Cut Garden Missteps

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.

Henry Ford

Unfortunately not every garden endeavor is a success. And that was the case in the new cut garden this year. There were a host of reasons why some plants simply did not have a fruitful year. And others did fantastic but they were not a good variety for cutting.

So in the interest of sharing both the success and the flops here in our little mini-farm and garden here is the list of flowers that will not be returning to my cut garden this year.

If you want to read about the plants we grew for the first time that we loved CLICK HERE. Care to see what were planning for next year? CLICK HERE

African Daisies

This one is a hard one to remove from the garden. And truth be told, I think it reseeded like crazy. We’ll see next summer for sure. But as pretty as the yellow and pale orange blooms were they did not do well in cut arrangements. Their stalks were too floppy and they withered quickly. If they would like to reseed elsewhere on the property, I will happily give them the space to pretty up the landscape. But the cut garden has the exact purpose that it’s name implies: flowers that produce well for cutting.

Sweet Peas

I’ve tried for 7 years to successfully grow these cuties. This was the first year they even grew enough to bloom! My mom loves these and I so desperately want to show up at her doorstep with an armload of these cuties. But alas they are not my forte. Maybe in the future I’ll try them again after doing research for varieties that do well in our climate. Until then, au revoir!

Globe Amaranth

Such a cute, prickly puff ball in bright red. Unfortunately it did not like its growing spot this year. It took up valuable real estate and only gave me 5 little puffs. Maybe in the future I’ll make room for it again, but I think I’d rather invest that space in either zinnias or a Bells of Ireland.

Sorghum

Yes, you read that correctly. Sorghum. Why did I plant sorghum in a cut garden? Well here’s what happened. I purchased a burgundy plume Amaranth and apparently it was mislabeled. All summer long I thought I had some volunteer mosaic corn as the sorghum stalks look similar to corn stalks. But then the corn failed to develop and I got these fun little cones of berry-like seeds I realized that my corn was indeed not corn! For several weeks after I though it was form of amaranth. But after some research I realized that packaging mistake. And as lovely as sorghum is in and of itself, I will be planting a true amaranth this upcoming year. I’m thinking…. love lies bleeding? What do you think?

So there you have it. My flops and missteps in the cut garden 2019! No defeat or failure here. Simply learning what grows well, what needs more attention to grow better and what wasn’t a good cut flower.

What are you not planting again next year?

Unless otherwise noted, all photos are taken by yours truly and are exclusive content of this blog.