Designing your cut flower bed: Planning the patch for season four

Designing your cut flower bed: Planning the patch for season four

Season four: Mid-September to Mid-November

This time of year is when many gardens become grey and brown. To prevent this, you need to concentrate on the plants that do well in autumn. First and foremost are dahlias, and these should have already gone in during season three.

How to ensure colour in your cutting patch

The best thing to do to ensure colour in your cutting garden is to do a second sowing of half-hardy annuals.

For instance, if I sow half a packet of snapdragons in February and March, and then the other half at the end of May/ beginning of June, then these plants will be ready to go into the bed as soon as the season three plants are beginning to look tired.

For example, as soon as my zinnia production starts to drop off, I can take them out and put in my second sowing of snapdragons. I also make sure to have a sowing of Amaranth to hand too, as they are a great flower for birds.

Amaranth produces quinoa, which is a great source of plant-based protein for birds and a good reminder to always consider nature when you are planning your patch.

Our season four plants are:

• Dahlias
• Snapdragons
• Euphorbia oblongata
• Cosmos
• Amaranth - which flowers well into November
• Shoo-fly plant - which is popular with Blue Tits
• Dahlia 'Bishop of Auckland'