By Jessica Carlson

OTC Master Gardener

Why not grow your own cut flowers this summer? There is nothing quite like bringing fresh flowers indoors brightening the kitchen table, welcoming guests, or sharing a bouquet with a friend. A cut flower garden doesn’t need to be large or complicated to be rewarding. Now is the time when hopeful gardeners begin dreaming of a cut flower garden that will provide fresh bouquets throughout the growing season. 

A simple planning approach is the 3–5–8 rule: three focal flowers, five filler flowers, and eight foliage plants. Focal flowers such as sunflowers, dahlias, and zinnias provide structure and visual impact and generally need about one plant per square foot. Filler flowers, including cosmos, snapdragons, statice, Queen Anne’s lace, and calendula, add movement and volume, while foliage plants such as basil, dill, ornamental grasses, or bells of Ireland help unify arrangements. This balance produces full, well-proportioned bouquets from a small space. 

Consider using the color wheel to assist in plant choices before the season begins. Colors next to each other, such as yellow and orange or pink and purple, create a soft, harmonious look, while opposite colors, like purple and yellow, add contrast. Limiting the garden to two or three main colors, along with green foliage, makes arranging easier and bouquets more cohesive.

When laying out a cut flower garden, plant height should guide placement. Taller plants such as sunflowers, dahlias, and snapdragons belong toward the back or center of the bed, with medium-height flowers like zinnias, cosmos, lisianthus, and calendula placed in front. The seed packet will guide you in how tall and how far to space your specific variety. Spacing plants correctly improves airflow and encourages long, straight stems, while reducing chances for disease from overcrowding. Taller varieties will benefit from support to prevent tipping in wind or during heavy rain.

Flowers grow best in well-drained soil improved with compost before planting. A balanced fertilizer applied at planting time and once again midseason, supports steady growth and flowering. Avoiding excessive nitrogen keeps plants focused on blooms rather than leaves. When considering garden placement full sun is best, with six to eight hours of direct light. Ensure consistent watering—about one inch per week—which will support strong roots and steady growth. Good spacing, regular harvesting, and prompt removal of damaged plant material help prevent most pest and disease problems and ensure steady blooming.

One way to start seeds is by utilizing the winter sowing method. It is a reliable method recommended by the University of Minnesota Extension for cold-hardy flowers. This approach uses recycled plastic milk or water jugs as miniature greenhouses. Clean jugs are cut on three sides leaving one side to function as a “hinge,” drainage holes are added, and they are filled with moist potting mix before seeds are sown. The jugs are taped shut, labeled, and placed outdoors in a sunny, protected location during winter. Cold-hardy flower varieties begin growing naturally as daylight increases and warmth arrives in spring. Flowers well suited to winter sowing include larkspur, bachelor’s buttons, calendula, poppies, snapdragons, stock, scabiosa, bergamot, and other pollinator-friendly flowers that are equally valuable in the vase and the landscape. It is an economical and rewarding way to get many plants started with little effort.

With careful planning and basic care, even a small 12-square-foot cut flower garden can brighten your home and supply bouquets all season long. 

For more information on winter sowing visit Jug it and grow: winter sowing for pollinator gardens | UMN Extension For more information on  flowers visit Flowers | UMN Extension