I’ve set myself a challenge: to fill a vase of flowers each week until autumn. It’s partly because the cut flower industry is notorious for its less-than-rosy ethical and environmental credentials: cheap flowers often mean cheap labour, high pesticide and fertiliser usage, and hefty air miles.
Thankfully, there are a number of Fairtrade schemes for cut flowers (listen to the Guardian’s Sow, Grow, Repeat podcast on cut flowers for details) and a growing body of British flower farmers who are providing a year-round celebration of seasonable blooms. But there’s nothing to say that you can’t grow your own. There are a number of mail-order seed catalogues known for cut flowers: Sarah Raven, Higgledy Garden and Seedaholic all have lists to dream about, while all the major seed houses offer cut flower ranges.
You need to buy seeds now, partly because the best varieties run out; and partly because some half-hardy and tender annuals (cosmos, bells of Ireland, cleome and nicotiana) need to be started off under heat; wait until the end of the month to do this. Sweet peas can also be started indoors now, or direct sown outdoors by late March to April.
Consider seed that is either certified organic or pesticide free. If starting seedlings on a windowsill seems a little too much hassle, then go for hardy annuals that can be sown direct, or in seed trays outside. The biggest failure with these flowers comes from sowing too early. I tend to stick to around the second week of April before I get going outside, and then sow in batches into mid-May, so I get a longer picking season. Sowing direct can be incredibly satisfying, but you’ll waste a lot of seed if you just scatter into a bed largely filled with plants. Yes, there are lots of gaps now, but there won’t be later in the year, so your seeds are just going to get shaded out.
Self-seeders like calendulas, nasturtiums and poppies will happily find their niche, but in the beginning, particularly if you don’t want to grow in straight lines, it makes sense to either raise your seedlings in a seed bed or in trays, and plant out where you have definite spaces. Larger annuals, such as sunflowers, hate root disturbance, so it’s wise to start these off in large pots (3in square pots are ideal) and plant them out well before you can see any roots poking out.
You’ll need compost to start seedlings off (try New Horizon peat-free), and if you’re starting seedlings off inside, get hold of a windsowsill propagator set. These have everything you need: a drip tray, 5x6 cells for starting seedlings off, and a clear propagator lid.
- We’d love to see what homegrown blooms you’re showing off in a vase this week. Tweet your pictures to @guardiangardens using the hashtag #InMyVase. Next week: inexpensive bulbs and tubers that make excellent and easy cut flowers.
- Alys Fowler has curated a series of Guardian Masterclasses covering garden design, foraging, growing cut flowers and fruit and vegetables. Find out more and book your place now at theguardian.com/masterclasses
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