Cutting Gardens

You don't need a sprawling estate to grow your own bouquets

- BY MOLLY WILLIAMS

I grew up on a flower farm in the hills of southern Illinois. Summer meant carrying bucketfuls of zinnias, cosmos and dahlias into the barn to sort for the local farmers' market. Later, I traded open fields for urban and rooftop gardens while working for a small-space garden design company in Boston. Those years in New England taught me an essential truth: You don't need acres of land to have a cutting garden. You just need a little planning and a lot of imagination.

Whether you're working with a single container on a balcony or a backyard that fits multiple beds, you can create a steady supply of blooms. The keys are simple: Understand your light, choose plants that thrive there and pair them to fit the space you have.

Start with Sunlight

Before you buy a packet of seeds or pick your plants at a nursery, check out your space. Look it up and down. Most cutting-garden classics need full sun—at least six hours a day—but there are plenty of beautiful flowers and herbs for partial sun (three to six hours) or even shade (fewer than three).

In full sun, I rely on zinnias, cosmos, dahlias, snapdragons, sunflowers and ammi. These thrive in the heat and reward you with armloads of flowers. I weave in herbs for texture and fragrance—basil, rosemary, dill, fennel, sage and lavender love the sun and make bouquets smell as good as they look.

If your spot gets only a few hours of light, turn to foxgloves, nicotiana, sweet peas, nasturtiums, larkspur and calendula. Herbs like mint, lemon balm, thyme, oregano and tarragon can also flourish here.

In the shadiest of spaces, focus on foliage and specialty blooms. Astilbe, hostas and ferns add rich texture, while begonias, coleus and shade-tolerant hydrangeas bring color. Parsley, cilantro, chives, lovage and sorrel make excellent companion plants here.