Starting your own picking garden, who doesn't dream of that. And I can't blame you, because it's fantastic. Sowing, planting and eventually picking a bouquet. I can recommend it to everyone. But what should you take into account when you start?
The right place
The vast majority of the well-known picking flowers need sun, lots of sun. They prefer to grow where the sun shines all day. A few hours of shade are no problem, but you want at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight per day.
The soil
A lot is said and written about the ideal soil for your flowers. And of course we all want the best, that's logical. But the reality is simply that we don't have a choice. Whether you have sand or clay soil, compost is the solution. Compost retains moisture longer and ultimately improves your soil. Applying at least once a year is ideal.A thick layer of 5 to 10 centimeters does the job. If you have a very heavy clay soil, then the combination of compost and sand is surprisingly good for the structure of your soil.
Fertilizers
Don't go wild with fertilizers. Many cut flowers like Cosmea or cosmos become very large and form mainly leaves, no or few flowers. If you cover the soil well with compost and replenish it annually, everything grows fine. And if you do use fertilizers once – that's possible, then of course choose organic fertilizers and ignore the chemical ones.
Sowing in advance or directly in the open ground?
That depends on the flower/plant and what type of gardener you are. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 'lazy gardener', who lets nature do its work and therefore prefers to sow directly in the open ground. But it's also perfectly fine if you prefer to sow in advance. I am a pre-sower.Starting in pots and trays, transplanting and giving each plant its own pot: it mainly gives me a sense of control I think. Often quite a hassle, but I still enjoy being busy during the sowing season. I also just decide where something is going to stand, another big advantage as far as I'm concerned. Well, slightly OCD I think.
Just know that sowing in advance is a bit more complicated, but it also has advantages such as creating affinity with the entire sowing process and the plants in your garden.
Annual, biennial and perennial plants
The ideal picking garden, in my opinion, does not only consist of annuals. This way there is always something going on. Sow and plant biennials, but also perennials, then you will enjoy it for years. And the ultimate tip? Also plant shrubs and bushes to have plenty of picking green to fill your bouquets with.Cornus is always a great idea because of its beautiful branches, but Chaenomeles or Japanese ornamental quince is also a top performer in the spring.
