Becoming a Cut Flower Grower

Hello, welcome to Friday 1 May 2026. 
I've got a horrendous cold so tonight's episode is shorter than normal because I feel dreadful and I haven't done anything constructive on the field this week. I've just about managed to keep on top of the plants which have needed watering, plus keeping an eye on the seedlings in the greenhouse, but that's it. 
Thank you if you sent me a comment or a message about growing Larkspur, which is clearly testing everyone's patience this year. I've received a number of suggestions for how to germinate them and I'm sharing them with you tonight. 
My new "rose lily" bulbs have arrived and tonight's Plant Profile Series is all about them. Do you grow them? I'd be interested to know your experiences if you do. They look absolutely stunning so I hope my investment in the bulbs pays off this summer. 
https://www.hartsnursery.co.uk/roselily-irvana.html Plus I also bought 'Amsterdam', 'Jamala' and 'Isabella'.
Despite the shortness of this episode I hope that you enjoy it. Please come back and join me for the next one - you're always very welcome.
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If you like what you hear, please follow/subscribe to this podcast so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a review because it really does help more cut flower-lovers just like you to find the podcast. 
Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot. And you can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk.
Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers in England. I'm giving you the low-down on what it's really like, how I'm getting started, what you do and don't need, what I do when and why, the successes and failures, and just about everything in between. All in real time. With guest appearances from my chickens every now and then. 
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Hello, welcome to Tuesday 28 April 2026. 
Lots of news from the weekend on the plot: all the details in this episode of how I'm getting on prepping bed 4. I've also been doing more seed sowing including another batch of half hardy annuals and tenders, including my new ProCut sunflowers.
This afternoon I had a wonderful site visit from the owner of my local flower hub, Fenella, from the FlowerHub, Cookham https://flower-hub.co.uk/: we toured the plot and talked about so much. I even managed to do some drinks and snacks!
I've also just bought some new rose lily bulbs, which I'm going to talk about in more detail on Friday in my plant profile series. I'm really hoping that they turn out as beautiful (and sellable) as their photos on the internet look. 
I really hope that you enjoy this episode. Please come back and join me for the next one - you're always very welcome.
Connect with me
If you like what you hear, please follow/subscribe to this podcast so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a review because it really does help more cut flower-lovers just like you to find the podcast. 
Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot. And you can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk.
Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers in England. I'm giving you the low-down on what it's really like, how I'm getting started, what you do and don't need, what I do when and why, the successes and failures, and just about everything in between. All in real time. With guest appearances from my chickens every now and then. 
Text The Podcast Here!
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Hello, welcome to Friday 24 April 2026. 
Lots to tell you tonight including all the news from the field and the greenhouse. Exciting news: some dahlia shoots have appeared, which is amazing and I'm so glad to see them. I'm reviewing the seedlings in the greenhouse and I'll share the ones that are doing well and the ones which are testing me (hello, Larkspur).
I've had some great questions recently from listeners (thank you if you sent one in) and I'm answering them tonight including the five annuals I'd grow if I was only allowed five and the growing items that I can never have enough of. Plus a great question asking 'Is it too late to start sowing?'
Finally I'm recommending some podcasts that I'm enjoying at the moment plus the super-useful book that I'm re-reading. The episode concludes with this week's Plant Profile Series and I'm talking about Helianthus Lemon Queen. This is a perennial sunflower and it's lovely. I highly recommend it. 
I really hope that you enjoy this episode. Please come back and join me for the next one - you're always very welcome.
Connect with me
If you like what you hear, please follow/subscribe to this podcast so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a review because it really does help more cut flower-lovers just like you to find the podcast. 
Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot. And you can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk.
Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers in England. I'm giving you the low-down on what it's really like, how I'm getting started, what you do and don't need, what I do when and why, the successes and failures, and just about everything in between. All in real time. With guest appearances from my chickens every now and then. 
Text The Podcast Here!
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Hello, it's Tuesday 21 April 2026. 
I'm recording this episode from the plot but hopefully the audio is ok. I've been very busy and tonight I'll be sharing how I've just planted my sweet peas out and the steps I've taken to ensure that they're protected. I've also been sowing (more) seeds - so many that I've had to go and buy more shelving for the greenhouse.
I also take you on a sunset tour of the plot and chat about everything that's going on from roses to peonies and everything in between, including updates on the strimmed cephalaria, the collapsed scabious, the tiny plugs, and the self-seeders cropping up everywhere.
I hope you enjoy today's episode: please come back and join me for the next one - you're always very welcome.
Connect with me
If you like what you hear, please follow/subscribe to this podcast so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a review because it really does help more cut flower-lovers just like you to find the podcast. 
Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot. And you can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk.
Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers in England. I'm giving you the low-down on what it's really like, how I'm getting started, what you do and don't need, what I do when and why, the successes and failures, and just about everything in between. All in real time. With guest appearances from my chickens every now and then. 
Text The Podcast Here!
Support the show

Hello and welcome to Friday 17 April 2026. 
Lots to tell you about tonight: I experienced a strimming mishap with my Cephalaria (giant scabious), the other scabious have collapsed after they were moved last weekend, and I've busy trying to keep the greenhouse at a constant temperature, which is no mean feat.
This week I visited a fellow grower's plot together with some other members of my local growers group. It was brilliant to see what someone else is doing, share stories with my fellow growers, pick up some growing tips, and commiserate about the various issues that we're all having. It's wonderful to be part of a group like this and I'd highly recommend that you either join one or consider starting one because support from others is really helpful.
I have a funny pricing story for you whereby I wildly over-priced some Lily of the Valley stems and, needless to say, the florist didn't buy them. You live and learn and I will have to do much better next time. Spotify comments: I'm reading and loving them - thank you if you have left a comment. I'm answering a great one tonight about the difference between using vermiculite and perlite for seed sowing and I'll share what I do and why. 
I hope you enjoy tonight's episode: please come back and join me for the next one - you're always very welcome.
Connect with me
If you like what you hear, please follow/subscribe to this podcast so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a review because it really does help more cut flower-lovers just like you to find the podcast. 
Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot. And you can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk.
Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers in England. I'm giving you the low-down on what it's really like, how I'm getting started, what you do and don't need, what I do when and why, the successes and failures, and just about everything in between. All in real time. With guest appearances from my chickens every now and then. 
Text The Podcast Here!
Support the show