Petal To The Metal: Advice On Flower Gardening In 2026
As a long-time vegetable grower, I’ve rarely ventured into the world of cut flowers - other than the occasional marigold at the end of a tomato row. To learn more, I visited friends and fellow growers Jordan Strong and Jenny Perkin of Forest and Flower Gardens in South Frontenac.
I began by asking which varieties they recommend for beginners and they didn’t hesitate: zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons and ranunculus are the clear winners and added that selecting varieties specifically for cut flowers, which typically have taller stems, is important when surfing through seed catalogs and websites. Many of these flowers, they explained, are “cut-and-come-again” types, meaning they continue producing new blooms over an extended harvest window, unlike “one-and-done” flowers such as tulips which means the most bag for your buck in the backyard garden.
They went on to mention techniques somewhat unique to flowers which they rely on during the growing season. For instance, clipping the primary stem early-on above a strong leaf node for crops like cosmos, zinnias and snapdragons encourages bushier plants and multiple stems rather than a single tall stalk. Jordan also demonstrated what’s called “the wiggle test” for flowers such as zinnias and rudbeckia. Before harvesting, gently wiggle the stem. If it moves stiffly from side to side, it’s ready to pick. Additionally, going out in the morning, making clean cuts and keeping a bucket of water at your side during harvest, all improve vase life and once harvested little tricks like ensuring your vase is clean and adding a pinch of sugar and hydrogen peroxide to get the most days possible out of your arrangement.
While flipping through photos from past seasons with them I noticed Jenny and Jordan’s gardens are often interplanted; vegetables, herbs, and flowers all sharing space. One photo showed green onions lining a bed with ranunculus planted down the middle. This allows them to harvest plenty of onions before the flowers fully take over. It also creates a richer environment for diverse soil microorganisms and beneficial fungi that form associations with different plant roots all while making the most of limited planting space.
Lastly, the duo recommended checking out Blossom and Branch Farm, Antonio Valente Flowers and Floret Flowers on YouTube and Instagram for additional growing advice and arrangement inspiration.
Backyard flower growing is a great way to bring beauty and creativity into your life in 2026. With a bit of planning and a grasp of the basics, you can grow blooms that look just as stunning in the garden as they do in a vase on the kitchen table.
To pick up flowers, vegetables and wooden kitchen utensils from Forest and Flower Gardens you can send them an email at [email protected] or reach out on their Instagram @forest.and.flower.gardens where you can see their incredible gardens and bouquets.
