Hello again! Kathryn here!
I often ask “What do you grow at your flower farm?” Well – lots of things! One of the most common types of flowers that we grow are annuals! This blog post is going to highlight the 5 best annuals (in my opinion) to grow.
- Zinnias. Zinnias are a true work horse. The more you cut from their plant, the more they produce. Now – before you object to one of the most common garden flowers out, there are a couple of varieties that produce some of the most beautiful colors I’ve ever seen. Floret sells a “Zinderella” series that is to die for! Seriously – some of the most beautiful pale pinks and yellows you’ll see.
- Cosmos. Another work horse. Cosmos are a light and airy flower that floats on the top of an arragement seamlessly. The only problem about them is if you are not on top of their blooms – they can be very overwhelming. I recommend buying the apricot varieties.
- Orlaya. Orlaya is in the Queen Anne’s Lace section. They are white, lacey, and so very beautiful. They are not as hard working as the cosmo/ zinnia flowers but they do typically last up to a month in the field which provide plenty of use.
- Ranunculus/ Anemone. These both are in the same family so I will include them as one category. They are some of the most beautiful flowers that you can grow in Iowa. They also benefit from constant cutting. The only deal with them is that they get overheated easily so you have to put them in the ground quickly.
- Dahlias. Oh Dahlias. I cannot forget about them. Unlike the other flowers listed, dahlias are a focal flowers. As in – they are show stealers. They eat up the spotlight and I am totally okay with that. They come in every color you can think of, but a little water sensitive. You also have to dig up all of their tubers and store them over the winter, which is a pain but worth it if you can swing it.
Overall, we grow about 25 – 30 different types of annuals but these are the 5 that I recommend if you are starting out.
If you have any questions, let me know!
-Kathryn
