Starting Seeds Spring 2024
I have started flowers from seeds and been successful a couple of years in the past, but this year, my purpose being to start a cut flower garden, I wanted to be more intentional with my selections. I still had several seed packets from years prior but I knew there were other types of flowers I would need and want for well rounded bouquets this summer.
I started with the book by Floret, which I have recommend in a past post, "Volleyball Court to Cut Flower Garden!? Resources, buying seeds, trying again & more!" Another book I found helpful is The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers, 2nd Edition. I also spent time looking through other cut flower farm books, social media accounts and blogs to get an idea of the variety of flowers I wanted to offer from my garden. Products linked are my favorites or highly recommended for each project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. See something you like? Click it! It helps support the amazing content on this site. Xoxo B
In my opinion, there is no right or wrong of what to grow. I went with a combination of seeds I had, flowers I love, and recommended flowers I saw and wanted to try! I decided on the 25 varieties below for this year.
Alyssum, Carpet of Snow
Amaranth-Coral Fountain & Emerald Tassels
Aster-Tower Custom Mix China Aster
Bells of Ireland
Carnations, Dianthus-Chabaud Picotee Double Mix
Celosia
Centaurea (Bachelor's Buttons)-Blue Boy
Cosmos
Dahlias
Dara, Ammi-False Queen Anne's Lace
Feverfew-Tetra White
Larkspur
Love in a Mist, Nigella
Marigold
Poppy
Rudbeckia, Black Eyed Susan
Salvia
Scabiosa
Snapdragon-Fordhook Tall
Statice
Sunflowers-Greenburst & Moulin Rouge Hybrid Branching
Sweet Pea
Viola Johnny-Jump Up
Yarrow
Zinnea-Sunbow Benarys Giant Mix
I also plan to grow some fruits, vegetables, and herbs on alongside the flowers but most of them will be direct sown.
After I made my selection I created a Google Doc of all of the flowers I had chosen. I compared a couple of resources to determine the amount of weeks prior to the our last frost date I needed to sow each variety indoors (if applicable). From my research, in the area I live in with is central MN, I will be attempting to plant outside on or around May 4. However, as I am typing this snow is falling (in mid March!) and we are predicted to get another bigger storm this weekend!
After all of my seeds were purchased and documented, I took the seed packets and sorted them by sowing date. I wrote that down on paper and paper clipped them together so I could easily identify the group of seeds that needed to be sown each week.
To see more of my seedling room set up, sowing process and more visit other posts on my blog!
I hope this was helpful or inspiring for your seed sowing journey. If so, please let me know by leaving a comment! Remember to come back regularly to keep up with my farm, art, restoration and other miscellaneous adventures. Best of luck!
Xoxo, B