How to Grow more on Less Space to Maximise Flower Yield
- Jane Westoby
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
Whether you’re a flower farmer, a home gardener, or growing flowers as a side hustle, one thing is certain—you want more blooms and a longer flowering season without needing extra space.
Good news: You don’t need more land to increase your yield. By using three simple yet powerful techniques—cut-and-come-again flowers, pinching, and succession sowing—you can dramatically boost your production, extend your season, and get the most from every plant.
In this guide, I’ll break down exactly how each of these methods works, which flowers respond best to them, and how you can put them into action right now.
Want a quick reference? Grab my FREE Pinching & Cut-and-Come-Again Cheat Sheet here.
🎧 Prefer to listen? This blog is based on my podcast episode 9: How to Maximize Space on Your Flower Plot — tune in for extra tips!
Strategy 1: Cut-and-Come-Again Flowers – More Cuts, More Blooms!
Some flowers love to be harvested—in fact, the more you cut them, the more they produce! This is because they are programmed to keep flowering until they successfully set seed. By continuously harvesting, you "trick" them into working overtime.
Best Cut-and-Come-Again Flowers:
Zinnias – Heat-loving bloom machines that pair beautifully with dahlias.
Cosmos – Will stop flowering if you don’t keep cutting—so don’t be shy!
Sweet Peas – The more you pick, the more they bloom. Keep them going until midsummer!
Dahlias – A true workhorse; cut every 3-5 days to keep them producing.
Snapdragons – A powerhouse that flowers continuously with regular harvesting.
How to Harvest to Maximise Flower Yield:
Cut deep—take long stems down to a healthy leaf node to encourage new side shoots.
Harvest every few days to prevent plants from slowing down.
Don’t let flowers go to seed—once a plant thinks its job is done, it stops producing!
Want more details? Check out my full guide to Cut-and-Come-Again Flowers here.
Strategy 2: Pinching for Bushier, More Productive Plants
Pinching sounds a bit brutal, but it’s a game-changer for many plants. By removing the growing tip early in their life, you encourage stronger branching—leading to more stems, more flowers, and better-quality blooms over time.
Best Flowers to Pinch:
Cosmos – Pinch when they reach 10cm for a full, bushy plant.
Snapdragons – Even better, you can plant the pinched-off tops as new seedlings!
Dahlias – Pinch at around 10cm tall to get sturdier plants with more stems.
Zinnias – Encourages multiple flowering stems instead of one tall, leggy stalk.
Celosia – Loves being pinched for a fuller shape and more blooms.
Flowers You Shouldn’t Pinch:
❌ Stock, Asters, Nigella, Delphiniums, and single-stem sunflowers – These plants grow from a single central stem, so pinching them means fewer flowers, not more.
Strategy 3: Succession Sowing for Continuous Blooms
Ever had a huge flush of flowers followed by… nothing? That’s because many growers plant everything all at once. The solution? Succession sowing—staggering your seed sowing throughout the season so you always have fresh blooms coming in.
How to Plan Your Succession Sowing:
Divide your seed packets into multiple smaller portions.
Label them by month (e.g., February, March, April).
Sow every 2-3 weeks instead of all at once.
Organize your seed box by month to keep track.
Best Flowers for Succession Sowing:
Larkspur – A cool-season favourite, larkspur thrives in early spring and autumn plantings. Staggered sowings every few weeks ensure a steady supply of their tall, elegant spires, which are excellent for fresh and dried arrangements.
Cornflowers – These hardy annuals germinate well in cool temperatures, making them perfect for succession sowing in early spring and late summer. Regular sowings will extend their charming, cottage-garden-style blooms well into summer.
Poppies – With their delicate, tissue-like petals, poppies can be tricky to time—they tend to bloom and fade quickly. Succession sowing ensures you’ll have a rolling display of vibrant colour rather than one fleeting flush. For cut flowers, opt for Iceland or Shirley poppies.
Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) – One of the easiest flowers to succession sow, nigella self-seeds readily but also benefits from intentional staggered plantings. This ensures continuous, lacy blue and white blooms followed by striking seed pods, which are great for dried arrangements.
Lepidium – A fantastic filler foliage, lepidium adds texture and movement to bouquets. Succession sowing prevents it from going to seed too quickly, ensuring a steady flow of fresh greenery throughout the season.
Asters – These late-season beauties provide vital colour in the garden when other flowers start to fade. Staggered sowing from early to mid-summer will ensure a longer blooming period well into autumn, making them a must-have for extended flower production.
Think of succession sowing like baking bread—bake 10 loaves at once, and you’ll have too much bread for a week and then nothing. But bake a fresh loaf every few days, and you always have something ready!
Why These Strategies Are Game-Changers for Flower Farmers
If you’re growing to sell, these methods are non-negotiable. Here’s why:
Higher yield per plant = more stems to sell, without needing more land.
Longer selling season = no awkward mid-season gaps.
Stronger, longer-lasting flowers = better quality blooms that hold up during transport.
If you’re growing for yourself, these techniques mean more bouquets, more colour, and more joy—without the frustration of everything blooming at once and then disappearing. Really Maximising flower yield is a total gamechanger.
By combining cut-and-come-again harvesting, pinching, and succession sowing, you’re not just growing flowers—you’re mastering the art of abundance.
Next Steps: Take Action & Keep Growing!
Download the FREE Cheat Sheet – Get my full list of which flowers to pinch and which are cut-and-come-again
🎧 Listen to the Podcast Episode – Hear the full discussion on How to Maximize Space on Your Flower Plot.
Read More – Check out my guide to Cut-and-Come-Again Flowers here.
Share Your Results – Tag me on Instagram @thehampshireseedcompany and let me know what’s working for you!
Enjoyed this guide? Leave a quick comment below! Your feedback helps me create more content to support your growing journey.
Happy growing, and may your flowers bloom abundantly!
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