Choose an area with six or more hours of sun a day, some fertile ground, and access to irrigation. If your soil is poor, spread out some sandy loam and compost on top. Once your planting area is ready it's time to start seeds. For some seeds like zinnia's, sowing directly in the soil can be quite successful. For others like lisianthus, we'd recommend starting under grow lights with a warming mat long before the season starts. This cut flower garden has a mixture of annuals like statice and basil, as well as, perennials like yarrow and scabiosa.