Planning A Cutting Garden

February 17, 2025 | C.L. Fornari | Flowers

As winter keeps its grip on Cape Cod, planning for the coming summer’s gardens can lift our spirits and give us a jumpstart to spring. Here are some ideas for the plants you’ll want in a cutting garden on the Cape.

Must Grow Perennials for Bouquets

While there are many perennials that are good for cutting, it’s especially important to plant things that are in flower early in the season, since the annuals won’t be ready to pick at that time. If you already have some daffodils and bleeding heart in the ground, you’ll be ready for spring arrangements. For cut flowers in May, be sure to grow Nepeta, aka catmint. And for June, plant peonies (Paeonia), beardtongue (Penstemon) and lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis).

The lime-green Lady’s mantle flowers are perfect with pink peonies. While peonies grow the best in full sun, lady’s mantle is a perennial that thrives in part-shade.

Penstemon flowers in June, making it a natural for cutting gardens.

Annuals to Purchase in Six-Packs

Every year we have certain annuals in six-packs that are cutting garden staples. California Giant and State Fair Zinnias come in mixed colors and their flowers are large. Cut-and-Come-Again Zinnias have small flowers and live up to their name. Blue Horizon Ageratum has cornflower blue flowers and is a workhorse in a cutting garden. Look for all of these six packs early in the season, and snap them up when you see them because they tend to sell out quickly.

This beach-bucket bouquet contains zinnias, dahlias, and the Blue Horizon Ageratum.

You Must Have Dahlias!

Starting next week we’ll be receiving packages of dahlia tubers. Plant these in a sunny location at the end of May and you’ll have colorful bouquets from the end of July until hard frost. If you purchase tubers in the winter, store them in a cool location where they won’t freeze, such as an unheated garage or cold basement.

Dahlias are perfect for displaying singly or including in bouquets. Their colors are a perfect compliment to all hydrangeas.

Plan to Grow These From Seed

There are some annuals that aren’t commonly available in pots or six-packs, and these are worth starting from seed or planting directly into the ground. Here are some suggestions, along with tips for getting them started.

Bells of Ireland are a flower arranger’s dream. Sow these in pots outside now, and cover with cloth so that the critters don’t dig in the potting soil. These seeds germinate better when they’ve gone through a chilling period. In April, bring those pots into a warm place and keep the soil moist if you want to give the plants a head start. Or, the pots can be kept moist outside, and the cloth removed in April, so that the seeds can sprout later in May.

Plant sunflower seeds inside in pots in early May, or put the seeds in the ground in late May. If planted in the ground, water the area well after planting to settle the soil so that the birds don’t know the seeds are there. Warning: rabbits LOVE sunflower plants, so be prepared to spray with Plantskydd from the get go, or plant where bunnies can’t get to them.

There are many Zinnias that our growers don’t start in six packs. You can find seeds for bi-colors, unusual colors and different flower forms in the seed racks on our patio. Buy them now, when you can find them, but wait to start them indoors in April. Zinnias germinate and grow quickly, so you don’t want to start them too early on Cape Cod. The seeds can also be direct sown in the ground at the end of May when the soil is warm. (Plant Zinnia seeds at the same time you put tomato seedlings in your vegetable garden.) Keep the row of seeds moist as they germinate, and dust the tiny seedlings when they emerge with diatomaceous earth to prevent the earwigs and slugs from eating them. Once they start to grow their new leaves, spray with Plantskydd to let the rabbits know that your Zinnias are not on their menu.

Download our List of Cutting Garden Must-Grow Plants

On our Informational Handouts page there is a list of suggested shrubs, perennials and annuals that are good for bouquets. You can download that handout and print it out as you plan for this year’s cutting garden plantings.

Planning for mixed bouquets of summer flowers is a great February activity.

Posted in Flowers