Plan your summer cutting garden now 

Round & About

Make 2026 the year you grow your own armfuls of flowers, with these tips from Carolyn of Missenden Seeds

I can’t think of a better New Year’s resolution than to create your own cutting garden. Imagine filling your home with fresh, homegrown flowers all summer long – it’s one of the most rewarding gardening projects you can plan, and it can be scaled to any space, from a few pots on a patio to a full flower patch. 

The secret to a successful cutting garden is choosing the right varieties. To help you get started, here are five must-grow flowers – all easy to grow from seed and perfectly suited to the UK climate. 

Sweet Peas 

If there’s one flower that defines the cutting garden, it’s the sweet pea. With their exquisite scent and romantic blooms, they’re irresistible. Sow seeds now in pots on a bright windowsill or in an unheated greenhouse. By early summer, you’ll be rewarded with scented stems galore – just protect young plants from slugs! 

Ammi majus 

A favourite among florists, Ammi’s airy white umbels add elegance and movement to any bouquet. This hardy annual thrives in cool conditions, so start seeds under cover in January or February for a head start. 

Calendula ‘Snow Princess’ 

Not all marigolds are orange! ‘Snow Princess’ produces soft, creamy blooms that pair beautifully with both pastels and bold colours. Calendulas are generous bloomers – the more you cut, the more they flower. 

Poppies 

From rich crimson to pale ivory, poppies add texture and drama. Sow directly into the soil later in spring for a natural, meadow-style look. Their dried seed pods also make wonderful decorations for arrangements that last all year. 

Cosmos 

Few plants flower for as long as cosmos. Choose ‘Purity’ for tall stems topped with classic white blooms that mix beautifully with any palette. Cut regularly to keep the flowers coming right into autumn. 

At Missenden Seeds, we specialise in the best varieties for cutting gardens – including all these favourites and many more. Sowing from seed means fresher, longer-lasting blooms, and the immense satisfaction of knowing you grew them yourself. 

So while winter still lingers, why not plan ahead for your summer of flowers? A few packets of seed now will bring months of colour, fragrance, and joy – both in your garden and indoors.