Cutting Garden Layout: Rows of Flowers for Bouquets
A cutting garden layout puts flowers in rows you can reach, pick and replant. Notes from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources call for full sun, beds no wider than 4 feet and steady picking so plants bloom again.
The short answer
Choose a spot with 6 or more hours of sun. Make beds no wider than 4 feet with paths you can walk. Space most annuals about 9 inches apart and give dahlias 18 inches. Cut often, since picking pushes plants to make more flowers.
What is a cutting garden?
It’s a bed grown for picking rather than show. Penn State lists sunflowers, zinnia, lisianthus, dahlia and peonies among specialty cut flowers. The UC notes describe cut and come again zinnias that bloom more the more you cut.
How should rows and paths be laid out?
The UC notes give 10 by 4 foot plots with paths between beds. Beds 4 feet wide or less let you reach the middle from either side. Plant away from tree roots, which compete for water. See how a site’s sun and wind shape planting in garden microclimates for cannabis and fit beds into planning an outdoor cannabis garden layout.
| Flower | Spacing | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Most annuals | 9 by 9 inches | UC ANR |
| Cosmos | 12 inches | UC ANR |
| Branching sunflowers | 18 to 24 inches | UC ANR |
| Dahlias | 18 inches | UC ANR |
| Single stem sunflowers | 4 to 6 inches | UC ANR |
Which flowers bloom again for bouquets?
Zinnias and cosmos bloom again after cutting. The UC notes start them 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost, pinch them at 10 to 12 inches and hold them up with netting. South Dakota State says deadheading stops seed set and brings more blooms, so cut above the first set of leaves every few days. Sowing in rounds stretches the season.
How to: step by step
- Mark beds 4 feet wide in full sun.
- Leave walking paths between beds.
- Set annuals 9 inches apart and dahlias 18 inches apart.
- Pinch zinnias and cosmos at 10 to 12 inches.
- Run netting over tall stems, as in the art of cannabis trellising.
- Cut every few days.
Troubleshooting
Fewer blooms by midsummer: cut or deadhead more often.
Floppy stems: add netting.
Too many flowers at once: plant in rounds and pick in stages, as in harvesting cannabis in stages.
Plan rows, then pick
Rows sized to your reach make cutting quick. Kind Seed Co shares more garden notes for growers who mix flowers into their plots.
Sources
- Cut flower workshop notes, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Enjoy more flowers in your garden by deadheading regularly, South Dakota State University Extension
- Cut flower production, Penn State Extension
FAQ
Which flowers suit a cutting garden?
Penn State lists sunflowers, zinnia, lisianthus, dahlia and peonies. The UC notes favor zinnias and cosmos because they bloom again after cutting.
How wide should beds be?
The UC notes use beds no wider than 4 feet so you can reach the center from the path.
When should I cut flowers?
The UC notes cut roses in the evening or early morning and set stems in lukewarm water with leaves stripped below the water line.
Do cutting gardens need full sun?
Yes. The UC notes define full sun as 6 or more hours.
Does cutting make more flowers?
Yes. The UC notes and South Dakota State both say regular cutting or deadheading brings more blooms.
