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Step-by-step - How we built our Cottage Garden
The inspiration
Step 1: Choose the site
Step 1: Choose the site
It started with a gut feeling, a calling, that I needed to build a cottage garden. A really big cottage garden. So we followed my heart, and built the garden in October 2021. Then, in November 2021, our granddaughter unexpectedly passed away. This garden has been a space for healing, the garden I didn't know I needed. I'm grateful for this space.
Step 1: Choose the site
Step 1: Choose the site
Step 1: Choose the site
There are a few things to consider when building a raised bed garden. How much sun does the site get? Do you have a convenient water source nearby? Our garden is located in full sun, and it's a fairly flat area. We have a water spigot nearby so we could plan to install irrigation. We tilled the soil, raked it smooth, and covered with landscape fabric.
Step 2: Build the beds
Step 1: Choose the site
Step 3: Design the garden
Next we built the raised beds using brown treated lumber. We laid out the beds on top of the fabric in the design pattern we wanted. We cut the fabric out of the inside of the beds so roots could grow deeper if needed. Then we filled the beds with a combination of good quality garden soil and compost. Then dusted with organic fertilizer.
Step 3: Design the garden
Step 5: Planting & maintenance
Step 3: Design the garden
Now it's time to design the garden. The first thing to consider: what do you want the vibe to be? For me, I wanted a wild, exploding colorful garden. I was careful to make sure I planted flowers with a variety of bloom times so I would have lots of color in the garden all season long. I also made note of how tall plants would get. Putting the taller plants in the center of the beds, shorter plants on the outside. Don't forget foliage, it adds a lot!
Step 4: Add vertical interest
Step 5: Planting & maintenance
Step 5: Planting & maintenance
To give the Cottage Garden an abundant look, and create an inviting space, I added several areas in the garden with vertical interest. We have 4 arbors at the ends of the garden, 2 at each end. There are 4 obelisks around the edge of the garden too. We built a pergola right in the center of the garden with pots in the 4 corners. I'm still experimenting with flowering vines, and growing annuals so I can mix it up each year.
Step 5: Planting & maintenance
Step 5: Planting & maintenance
Step 5: Planting & maintenance
The mix of plants in our Cottage Garden is 60% (at least) annuals, and the remainder perennials. I like having a lot of annuals to give me a full, colorful garden all season, and the option to change the design year over year. I planted flowers fairly close together, which helps with weeds and the abundant feel of the garden. I weed the garden carefully, water it daily, and fertilize a couple times during the season with fish emulsion.
2024 Cottage Garden Grow List
Here's the list of flowers we grew in the Cottage Garden in 2024.
Balloon Flower Rose Platycodon, Butterfly Weed Asclepias Orange, Celosia (Celway Purple, Summer Sherbet, Limonata, Vintage Rose), Coleus, Dahlia (Brown Sugar, Caitlin's Joy, Coralie, Cornel, Cornel Bronze, Hillcrest Suffusion, Isabel, Ivanetti, Lark's Ebbe, L'Ancresse, Rip City, Silver Years, Wine Eyed Jill), Daisy Gloriosa Sunset Rudbeckia Hirta, Daylily (Alien Concept, Ashes of Blue, Festive Jousting, Happy Tracks, High Water Mark,
Lavender Blue Baby, Liquid Lunch, Nuclear Blast, Omega Red, Pink Super Spider, Potion for Passion, Retro Afternoon, Roman Cohort, Sarah Hawes, Senator Edward M Kennedy, Sharon's Love (non-registered), Tee Pee Talk, Yes Man), Echinacea Sombrero Lemon Yellow, Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry, Gomphrena Audray White, Hardy Geranium, Hyacinth Bean Ruby Moon, Korean Mint Agastache Rugosa, Lady's Mantle,
Lantana Bandana Mango, Lavender Sweet Romance, Liatris Floristan White, Lobelia Techno Electric Blue, Mandevilla Vine (Sun Parasol Giant Dark Pink and Giant White), Marigold Queen Sophia, Monarda Bubblegum Blast, Phlox Opening Act Blush, Phlox Red Riding Hood, Rosemary Arp,
Sage Blue Salvia Farinacea, Sage Scarlet Salvia Coccinea, Salvia Rockin Fuchsia, Sedum Aizoon, Spiderwort, Stargazer Lily, Supertunia Jazzberry,
Sweet Potato Vine, Veronica Perfectly Picasso, Veronica Skyler White Improved, Yarrow Gold Achillea Filipendulina, Yarrow Sassy Summer Sunset,
Zinnia (Lilliput Mix, Starlight Rose, Golden Hour, Queen Lime Red, Queen Lime Peach).
How to dig & store dahlia tubers - 3 easy steps
3 easy steps to save your dahlia tubers for the next growing season
Step #1 - Label, then cut back your plants. It's important to label your dahlia varieties while they are still blooming. We use bright colored flagging tape wrapped around the base of the plant, and marked with a sharpie. Sometime around mid-October or after your first frost, cut back the dahlia plants to about 6 inches tall, making sure the tuber variety tape stays in place. Allow the plants to "rest" for a week or two.
Step #2 - Dig up the tubers. Using a pitch fork, carefully loosen the soil around the dahlia plant, making sure to go wide enough around the plant so you won't damage the tubers beneath the soil. Rock the pitch fork back and forth until the dahlia plant can be lifted out of the ground with the tuber clump attached. Shake off excess dirt.
Step #3 - Storing tubers. Tubers can be stored clean, or with the dirt on. If you are planning to divide the tubers, you'll want to clean and dry the tubers. For storage, we use peat moss or wood shavings and store the tubers stacked in bulb crates. Tubers like to be stored at 40-45 degrees with humidity levels between 75-85%. Also, its best to keep air flow going so we have a fan running in our storage room. Check tubers every 3-4 weeks, discarding any rotting tubers.
How to plant tulip bulbs - 7 easy steps
Step 1 - Decide on your planting approach
Home gardeners usually plant in clumps of 10-15 bulbs per circular clump, about 1-2 inches apart. Here on our Iowa flower farm, we plant in 3-foot wide trenches and 20-foot rows.
Step 2 - Select a sunny, well-drained location
Tulips do best in full sun, and prefer well-drained soil. If the soil is soggy, bulbs can rot or become diseased.
Step 3 - Let's get digging
Dig down into the soil about 6 inches deep. Bulbs should be planted about 3 times deeper than they are tall. So, depending on variety and bulb size, you may need to dig a little deeper.
Step 4 - Amend the soil
After you have your planting space dug out, then it's time to give those tulip bulbs a little boost to ensure a good healthy plant in the spring. We add a generous dusting of organic bulb fertilizer and some compost as well.
Step 5 - Plant your bulbs
Be sure to plant tulips with the pointy side up. Home gardeners, plant about 1-2 inches apart. On our flower farm, we plant very tight spacing, like eggs in a carton, but not touching. If you're keeping track of varieties, add a planting label stake at this time.
Step 6 - Backfill the soil back into the hole
Carefully pull the soil back into the hole, covering the tulip bulbs, taking care not to knock them sideways or upside down. After the soil is evenly distributed on top of the bulbs, we recommend adding 2-3 inches of compost on top of the soil to add extra nutrients to the mix.
Step 7 - Water in the bulbs
We water in our newly planted bulbs lightly so everything gets settled in. You should not have to water your bulbs throughout the winter as Mother Nature provides enough moisture to carry the bulbs through spring. If springtime weather is very sunny and dry, we water our tulip beds periodically to help the tulips grow strong and tall.
How to plant dahlia tubers
3 Easy Steps
1. Planting time. Plant dahlia tubers when the ground has warmed up in the spring. Here in Iowa, we plant our tubers in mid to late May. Plant tubers about 3-4 inches deep, laying the tuber on its side with the "eye" facing up. Cover with soil.
2. Watering needs. Do NOT water your tubers until you start to see green growth. Once you see green, then water your dahlias similarly to other flowers. Regular water helps them grow, but they don't like wet feet. So be sure your planting area has good drainage. We also use a low nitrogen fertilizer 2-3 times throughout the growing season. We stop fertilizing by early to mid-September as it seems to help prepare the tubers for the end of the season when it comes time to dig and store.
3. Pinch and deadhead. Once dahlias grow to about a foot tall, we pinch them just above a leaf node, leaving at least 2 sets of leaves on the plant. By pinching, you are encouraging the dahlia to branch off, giving you more flowers. Once dahlias start to bloom, be sure to keep them deadheaded. If you do this, you'll see abundant blooms from late summer through frost. Don't hesitate to cut your dahlia blooms vigorously and cut deep. The more frequent and deeper you cut, the more they will bloom with tall, strong stems.
Dahlia Tuber Sale Info & Policies
Please read carefully before purchasing dahlia tubers.
All dahlia tuber orders are for 1 dahlia tuber, size and shape of tubers varies by dahlia variety. All tubers we ship out will have a visible eye. All tubers are grown here on our farm. Dahlia tubers can only be shipped to the US (sorry international friends!). Dahlia tuber orders will be shipped in April once all danger of freezing has passed. We can't do early shipping.
All orders will be shipped USPS with tracking. We are not offering any on-farm pick ups. Please open your package immediately upon arrival and notify us via email (info@bochnerfarms.com) with any issues within 5 days of order delivery. Let us know the concern, and send a picture, and we will do our best to remedy the situation for you. We can not take customer service requests via social media, all service requests must be made via email.
We can not guarantee the performance of your plants, and we are not responsible for poor growing conditions or Mother Nature. We are not responsible for your own storage after you accept receipt of your tuber order. We want you to be successful, and will send a dahlia growing tips sheet with all orders.
In the unforeseen event tubers ordered become unavailable (due to viability or system malfunction), we reserve the right to issue refunds. If for any reason we must issue a refund, we can only issue refunds to the original payment method.