The most common mistakes when creating a cutting garden

Creating a vegetable or cutting garden is not difficult at all, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when designing and establishing the garden. We are happy to explain the most common mistakes and, of course, provide our tips to make your cutting garden a success. Because let's face it, there's nothing better than harvesting flowers from your own garden.

Not considering the location of the cutting garden

A cutting garden needs sun. Without sun, unfortunately, flowers will barely grow. Find the sunniest spot in the garden and establish your cutting garden there. When there is at least 6 hours of sunlight, it's considered full sun. If there is at least 4 hours of sunlight, it's partial shade. Creating a cutting garden in the shade is unfortunately impossible, as almost all cut flowers need sun.

Not considering the soil type of your garden

The soil type will also partly determine your plan of action before you can create a cutting garden. There are roughly three soil types:

Sandy soil retains little water and nutrients. Its loose structure causes water to drain away quickly. The downside is that the soil is poorer, but the loose structure also means it warms up faster in spring. You can often start sowing a bit earlier on a patch of sandy soil. The solution to improve sandy soil? Add a generous amount of compost each year.

Loam soil is actually the perfect soil type. It retains water without being excessively wet and also holds nutrients. Unlike clay, this soil type is easy to work with. But don't be mistaken: loam soil also benefits from an annual dose of compost. The soil life gets an extra boost and keeps the soil airy.

Lastly, we have clay soil. This soil is firm, retains moisture very well (sometimes resulting in wet feet...), and is rich in nutrients. Due to its compact nature and water content, clay soil is harder to work with than loam and sandy soils. You guessed it, compost is also needed here to make the soil workable. Adding compost makes the soil more airy, allowing for better long-term cultivation. Adding sand is also advisable.

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In this video, Angelo shares his top tips for creating a cutting garden.

Not considering the area and limitations

If you've never created a cutting garden, don't start too big. Choose a manageable area and expand a little each season. If you don't have a garden at all, you can also create a cutting garden in pots. It's a bit more intensive, but absolutely worth it. Pots need daily watering in the summer, sometimes even twice a day, and also require extra feeding.

If you have little space to create a cutting garden, choose your flower types wisely. Types that bloom once and are then picked are less interesting. So, choose cut and come again flowers. These types can be picked but will continue to bloom afterward. Think of zinnias, cosmos, dahlias, sweet peas... The more you cut, the more the flowers reward you with new blooms.

Sowing without considering the period

Each type must be sown within a certain timeframe. No matter how eager you are to sow flowers in January, unfortunately, it's not the right time. So, carefully check the instructions on the seed packet: it precisely describes when you can pre-sow and directly sow each type in the garden. At the described times, there is enough light, and the temperature is also suitable for the specific type to germinate.

Sow multiple times a year. If you sow everything in one day, all the flowers will bloom and peak at the same time. However, if you sow multiple times per season, you significantly extend your picking season. Sunflowers can be sown multiple times per season with breaks, providing a constant stream of blooming sunflowers in the summer months.

Easy varieties to start with

Cosmos is a prolific bloomer that germinates and grows easily. Its airy foliage and delicate flowers add a loose and elegant touch to bouquets. There are incredibly many colors and varieties available, so there's something for everyone. Did you know it's best to sow Cosmos upright? The seeds are elongated, so push them a bit into the soil when sowing.

Dahlias are an absolute must in the cutting garden. You can buy tubers or sow dahlias. Want to know exactly which type you're planting in the garden? Then buy dahlia tubers. If you sow dahlias, it's always a surprise which varieties you'll get.

Zinnias are perfect flowers for the cutting garden. They germinate quickly, grow robustly, and last a very long time in a vase. The many types and colors make the zinnia an absolute asset to your borders.

Don't forget the perennials and shrubs in the garden. You can also pick from perennials. Think of roses, hazel branches, shrubs with beautiful berries...