In recent years I have grown varieties of Cosmos and Dahlia for cut-flower
for the house. I fancy growing something new this year - can anyone suggest
anything please. I am particulalry thinking of cut-and-come-again annuals.

Thanks, Ian.

The message
from Ian contains these words:

In recent years I have grown varieties of Cosmos and Dahlia for cut-flower
for the house. I fancy growing something new this year - can anyone suggest
anything please. I am particulalry thinking of cut-and-come-again annuals.

I grow marigolds in the veg garden, and cut their flowers for the
house...I like their spicy acid smell though not everyone does. I used
to grow rows of cheap tulips, also in the veg garden. Where they grow in
the main garden I can't bear to cut too many; if they are in the veg
garden I could cut the lot with no pangs at all.

Are you growing any perennials and shrubs for cut flowers? At my
allotment I used to grow a very cheap selection of Woolworths HT roses,
and the common dark red paeonies, just for cutting (I don't appreciate
either of them as a garden plant).

Janet.

The message
from Ian contains these words:

In recent years I have grown varieties of Cosmos and Dahlia for cut-flower
for the house. I fancy growing something new this year - can anyone suggest
anything please. I am particulalry thinking of cut-and-come-again annuals.

I grow marigolds in the veg garden, and cut their flowers for the
house...I like their spicy acid smell though not everyone does. I used
to grow rows of cheap tulips, also in the veg garden. Where they grow in
the main garden I can't bear to cut too many; if they are in the veg
garden I could cut the lot with no pangs at all.

Are you growing any perennials and shrubs for cut flowers? At my
allotment I used to grow a very cheap selection of Woolworths HT roses,
and the common dark red paeonies, just for cutting (I don't appreciate
either of them as a garden plant).

Janet.

"Janet Baraclough .." wrote in
message ...
The message
from Ian contains these words:

In recent years I have grown varieties of Cosmos and Dahlia for
cut-flower
for the house. I fancy growing something new this year - can anyone
suggest
anything please. I am particulalry thinking of cut-and-come-again
annuals.

I grow marigolds in the veg garden, and cut their flowers for the
house...I like their spicy acid smell though not everyone does. I used
to grow rows of cheap tulips, also in the veg garden. Where they grow
in
the main garden I can't bear to cut too many; if they are in the veg
garden I could cut the lot with no pangs at all.

Are you growing any perennials and shrubs for cut flowers? At my
allotment I used to grow a very cheap selection of Woolworths HT
roses,
and the common dark red paeonies, just for cutting (I don't appreciate
either of them as a garden plant).

Janet.


How do you stop the tulips from drooping when they're in the vase? We've
tried keeping the water topped up but it didn't seem to have any effect.

Neil

"Janet Baraclough .." wrote in
message ...
The message
from Ian contains these words:

In recent years I have grown varieties of Cosmos and Dahlia for
cut-flower
for the house. I fancy growing something new this year - can anyone
suggest
anything please. I am particulalry thinking of cut-and-come-again
annuals.

I grow marigolds in the veg garden, and cut their flowers for the
house...I like their spicy acid smell though not everyone does. I used
to grow rows of cheap tulips, also in the veg garden. Where they grow
in
the main garden I can't bear to cut too many; if they are in the veg
garden I could cut the lot with no pangs at all.

Are you growing any perennials and shrubs for cut flowers? At my
allotment I used to grow a very cheap selection of Woolworths HT
roses,
and the common dark red paeonies, just for cutting (I don't appreciate
either of them as a garden plant).

Janet.


How do you stop the tulips from drooping when they're in the vase? We've
tried keeping the water topped up but it didn't seem to have any effect.

Neil

The message
from "Neil Jones" contains these words:


How do you stop the tulips from drooping when they're in the vase? We've
tried keeping the water topped up but it didn't seem to have any effect.

When you cut them, stand them up to their necks in water in a narrow
tall container, so they are supported enough to have no choice but to
stand straight. When they are full of water and stiff, arrange tham in a
vase.

TBH, I don't usually bother. I prefer the blowsy kinds with flamed
colours and feathery edges, (much better as cut flowers than in the
garden) and I think they look best droopy, when the stems curve over and
show off the glorious interior.

Janet.

I wonder if the problem with your cut tulips is air in the stems.

This is a problem with so many cut flowers.

When you get them home,
prepare a deep vase of hot water, (You should just be able to put your hand
into it)
and another vase of Cold water.
Cut about half an inch of the bottom of the stems and plunge them into the
hot water, Watch for very small bubbles coming from the stems, after about
half a minute they should have stopped (if not keep them there till they do
stop) then move them straight into the cold water.
This expands the sap in the stems which pushes out the air that has got into
the stems, then the plunge into cold contracts it and fresh water is drawn
back into the stems. leave them for half an hour or so before you move them
into their final vase.
If you add a packet of cut flower food into the water it can help prolong
the flower life, also with flowers such as Dahlias and others with soft
stems a drip or two of bleach will help stop the water going off.
The best I ever had was a bunch of Gerbera(Transvaal daises), they kept
pumping out air for almost 5 minutes, but they lasted for almost 2 weeks
after treatment.
It is this air lock that causes cut roses to flop at the neck after a day or
so in a vase.

Good luck.
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk

Janet Baraclough ..5/2/04 8:28
..uk

snip
TBH, I don't usually bother. I prefer the blowsy kinds with flamed
colours and feathery edges, (much better as cut flowers than in the
garden) and I think they look best droopy, when the stems curve over and
show off the glorious interior.

Tulips, like a lot of bulb flowers, show themselves best when they are in
small amount of water - no more than 2", but don't expect a disciplined
display. Let them 'go'. Two Easters ago, I 'did' tulips in front of the
lectern in our church, on a pin holder with just about that amount of water.
I had no intention of them doing anything but what they wanted to do but to
my real fascination, they had all turned themselves upward and inwards,
rather like a Jewish candelabra, if I have the right term and I'm afraid
that I probably don't.
And like Janet, I like those waaaaaaay over the top tulips.

--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)

How do you stop the tulips from drooping when they're in the vase?
We've
tried keeping the water topped up but it didn't seem to have any
effect.

Neil

that's the beauty of tulips, they are my favourite cut flower just
because they have a life of their own. try getting a large glass
bowl and put the so they are around the outside of it............they
move of their own accord and give you a new view everyday

Angela

On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 16:37:29 -0000, Neil Jones wrote:

How do you stop the tulips from drooping when they're in the vase? We've
tried keeping the water topped up but it didn't seem to have any effect.

It is possible to get special tulip vases. Imagine a vase on the same
principle as a strawberry pot with several separate holes in it including
one central one at the top. Each hole is designed to take only one stem.
The flowers are placed in each of the holes and allowed to do their own
thing - quite spectacular results can appear :-)

I think I'm right in saying that Chatsworth House has a large collection of
these tulip vases - well, one of the stately homes has :-)
--
MCC 6-Feb-04 00:04:25

MCC6/2/04 12:04

On Thu, 5 Feb 2004 16:37:29 -0000, Neil Jones wrote:

How do you stop the tulips from drooping when they're in the vase? We've
tried keeping the water topped up but it didn't seem to have any effect.

It is possible to get special tulip vases. Imagine a vase on the same
principle as a strawberry pot with several separate holes in it including
one central one at the top. Each hole is designed to take only one stem.
The flowers are placed in each of the holes and allowed to do their own
thing - quite spectacular results can appear :-)

I think I'm right in saying that Chatsworth House has a large collection of
these tulip vases - well, one of the stately homes has :-)

Past Times sells, or used to sell, bowls with a certain number of holes in
them to display tulips. They are very lovely and give another dimension to
the arrangement of tulips. I use mine often for all kinds of flowers, apart
from tulips. But I still love tulips when, like Gerberas, they're allowed
to 'do their own thing'.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
I wonder if the problem with your cut tulips is air in the stems.

This is a problem with so many cut flowers.

When you get them home,
prepare a deep vase of hot water, (You should just be able to put
your hand
into it)
and another vase of Cold water.
Cut about half an inch of the bottom of the stems and plunge them into
the
hot water, Watch for very small bubbles coming from the stems, after
about
half a minute they should have stopped (if not keep them there till
they do
stop) then move them straight into the cold water.
This expands the sap in the stems which pushes out the air that has
got into
the stems, then the plunge into cold contracts it and fresh water is
drawn
back into the stems. leave them for half an hour or so before you move
them
into their final vase.
If you add a packet of cut flower food into the water it can help
prolong
the flower life, also with flowers such as Dahlias and others with
soft
stems a drip or two of bleach will help stop the water going off.
The best I ever had was a bunch of Gerbera(Transvaal daises), they
kept
pumping out air for almost 5 minutes, but they lasted for almost 2
weeks
after treatment.
It is this air lock that causes cut roses to flop at the neck after a
day or
so in a vase.

Good luck.
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk


Thanks to all - looking forward to trying some of these tyips in the
next few weeks

Neil

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
I wonder if the problem with your cut tulips is air in the stems.

This is a problem with so many cut flowers.

When you get them home,
prepare a deep vase of hot water, (You should just be able to put
your hand
into it)
and another vase of Cold water.
Cut about half an inch of the bottom of the stems and plunge them into
the
hot water, Watch for very small bubbles coming from the stems, after
about
half a minute they should have stopped (if not keep them there till
they do
stop) then move them straight into the cold water.
This expands the sap in the stems which pushes out the air that has
got into
the stems, then the plunge into cold contracts it and fresh water is
drawn
back into the stems. leave them for half an hour or so before you move
them
into their final vase.
If you add a packet of cut flower food into the water it can help
prolong
the flower life, also with flowers such as Dahlias and others with
soft
stems a drip or two of bleach will help stop the water going off.
The best I ever had was a bunch of Gerbera(Transvaal daises), they
kept
pumping out air for almost 5 minutes, but they lasted for almost 2
weeks
after treatment.
It is this air lock that causes cut roses to flop at the neck after a
day or
so in a vase.

Good luck.
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk


Thanks to all - looking forward to trying some of these tyips in the
next few weeks

Neil

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
I wonder if the problem with your cut tulips is air in the stems.

This is a problem with so many cut flowers.

When you get them home,
prepare a deep vase of hot water, (You should just be able to put
your hand
into it)
and another vase of Cold water.
Cut about half an inch of the bottom of the stems and plunge them into
the
hot water, Watch for very small bubbles coming from the stems, after
about
half a minute they should have stopped (if not keep them there till
they do
stop) then move them straight into the cold water.
This expands the sap in the stems which pushes out the air that has
got into
the stems, then the plunge into cold contracts it and fresh water is
drawn
back into the stems. leave them for half an hour or so before you move
them
into their final vase.
If you add a packet of cut flower food into the water it can help
prolong
the flower life, also with flowers such as Dahlias and others with
soft
stems a drip or two of bleach will help stop the water going off.
The best I ever had was a bunch of Gerbera(Transvaal daises), they
kept
pumping out air for almost 5 minutes, but they lasted for almost 2
weeks
after treatment.
It is this air lock that causes cut roses to flop at the neck after a
day or
so in a vase.

Good luck.
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk


Thanks to all - looking forward to trying some of these tyips in the
next few weeks

Neil

"David Hill" wrote in message
...
I wonder if the problem with your cut tulips is air in the stems.

This is a problem with so many cut flowers.

When you get them home,
prepare a deep vase of hot water, (You should just be able to put
your hand
into it)
and another vase of Cold water.
Cut about half an inch of the bottom of the stems and plunge them into
the
hot water, Watch for very small bubbles coming from the stems, after
about
half a minute they should have stopped (if not keep them there till
they do
stop) then move them straight into the cold water.
This expands the sap in the stems which pushes out the air that has
got into
the stems, then the plunge into cold contracts it and fresh water is
drawn
back into the stems. leave them for half an hour or so before you move
them
into their final vase.
If you add a packet of cut flower food into the water it can help
prolong
the flower life, also with flowers such as Dahlias and others with
soft
stems a drip or two of bleach will help stop the water going off.
The best I ever had was a bunch of Gerbera(Transvaal daises), they
kept
pumping out air for almost 5 minutes, but they lasted for almost 2
weeks
after treatment.
It is this air lock that causes cut roses to flop at the neck after a
day or
so in a vase.

Good luck.
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk


Thanks to all - looking forward to trying some of these tyips in the
next few weeks

Neil