Cultivate Your Own Beautiful Bouquet: Sow Your Blooms

Are you drawn to the elegance of a swaying bouquet filled with romantic flowers, or do bold, vibrant blooms capture your imagination? Now is the perfect time to sow the seeds for your very own cutting garden, tailored to your personal tastes. Even as May unfolds, you can plant the seeds that will blossom into your summer bouquet. Let's embark on this journey together! 

During the month of May, many flower seeds can be directly sown into the soil. However, starting with seed trays remains a practical choice. To ensure you keep track of your seedlings, place the trays in a spot you frequent. After sowing, it's crucial to maintain moisture. If the trays are in a less-visited area, your harvest might not flourish as desired. 

Begin by choosing flower seeds that resonate with your style. Crafting a bouquet is akin to staging a captivating theater performance. Just like a well-rounded cast, a bouquet features lead performers, supporting acts, and charming extras, each contributing to the overall beauty. Start with a captivating flower as the star of your bouquet. This is often a bloom with striking color or unique form. Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan), Helianthus (Sunflower), or dahlias fit this role wonderfully. Next, seek out smaller flowers that complement the color of your "lead." Cosmos (Cosmea), Centaurea (Cornflower), or Lupinus (Lupine) can be ideal choices. Enhance the composition with umbrella-shaped blooms that tie the bouquet together. Exquisite options include Foeniculum vulgare (Flowering Fennel) and Ammi Majus (Queen Anne's Lace). With a star, three supporting roles, and two charming extras, your bouquet will be a harmonious blend. 

Sowing becomes a true delight when you have the right tools at hand. Consider investing in quality seed trays and durable plant pots that can serve you season after season. The elho "grow your own" collection, for instance, is built to last, produced with wind energy, and crafted from recycled plastic. Blend seed and cutting soil with vermiculite using the garden tray. Vermiculite, a natural material, helps aerate the soil and retain moisture—providing the perfect environment for thriving seedlings. Choose the tray size according to the number of flowers you intend to grow. Fill the tray with soil, place your seeds, and lightly cover them with more soil. The tray's bottom drainage holes ensure excess water escapes, preventing root rot. Always consult the seed packet for specific instructions, as each type of seed has its own preferences. Once your seeds are in place, moisten the soil and optionally cover the tray to provide additional warmth—particularly in early spring. When your seedlings reach around 5-7 cm in height, it's time to transplant them into the garden soil. Then, the anticipation builds as you await the beautiful blossoms. 

Harvesting is essential to nurture your cutting garden. It creates space and encourages the growth of new flowers. Plus, there's something truly magical about creating your own bouquet, both for yourself and for others. Use sharp, high-quality shears to snip the flowers from the plant. Avoid using dull tools, as they can harm the plant. Preferably, harvest in the morning when temperatures are cooler, and the flowers are at their peak. Place the freshly cut flowers in lukewarm water and keep them in a cool spot. This short acclimatization helps them transition smoothly into a vase indoors. Creating a bouquet from your own garden is a special experience that's hard to replicate. 

Gardening is a journey that unfolds over time. It's a delightful process of trial and error, learning, and growing. Don't be discouraged by the learning curve; instead, embrace it with curiosity and enthusiasm. The joy of harvesting summer blooms from your own garden is an experience like no other. 

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This blog was developed in collaboration with Studio May & June.