Hardy cut flowers?

aidanhoad

Hi all,

I’ve just watched last nights episode of Gardeners World and feel so very envious of Rachel’s cut flower beds.

Anyone that’s helped me out before will know that I live in a very exposed coastal area in the NW of Scotland, it can get cold, it can get extremely windy and we also have the salty sea air to contend with…

Are there any flowers I could grow for cutting that would tolerate these conditions?

Thank you,
Aidan.  

Fairygirl

Yes - but I wouldn't take much notice of the timings on G'sWorld. The season is far shorter up here, and when you factor in wind as well, it makes a huge difference 

It depends on how much shelter you can create in the garden, and the sort of plants you like though.
I can grow most things here, within reason, but I don't like lots of blousy plants that other people like, and staking is the biggest requirement as it's wet and windy.

aidanhoad

I have been trying to think how I can create shelter, the house sits at a position where planting isn’t possible in the most sheltered of areas, annoyingly!

As for flowers, I’d be happy with anything as I think bringing anything into the house would be lovely and come with a great sense of achievement if I manage it! 😂

Fairygirl

You can certainly grow roses if you like them [I don't]
You could grow annual sweet peas which are scented, or the perennial ones which aren't.
Lilies, Heleniums, Lychnis, Agastaches are all perennials that you can use for cutting.
Easy annuals are Cornflowers, Sunflowers, Nigella, Rudbeckias, Oxeye daisies etc.
There are also plants which are half way between those - like Verbena bonariensis. Not always hardy over winter here, although the shorter one is pretty tough, V. hastata.
Those should all be fine where you are. 
 
Don't forget foliage plants too - all sorts of those are good for background, from ferns to Fatsias. 

aidanhoad

Thank you so much - that’s a lot to have a look at and get me started!

Fire

Sweet williams and snap dragons can be quite tough. Comsos? They are three featured in Rachel's garden. Yan can get a head start by getting them going inside, to make the most of your growing season. 

Posy

Although I am at the other end of the country from you, my garden is also a wild, windy place near the sea and it is impossible to provide shelter. You need really good staking - everything above about a foot high - and a bit of luck, too. Get the supports in early, tie everything in and you should be able to get all sorts for cutting.

Fairygirl

I've just watched it and I had to laugh. Her area for veg and cutting is bigger than my entire garden 
Yes - cosmos need serious staking up here if they aren't in a sheltered enough position, but they should be fine, and Antirrhinums too. Both hardy enough. The taller carnations would also be good. Dianthus too, although they're much smaller, so it would depend on the type of arrangements you wanted. 
The rain here batters plants into submission though, even without any wind, so at this time of year, it can be hard to salvage anything, and it will be even harder where @aidanhoad is, being more coastal. It's a case of experimenting with different plants, and the siting of them 

This year has been very benign here where I am, but it's the exception rather than the rule.