in your vase.

6. Gladiolus

Gladiolus flowers are tall, striking blooms that come in a rainbow of colors. They make excellent cut flowers for dramatic summer arrangements.

Growing Tips:

• Planting: Plant gladiolus corms in spring, 4-6 inches deep in well-drained soil.
• Spacing: Space corms 6 inches apart and provide stakes for support as they grow.
• Care: Gladiolus prefer full sun and regular watering. Avoid overwatering, as it can cause rot.
• Harvesting: Harvest gladiolus when the bottom three to five flowers on the spike are open. Cut at an angle to increase water uptake in the vase.

7. Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)

Rudbeckia, also known as black-eyed Susan, is a hardy perennial that produces cheerful yellow blooms with dark centers. They make excellent cut flowers due to their long vase life and bold appearance.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost or sow directly in the garden in late spring.
• Spacing: Plant rudbeckia 12-18 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: Rudbeckia is drought-tolerant and requires minimal care once established. Water during dry spells.
• Harvesting: Cut flowers when the blooms are fully open. Remove any leaves below the waterline to prevent bacterial growth in the vase.

8. Larkspur

Larkspur adds height and texture to flower arrangements with its tall, spiky blooms in shades of blue, pink, and white. These flowers are perfect for cottage garden-style bouquets.

Growing Tips:

• Sowing: Sow larkspur seeds directly into the garden in late spring or start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost.
• Spacing: Plant larkspur 12 inches apart in full sun.
• Care: Larkspur prefers cool weather and regular watering. Mulch the soil to keep it moist.
• Harvesting: Harvest larkspur when two-thirds of the flowers on the stem are open. These blooms last a long time in the vase and dry well for dried flower arrangements.

Tips for Growing Summer Cut Flowers on Your Allotment

Growing summer cut flowers requires careful planning and regular maintenance to ensure healthy, abundant blooms. Here are some expert tips to help you get the most from your summer cut flower garden:

1. Prepare Your Soil

Before planting, improve your soil by adding organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure. This enriches the soil, improves drainage, and promotes healthy root development.

2. Choose the Right Location

Most summer cut flowers thrive in full sun, which means they need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Ensure your allotment has plenty of light for your flowers to grow strong and healthy.

3. Succession Planting

To ensure a continuous supply of blooms throughout the summer, practice succession planting. Sow new seeds every 2-3 weeks for flowers like zinnias, cosmos, and snapdragons. This method will keep your garden producing fresh blooms all season long.

4. Watering and Feeding

Regular watering is essential for summer flowers, especially during hot, dry spells. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep the soil consistently moist. Fertilize your flowers every 2-4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer or compost tea to encourage healthy growth and abundant blooms.

5. Support Tall Flowers

Tall flowers like sunflowers, gladiolus, and snapdragons may need support to prevent their stems from breaking in the wind. Use stakes or netting to provide support as they grow taller.

6. Regular Deadheading and Harvesting

To promote continuous blooming, regularly deadhead spent flowers. When harvesting flowers for bouquets, cut stems early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the temperatures are cooler. This helps the flowers last longer in the vase.

Conclusion

Growing summer cut flowers on your allotment is a rewarding experience that fills your garden with vibrant colors and your home with fresh, fragrant blooms. Whether you’re growing for personal enjoyment or selling at markets, the flowers listed above are easy to grow and provide beautiful results. By following the

tips in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to a bountiful summer garden filled with stunning cut flowers.