Growing Beautiful Cut Flowers Through the Seasons
Sweet Peas great for cut flowers
Your Banbury garden is perfectly positioned to grow stunning cut flowers throughout the year. Here’s your seasonal guide to keeping your vases filled with home-grown blooms.
Spring Flowers (March-May)
Sweet Peas These fragrant climbers are the jewels of the spring garden, flowering from late spring well into summer. The more you cut, the more they produce. Propagation: Sow seeds in autumn or early spring in deep pots
Anemones Elegant flowers on long stems, perfect for early season arrangements. Propagation: Plant corms in autumn or early spring
Alliums Architectural purple spheres that add drama to any arrangement and dry beautifully. Propagation: Plant bulbs in autumn
Summer Abundance (June-September)
Dahlias The undisputed champions of the cut flower garden. With hundreds of varieties available, you can create entire arrangements from dahlias alone. Propagation: Plant tubers after last frost, or take cuttings from overwintered tubers
Cosmos Incredibly easy and prolific, these airy flowers keep coming all summer long. Propagation: Sow seeds directly outdoors in May or start indoors in April
Zinnias Heat-loving annuals in vibrant colours that thrive in sunny spots. Propagation: Sow seeds indoors in April or direct outdoors in May
Sunflowers Statement flowers available in various sizes from giant heads to smaller branching types. Propagation: Sow seeds directly outdoors from April onwards
Cornflowers Cottage garden classics in blues, pinks, and whites. Propagation: Sow seeds in autumn or spring
Snapdragons Excellent vertical interest and great gap-fillers in arrangements. Propagation: Best bought as young plants or sow seeds early indoors
Scabious Delicate pincushion flowers on long stems, beloved by pollinators. Propagation: Sow seeds in spring or buy young plants
Nigella (Love-in-a-mist) Pretty blue flowers followed by ornamental seed heads that dry beautifully. Propagation: Sow seeds directly in autumn or spring
Carnations & Pinks (Dianthus) Wonderfully fragrant and long-lasting in the vase. Propagation: Take cuttings in summer or buy young plants
Astrantia Delicate starry flowers that tolerate partial shade – perfect for those tricky spots. Propagation: Divide established plants in spring or autumn
Phlox Fragrant cottage garden favourite with clusters of colourful flowers. Propagation: Divide plants in spring or take cuttings
Achillea (Yarrow) Flat flower heads in yellows, pinks, and whites that dry superbly. Propagation: Divide plants in spring or autumn
Autumn Glory (September-November)
Dahlias (continuing) Keep flowering prolifically until the first frost cuts them down.
Chrysanthemums Traditional autumn flowers in warm russets, yellows, and bronzes. Propagation: Take cuttings in spring or divide plants
Asters Late-season stars that provide nectar for pollinators while filling your vases. Propagation: Divide plants in spring
Rudbeckia Cheerful yellows and golds that bridge summer into autumn. Propagation: Sow seeds in spring or divide established plants
Essential Foliage
Ammi majus Delicate white umbels similar to gypsophila – the perfect filler. Propagation: Sow seeds in autumn or spring
Eucalyptus Aromatic silvery foliage (can be grown as an annual or kept compact through coppicing). Propagation: Buy young plants
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