The Cottage Cutting Garden

06/23/2026

Lisianthus are proof that not every flower wants cool weather.

They’re actually native to the prairies of Texas and parts of the southern U.S., so they love heat and sunshine. While the Pacific Northwest gets all the credit for being the dream climate for flower growing, lisianthus is one crop that often performs even better here in North Carolina.

They also require patience. Lisianthus are famously slow growers, taking 6-8 months from seed to bloom.

Hot summers? Humidity? Long days? Lisianthus just keeps going.

If you’re local and don’t want to wait half a year for blooms, I’ll be offering lisianthus plugs again in February 2027. 🌸

06/22/2026

06/17/2026

Vacation views, same gardener brain. 🌸

06/14/2026

Pinch your zinnias above the second set of true leaves and thank yourself later. ✂️ This encourages branching, giving you more stems and a bushier plant. It feels scary the first time, but a quick pinch now means more blooms later.

06/13/2026

One of the questions I get asked most often is whether dahlia cuttings will make tubers.

Yep, they sure will.

This cutting was taken at the end of February, and here it is with its own little cluster of baby tubers. They may be small now, but by the end of our season here Oct–Nov, they’ll be full-grown tubers and can be stored just like any other dahlia tuber.

06/11/2026

We may have a problem. But at least it’s pretty. 🤩

06/10/2026

525,600 minutes.

Give or take.

The garden isn’t just in my backyard. It’s also in my head 24/7.

06/09/2026

When it comes to harvesting dahlias, bloom stage matters.

The dahlia with the open center is beautiful, but it’s already past the stage I would harvest for a customer. I’ll enjoy that one myself in the garden or in a vase at home.

The dahlia that is about 75% open is the sweet spot. It has enough petals open to show off its beauty, but still has plenty of life left. That’s the stage I harvest for arrangements going to customers, friends, and neighbors so they can enjoy the longest vase life possible.

06/08/2026

12 stems from 2 Bon Bon Scoop scabiosa plants. 🤯

This is my second year growing them, and I’m still trying to figure them out in our Southern heat. Last year they struggled for me, so this year I bought small plugs and kept them indoors under grow lights where temperatures stayed a fairly consistent 70–78°F.

The result? These two plants produced 12 stems without ever going outside.

Since Bon Bon Scoop scabiosa can only be purchased as plants and are on the pricier side for annuals, I’m curious what kind of success others are having with them.

If you’re growing them in the South, I’d love to hear your experience. Are you growing them outdoors, in a greenhouse, or somewhere else? How do they handle your summer heat, and do you think they’re worth the investment?

06/07/2026

One of those simple garden tasks that pays off later.

A little cleanup at the base of your dahlias improves airflow, helps foliage dry faster after rain, and makes it easier to spot problems before they spread.

Especially here in North Carolina, where heat and humidity are part of the package, every bit of airflow helps.

Do you strip lower leaves on your dahlias or leave them alone?