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The Cut Flower Handbook: Select, Plant, Grow, and Harvest Gorgeous Blooms
The bouquet-building bible gardeners have been waiting for! Learn the ins and outs of growing gorgeous blooms at home with professional flower farmer Lisa Mason Ziegler of @gardenersworkshopfarm.
Whether you’re cultivating fresh-cut bouquets for yourself, family, and friends or for others on a small commercial scale, you’ll go from sowing seeds to cutting armloads of colorful, long-lasting blooms with ease. Lisa’s unique approach and easy-to-follow advice on multi-season planting and harvesting uses the natural warm and cool weather cycles present in almost all growing regions to maximize cut flower production.
This logical and nature-driven method is also a signature hallmark of her super-successful online flower-farming courses, and it’s one that translates equally well to both small urban backyards and large rural flower farms .
Growing your own cut flowers means you can avoid bouquets laden with pesticides (who wants that on their wedding day?) and you can skip the trips to your local flower shop or grocery store to pay big bucks for a bouquet that has racked up more airline miles than you could ever hope to.
Included in this essential cut flower growing handbook
The Cut Flower Handbook is the perfect balance of inspiration and education for anyone interested in bringing more beauty into their lives by growing cut flowers at home.
Whether you’re cultivating fresh-cut bouquets for yourself, family, and friends or for others on a small commercial scale, you’ll go from sowing seeds to cutting armloads of colorful, long-lasting blooms with ease. Lisa’s unique approach and easy-to-follow advice on multi-season planting and harvesting uses the natural warm and cool weather cycles present in almost all growing regions to maximize cut flower production.
This logical and nature-driven method is also a signature hallmark of her super-successful online flower-farming courses, and it’s one that translates equally well to both small urban backyards and large rural flower farms .
Growing your own cut flowers means you can avoid bouquets laden with pesticides (who wants that on their wedding day?) and you can skip the trips to your local flower shop or grocery store to pay big bucks for a bouquet that has racked up more airline miles than you could ever hope to.
Included in this essential cut flower growing handbook
The Cut Flower Handbook is the perfect balance of inspiration and education for anyone interested in bringing more beauty into their lives by growing cut flowers at home.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
240 pages, Hardcover
Published February 27, 2024
54 people are currently reading
3635 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 23, 2023
The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa Mason Ziegler was thorough with beautiful illustrations. Im excited about this coming year of my own cut flower garden. The author dives in by explaining how she started her own garden and how she got where she is today. Beautiful, clearly explained pictures with simple to understand instructions on how to do everything. I made my husband look at almost every page as I excitedly devoured every bit of advice.
I recommend this book and I’m buying my copy as soon as it’s released.
Thanks Quarto Publishing Group via NetGalley.
I recommend this book and I’m buying my copy as soon as it’s released.
Thanks Quarto Publishing Group via NetGalley.
December 28, 2023
The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa Mason Ziegler is a truly astounding discovery! Many of us garden but how many mindfully prepare and enjoy cut flower gardens for our and others' pleasure? Not only is the information presented priceless but the photographs are enchanting and breathtaking...and the good news is that these cut flower arrangements are attainable for all but the harshest of environments.
The author grows commercially on her 1.5 acres and generously discusses warm and cool season gardening (and how to determine which annual seeds are best for which season), how to optimize growing space for longer, pinching and cutting, succession planting, bed preparation, removing declining plants, mulching, irrigation, harvesting and everything between. But that's not all. She includes 50 cool and warm season flowers to grow with information on preferred season, temperatures, how many days to bloom, sun requirements and so on.
Beginner gardeners as well as experts will love to savour the wondrous details, insight and wisdom Ziegler offers. Though a Master Gardener, I used to be almost afraid to cut flowers (at the time lived in Zone 2a with only 90 frost-free days a year) until I realized how beneficial it is. It is better to snip with wild abandon. This book has inspired me to plan more cut flower growing in 2024. The book is written conversationally and encouragingly, very easy to understand and follow. Talk about an excellent resource for gardening shelves!
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this lovely, lovely book.
The author grows commercially on her 1.5 acres and generously discusses warm and cool season gardening (and how to determine which annual seeds are best for which season), how to optimize growing space for longer, pinching and cutting, succession planting, bed preparation, removing declining plants, mulching, irrigation, harvesting and everything between. But that's not all. She includes 50 cool and warm season flowers to grow with information on preferred season, temperatures, how many days to bloom, sun requirements and so on.
Beginner gardeners as well as experts will love to savour the wondrous details, insight and wisdom Ziegler offers. Though a Master Gardener, I used to be almost afraid to cut flowers (at the time lived in Zone 2a with only 90 frost-free days a year) until I realized how beneficial it is. It is better to snip with wild abandon. This book has inspired me to plan more cut flower growing in 2024. The book is written conversationally and encouragingly, very easy to understand and follow. Talk about an excellent resource for gardening shelves!
My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this lovely, lovely book.
December 27, 2023
Chock-full of very, very specific advice on how to most efficiently set up and maintain a garden for cut-flower production - particularly one meant for commercial supply to florists, no greenhouse required! What makes this special is the author's success in growing en masse high-quality blooms outdoors, and despite the limited space. The amount of info presented is astronomical and backed by a wealth of experience; every question you might have is answered in great detail leaving nothing vague or unclear. The introductory chapters cover topics such as planting times and temperatures, spacing, seed-starting methods, soil and bed preparation, and much more, as well as how to properly harvest and conserve flowers after they're cut.
The last two sections are in-depth profiles for individual plants, delving deep into their unique quirks and best growing methods as well as introducing the author's favourite varieties. Again, I can't express enough how incredibly specific and detailed the advice here is.
The book itself is beautifully laid out with plenty of photos and diagrams, and I'll definitely be using it for reference in future. Truly the Bible of cut-flower gardening, and highly recommended!
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The last two sections are in-depth profiles for individual plants, delving deep into their unique quirks and best growing methods as well as introducing the author's favourite varieties. Again, I can't express enough how incredibly specific and detailed the advice here is.
The book itself is beautifully laid out with plenty of photos and diagrams, and I'll definitely be using it for reference in future. Truly the Bible of cut-flower gardening, and highly recommended!
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Cut Flower Handbook is a very well written, layman accessible, well curated guide to selecting, growing, and using cut flowers written by Lisa Mason Ziegler. Due out 27th Feb 2024 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's a generous 240 pages (hardcover) and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
One of the highlights of this book (and why it's suited for hobbyist/nonprofessional gardeners) is the author's emphasis on non-exotic, less formal flowering plants which will be familiar to many gardeners, and more attainable in general than the orchids, roses, and anthuriums which many associate with typical cut flower arrangements.
The author is rightly fond of beautiful flowers such as sunflowers, poppies, cornflowers, and even "wildflowers" such as Bupleurum (hound's ear), and rudbeckia. She shows how to succeed with planning, incorporating, and succeeding with a garden area which will produce well over three seasons. The planning and introduction chapters (including a fascinating read on her personal biography as a commercial cut flower supplier) lead to chapters listing good performing species and varieties for both cool season and warm season hardy and tender annuals respectively. There are selections to satisfy even the most uncompromising palate.
There's a very short resources and links list along with a cross referenced index. The book is maybe not a one-stop-shop for advice for gardening, but it is a fully up to date resource for cut flower gardening, which includes new and classic varieties. It's very well photographed in color throughout the volume.
Five stars. This would be a superlative selection for public library acquisition, for gardening and allotment groups, for smallholders, and home gardeners. It's impressive that the author originally started with -and succeeded- with a half acre suburban plot of land.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Cut Flower Handbook is a very well written, layman accessible, well curated guide to selecting, growing, and using cut flowers written by Lisa Mason Ziegler. Due out 27th Feb 2024 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's a generous 240 pages (hardcover) and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
One of the highlights of this book (and why it's suited for hobbyist/nonprofessional gardeners) is the author's emphasis on non-exotic, less formal flowering plants which will be familiar to many gardeners, and more attainable in general than the orchids, roses, and anthuriums which many associate with typical cut flower arrangements.
The author is rightly fond of beautiful flowers such as sunflowers, poppies, cornflowers, and even "wildflowers" such as Bupleurum (hound's ear), and rudbeckia. She shows how to succeed with planning, incorporating, and succeeding with a garden area which will produce well over three seasons. The planning and introduction chapters (including a fascinating read on her personal biography as a commercial cut flower supplier) lead to chapters listing good performing species and varieties for both cool season and warm season hardy and tender annuals respectively. There are selections to satisfy even the most uncompromising palate.
There's a very short resources and links list along with a cross referenced index. The book is maybe not a one-stop-shop for advice for gardening, but it is a fully up to date resource for cut flower gardening, which includes new and classic varieties. It's very well photographed in color throughout the volume.
Five stars. This would be a superlative selection for public library acquisition, for gardening and allotment groups, for smallholders, and home gardeners. It's impressive that the author originally started with -and succeeded- with a half acre suburban plot of land.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
January 26, 2025
Review: The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa Ziegler
I received this book for free from Cools Springs Press in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I felt that The Cut Flower Handbook arrived on my desk right on time. And I will remind newbie gardeners that now is the time to buy your seeds for your spring and summer gardens! Zinnias are my favorite garden flower, but I plan to expand! The first half of the book is dedicated to learning the basics of cut flowers and the second half is dedicated to the variety of flowers you can plant. This book has a chapter each for Cool Season Hardy Annuals and Warm-Season Tender Annuals that are also color coded. Each flower type has a detailed page dedicated to it. As a visual learner, I thought the photography was well done throughout the book and there were pictures of each flower as a reference.
5 Things I learned from this book:
Flower garden planning is very similar to food garden planning. You have to divide your seeds into two main categories – warm and cool annuals. Then you have to map out your planting according to the last and first frosts.
Traits to look for of cut flowers as well as how to appropriately harvest the for long life.
The Flower Farmer Insider Tips throughout the book were super insightful and will be very helpful to anyone thinking about selling to florists at markets.
How many times a week I would need to harvest to keep certain flowers blooming
I was introduced to a ton of new flowers that outside of the popular varieties that I’m interested in trying out.
Are you into gardening? Check out some of my past gardening book reviews and stay tuned for future ones on www.cocoawithbooks.com
I received this book for free from Cools Springs Press in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I felt that The Cut Flower Handbook arrived on my desk right on time. And I will remind newbie gardeners that now is the time to buy your seeds for your spring and summer gardens! Zinnias are my favorite garden flower, but I plan to expand! The first half of the book is dedicated to learning the basics of cut flowers and the second half is dedicated to the variety of flowers you can plant. This book has a chapter each for Cool Season Hardy Annuals and Warm-Season Tender Annuals that are also color coded. Each flower type has a detailed page dedicated to it. As a visual learner, I thought the photography was well done throughout the book and there were pictures of each flower as a reference.
5 Things I learned from this book:
Flower garden planning is very similar to food garden planning. You have to divide your seeds into two main categories – warm and cool annuals. Then you have to map out your planting according to the last and first frosts.
Traits to look for of cut flowers as well as how to appropriately harvest the for long life.
The Flower Farmer Insider Tips throughout the book were super insightful and will be very helpful to anyone thinking about selling to florists at markets.
How many times a week I would need to harvest to keep certain flowers blooming
I was introduced to a ton of new flowers that outside of the popular varieties that I’m interested in trying out.
Are you into gardening? Check out some of my past gardening book reviews and stay tuned for future ones on www.cocoawithbooks.com
January 21, 2024
While I've grown flowers for years, I never truly thought about growing flowers for cutting until this past year. The Cut Flower Handbook is so informative and taught me so many new things, things I'd never really given much thought to like how to correctly cut a zinnia flower. You mean you just don't snip the bloom?! Ha to me!
Ziegler covers all aspects of planting a cutting garden from choosing what types of flowers to grow, how to grow the seeds, prepare the bed, when to cut flowers and so much more. I found the sections on the different flower types to also be very useful.
A great addition for a gardener's library. Now I just need to find more space to plant in!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending a copy.
Ziegler covers all aspects of planting a cutting garden from choosing what types of flowers to grow, how to grow the seeds, prepare the bed, when to cut flowers and so much more. I found the sections on the different flower types to also be very useful.
A great addition for a gardener's library. Now I just need to find more space to plant in!
Many thanks to the publisher for sending a copy.
February 23, 2024
I must say that out of all the flower gardening books I have received and purchased for myself, The Cut Flower Handbook is my absolute favorite. Along with having the most gorgeous pictures, it is packed with information to help a gardener of any experience level succeed. I especially love that she details various flowers that may be good choices for your garden, along with growing, care, and everything you need to know to succeed and propagate the plant. My favorite section, however, would have to be her in-depth guide to getting your seedlings started indoors; having one of the best guides I think I have seen for gardeners to date. Overall, I consider this book a must for all gardeners!
January 3, 2024
Not only is this book beautifully set out, but it is also very informative and easy to read.. I like this book because it took me outside the box, whenever I think of cut flowers I automatically go to the roses, orchids etc,- all the high impact flowers that we have grown accustomed to. This book took me into the everyday annuals and perennials to make beautiful displays; plants that produce much, much more flowers than our usual cut flower varieties. Easy to grow and fabulous multi variety and color vases to cheer up any space. Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DR
March 17, 2024
I received an ARC from Netgalley
The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa Mason Ziegler is a valuable resource for both beginner and expert gardeners, providing detailed information on how to grow and enjoy cut flower gardens. The book covers topics such as warm and cool season gardening, flower selection, planting techniques, and more. With stunning photographs and practical advice, this book is a must-have for anyone looking to enhance their gardening skills and create beautiful cut flower arrangements.
The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa Mason Ziegler is a valuable resource for both beginner and expert gardeners, providing detailed information on how to grow and enjoy cut flower gardens. The book covers topics such as warm and cool season gardening, flower selection, planting techniques, and more. With stunning photographs and practical advice, this book is a must-have for anyone looking to enhance their gardening skills and create beautiful cut flower arrangements.
December 18, 2023
The Cut Flower Handbook by Lisa Mason Ziegler Is beautifully written and the pictures are beautiful and quite inspiring. This book has everything you need to know about having and starting a flower garden. I have learned new things when it comes to seed starting and bed preparation and i am excited for spring to implement the knowledge I have gained. A must read for any flower gardener. Thank you To NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2024
My new favorite cut flower book. It combines cool flowers (the annuals that you plant in fall and winter) with warm season flowers. I have Lisa's cool flowers book and it's a fantastic resource, but this ALSO has warm flowers so this is going to be a book I reach for often. I have already ordered some new seed based on some of the sections, and I also gleaned some new-to-me tips. If you garden cut flowers, this is a MUST HAVE.
March 25, 2025
Don’t let the things you don’t have (a big plot of land, or a greenhouse) stop you. Lisa says for a cutting garden, a small garden is better. You'll learn step by step with Lisa. She begins with the basics and works you through the process all the way to how to correctly harvest and store your flowers.
Read full review on blog: https://www.mywahmplan.com/2025/02/do...
Read full review on blog: https://www.mywahmplan.com/2025/02/do...
December 4, 2023
This is a fantastic resource for people who want to grow cut flowers. It’s incredibly thorough on every step of growing each variety, and packed with photos from the author‘s own cut flower farm. I don’t grow on nearly this scale and I’m in a very cold climate, but I loved the information and inspiration.
I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.
I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.
December 5, 2023
A beautiful, comprehensive, and inspirational book! This book teaches the how to for growing gorgeous blooms that are perfect for cutting so you can have bouquets all around the home. The author has turned her gardens into a successful business. I thank Netgalley and Cool Springs Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 11, 2023
Absolutely beautiful book! Not only are the pictures stunning, but so many examples are given that I cannot wait to try in my own garden! I've always been intimidated with flower beds, but you are given a road map that makes it seem like anyone can grow beautiful flowers. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC that will up my garden game.
December 31, 2023
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a nice book on flowers! It's a helpful guide in growing, harvesting, and arranging your own flowers. The book breaks down plants individually with tips on how to grow them and where they do best. It's a helpful guide for gardeners and those wanting to grow flowers for show.
This is a nice book on flowers! It's a helpful guide in growing, harvesting, and arranging your own flowers. The book breaks down plants individually with tips on how to grow them and where they do best. It's a helpful guide for gardeners and those wanting to grow flowers for show.
January 3, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review. This is a gardeners dream book! Whether a beginner or a more advanced gardener, I'm sure you'll find something new in this book. The book was easy to read, there are spots to make notes for the particulars of your region, and detailed instructions on a variety of plants.
March 30, 2024
Specializing in commercial flower growers as a small business, with just a few scattered tips for the home grower who just wants some fresh bouquets at home. I bought some seeds online at their store and signed up for the e-newsletter. Apparently, there are lots of cookies or advertising tags or whatever. Within a day, I got an alert that my info had been compromised.
October 8, 2024
This was the best book, hands down, that I read on annuals and succession planting for a cut flower garden. Lots of good general cut flower info in the first 1/4 of the book, with the last 3/4 organized by flower variety and how to approach for cutting. Very useful, I find myself going back to this book often!
February 7, 2024
The pictures are beautiful. So much important information. Highly recommend if you want to know about planting read this book
March 3, 2024
This is a valuable resource for flower farmers and also home gardeners looking to grow a cutting garden.
March 8, 2024
Lots more specific information that I've been needing!
March 22, 2024
A great collection for the beginning flower grower. You'll love the tips, tricks, and general information found in this handbook.
July 31, 2024
A must for people interested in the topic and those who just like flower gardening in general. Fabulous book!
August 8, 2024
Helpful!! Going to plant some things in the fall
November 18, 2024
very helpful for my upcoming project
November 20, 2024
Beautiful pictures, useful information for the home gardener and commercial gardener. I enjoy it.
December 6, 2024
A must-read for cut flower gardeners
December 10, 2024
Great resource.
February 26, 2025
Gorgeous and so full of great info!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews