Starting your own picking garden, who doesn't dream of it. And I can't blame you, because it's fantastic. Sowing, planting and finally picking a bouquet together. I can recommend it to everyone. But what should you consider when you start?
The right spot
The vast majority of familiar 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 still want at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight a day.
Soil
A lot is said and written when it comes to the ideal soil for your flowers. And of course we all want the best, that makes sense. But the reality is simply that we don't have a choice. Whether you have sandy or clay soil, compost is the solution. Compost holds moisture longer and ultimately improves your soil. Feeding at least once a year is ideal. A good layer of 5 to 10 centimeters will do the job. If you have very heavy clay soil, the combination of compost and sand is surprisingly good for the structure of your soil.
Fertilizers
Don't go wild with fertilizers. A lot of pick flowers like Cosmea or cosmos will grow very large and form mostly leaves, no or few flowers. If you leave the soil well covered with compost and replenish it annually, everything will grow just fine. And if you do use fertilizers once - you can, of course choose organic fertilizers and ignore the chemical ones.
Pre-sowing or immediately in the open ground?
That depends on the flower/plant and what type of gardener you are. There is nothing wrong with the 'lazy gardener' who lets nature do its work and prefers to sow directly in the ground. But it's also totally fine if you prefer to pre-sow. I am a pre-seeder. Starting in pots and containers, pricking out 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 nice and busy during the sowing season. I decide where something will be planted, another great advantage for me. Well, slightly OCD I guess.
Know that pre-sowing is a bit more complicated, but that it also has advantages such as creating affinity with the whole sowing process and the plants in your garden.
Annuals, Biennials and Perennials
As far as I am concerned, the ideal picking garden does not consist only of annuals. That way there is always something to do. Sow and plant biennials as well as perennials, then you can enjoy them for years. And the ultimate tip? Also plant shrubs and bushes to have lots of picking greenery to fill your bouquets. Cornus is always a nice idea because of its beautiful branches, but Chaenomeles or Japanese ornamental chickweed is also a winner in the spring.
