Is it too late to start a cut garden now that it is Summer?

Well, the best time is in the spring, but the next best time is now!

You may need to be a little more choosy on your cut flowers, but it is totally possible to plan a cut flower garden in the Summer for a Fall harvest.

I did it and I'll show you how!

But first why would you even want to grow one?

For me, I thought it would be the best way to feed my soul.

The main reason I grow a garden is to feed my family healthy homegrown food but, in the end, that only feeds their bodies. God made us complete with a body, mind, and soul. Lots of times we forget to nourish our soul!

"He restores my soul.” Psalms 23: 3A

God created the flowers to clothe the Earth with beauty. Why not add that beauty to our garden and essentially to our home.

How to Plant a Cut Garden in the Summer

The only difference in planting a garden in the spring and planting it in the summer is time. What I mean is that wherever we live, we all only have a set number of days for our growing season. Mine is only about 124 days between my last frost on May 20th to my first frost date on September 21st. When I plan a garden, I focus on only selecting varieties of veggies that germinate, grow, and come to harvest in that time period. It will be the same for our summer cut garden.

Step 1: Calculate How Many Days from Start to Finish

For example, the day I am writing this blog is July 1st. From July 1st to my last frost date is 82 days.

Step Two: Choose Varieties of Annual Cut Flowers

Here you're going to pick flowers that have a total of days to maturity that is less than the days you calculated in Step 1.

Tip: this can be found on the back of all seed packets.

Step 3: Choose Flowers that will Germinate in the Heat.

After you have found a few varieties that fit into step 2, categorize them by heat tolerance. This will be your end list of flowers you can plant.

But wait!

I have done step 2 and 3 for you!

Below are 8 flowers that are heat tolerant. I have also categorized them from shortest to longest days to maturity. They all come in a multitude of colors.

Where do I purchase my seeds??

Here are a few seed stores that sell the below flower seeds.

Johnny's selected seeds

Eden Brothers

Baker Creek heirloom seeds

Flowers 50 to 60 Days

Calendula

Calendula is a frost tolerant annual meaning it will tolerate light frost, but will die in a heavy frost. This is one you could definitely successive seed every few weeks for a continuous supply. As a bonus, this flower also has healing properties, is edible, and can be used in dyes. The petals can be used fresh or dried in soups, supplies, rice dishes, baked goods, and salads. The whole flowers are used in antiseptic and healing skin ointments. They have a great mix of colors and are double and semi-double flowers on long, strong stems.

Marigolds (French Marigolds)

There are many different varieties of Marigolds. The most heat tolerant are the French Marigolds. They will not only bring beauty to your garden and home, but they attract beneficial pollinators too. The petals can be used in salads, desserts, and eggs or rice dishes. They feed your soul and body!

Sunflowers (my favorite, wait, maybe my second favorite, I can't decide)

There are just so many different varieties of sunflowers. They all are heat tolerant! You can get sunflowers in so many different colors and sizes; there are even dwarf varieties. I was truly amazed by all the different sunflowers. For colors I saw red, many different shades of yellow, peach, and white. There are even different flower types, like the Teddybear which has a fuzzy type flower. It almost looks like you could pet it. I can just feel my soul singing over all the different choices!

Flowers 65 to 75 Days

Centaurea (Bachelor Buttons)

Bachelor Buttons are very old-fashioned cut flowers. I remember them in my wedding bouquet. Wow, that was 17 years ago. They are also known as “cornflowers”. Upright plants of double and semi-double, 1 to 1 1/2 inch blooms. The common color is blue!

Daucus (Queens Anne's Lace)

Is an easy to grow annual that is perfect for fresh or dried bouquets. They have 3 1/2 inch lacy flowers, on top of strong, and sturdy stems. This is also called an ornamental carrot and is edible!

Nagella

Nagella is very unique with its bright flowers, lacy foliage, and unusual seed pods. It can be used in bouquets fresh or dried. Common colors are blue, pink, and purple.

Flowers for 75 -110 Days

Cosmos

Cosmos come in a variety of colors and tones. They commonly are single pedal but double inter-looped pedals can be found also. Petal size is at about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 in. They're strong stems can grow to 50 in tall. Wouldn't that make your soul smile!

Zinnias

Are a classic garden cut flower. (This one might be my favorite, I can't decide!) You can get zinnias in a multitude of sizes: giant, regular, and mini. The Giants can have flowers as large as 6 inches in diameter. They also come in a wide range of vibrant colors; magenta, yellow, rose, orange, red, purple, pink, peach, white, and even green. They are so versatile. They make my soul Rejoice, how about yours?

That brings us to the last flower. I hope you've found something that refreshes your Soul!!!!

Remember, all these flowers are intended to be cut and brought into your home to enjoy!

Till next time,

Pray, Just Plant!