Harvest chrysanths
Chrysanthemums are the florists’ staple flower, and for several good reasons. Each plant provides an abundance of blooms, with many different colours and forms available, and the flowers last for a couple of weeks in a vase when properly prepared. So make the most of your border chrysanthemums and pick some of the flowers to enjoy indoors, too. Cut the stems as long as possible, and strip the leaves by running your hand down the stem. Plunge the newly cut stems straight into a deep bucket of cold water for at least a couple of hours, before trimming the stems again and arranging in a vase.