Eight tips for growing cut flowers

A selection of hardy annuals and half-hardy annuals will give you a wide range of gorgeous blooms. Once they have germinated, here's how to look after your plants so that you can keep cutting flowers for weeks on end.

More on growing beautiful cut flowers:

• 10 cut flowers to grow from seed
• How to plant out cut flowers
• 10 bulbs for cut flowers

Thin seedlings

Thin out seedlings to give the plants plenty of space, right from the start.

Pinch out tips

Pinch out the tips of annuals (with the exception of stocks) to concentrate energy on flower spikes.

Remove side-shoots

Remove the side-shoots of plants such as pelargoniums and stocks, to concentrate energy on flower spikes.

Control weeds

Weed regularly by hand in between rows to reduce competition for food, water and light.

Stake plants

Stake plants with twine or canes to prevent them flopping onto neighbours and to keep flowers off the ground. Find out how to use plant stakes and supports.

Water regularly

Don't let plants dry out. Water roots regularly, particularly during dry summers. Find out how to water your plants in summer.

Feed regularly

Start feeding with a high-potash liquid fertiliser every two weeks once the plants come into bud – tomato feed is ideal. Read more about feeding plants.

Cut flowers regularly

Cut the flowers regularly, deadheading any that go over before you cut them, to encourage new blooms. Discover how to deadhead in summer.

When to pick flowers

Pick flowers in the morning if possible, when their stems are full of water and they are not under stress from the heat of the day. Otherwise, wait until the evening.