Becoming a Cut Flower Grower

Hello, it's Friday 24 July 2026.
This hasn’t been my favourite week and I’ve lost most of my motivation and mojo. I’ve had enough of the heat and drought, everything is looking a bit exhausted now and don’t even get me started on hoses and watering. So tonight’s episode starts off with a bit of a moan and then (thankfully) gets better.
I spent this afternoon with my dahlia mentor, Richard Bailey, who is a professional exhibitor and has won many awards for his dahlias. He’s an incredible human and shares all his knowledge with me, plus some of his dahlias. Tonight I’m sharing what we talked about and did on his allotment today and the tips he passed on. 
Thanks if you’ve sent me a DM to let me know how you’re getting on in this weather, and special thanks to new listeners who sent me DMs on Instagram to say hello. I love hearing from you! 
Please come back and join me for the next episode - 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 and my email is lydia@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, it's Tuesday 21 July 2026.
Another week and still no rain. I'm thanking my lucky stars that I bought my submersible pump last week: it's brilliant and making life much easier. The forecast is not looking good for rain in the next couple of weeks either. I hope you're coping ok with your flowers: I'd really love to hear how you're getting on and if you have any tips or advice to share.
Tonight I'm giving a rundown of how all the plants are coping with the conditions, including those flourishing, those not loving it, the ones which have just frozen in horror, and the surprises (hello, Panicum). If you're wondering whether or not your plants are doing what they're supposed to be doing, you might be able to resonate with the stories of what mine are doing.
I've got another long list of things to be done this week: let's see how many I get through. I'll report back on Fridays' episode!
Longleat Safari Park UK Free Child Ticket Discount Code: ROAR26. Valid for visits during July 2026.
Please come back and join me for the next episode - 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 and my email is lydia@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, it's Friday 17 July 2026.
I've been having a brilliant time this week watering the flowers with my new pump. If you've had enough of watering by hand in this never-ending UK heatwave, then tonight's episode is for you because it's all about how I chose my new submersible pump. I'll talk about all the things to consider when selecting the one I bought so if you've been considering a pump and wondering how to choose, I hope this information helps. I'm analysing power sources, flow rates, head rates, automatic shut-off, clean/dirty water, and the other myriad options.
I've been doing some marketing this week and I've had a couple of positive responses so far. I tried to put it off as long as possible but then I really had to just get on with it. I'm sharing the new categories of clients I've been focusing on this week and what I've done.
Finally, tonight's episode concludes with this week's Plant Profile Series, which is on Antirrhinum, aka snapdragons. I adore these gorgeous plants and despite the challenges of keeping them upright and rust-free, I encourage you to grow them.
My submersible pump:
VEATON 18V Cordless Submersible Water Pump Kit, 1x4.0Ah Battery and Charger Included, 2000L/H 2 Bar Portable Water Transfer Pump for Rain Barrel Water Butt Garden Pond Tank Boat
Please come back and join me for the next episode - 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 and my email is lydia@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, it's Tuesday 14 July 2026.
Happy Tuesday! It's hot but not as hot as last week, thank goodness. I hope you're well. 
I've had a busy weekend: I had to import water because my IBCs finally ran empty, so all the details of this. Then my new submersible water pump arrived, which should make watering quicker and easier. If you're in the UK, I'd love to know your watering technique?
In this evening's episode I have an update for you on the flowers on the field right now including news on the relay planting technique I'm trying, plus details of the new seeds I've purchased for 2027, and the perennial I've just bought on a budget. I'm also sharing Piggy's clever technique for staying cool (Piggy is one of the hens). 
Finally I'm ending with a list of jobs I have to do this week including working out what I'll have looking beautiful for an early-August wedding. It's not easy working this out so far ahead of the event but it has to be done! Wish me luck!
Please come back and join me for the next episode - 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 and my email is lydia@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, it's Friday 10 July 2026.
Another scorcher of a week..... and never mind the plants, I've been wilting under the glare of the sun. I've been watering so much this week that I've finally run out of water on the field and I have to top the IBCs up tomorrow. I always have water ring-fenced for the chickens but not enough for the flowers at the moment.
I had a visit from a new florist this week: Aly from The Garden Room came to buy some stems and have a tour of the field. It was great to meet her and we had a lot to talk about. 
The bulk of tonight's episode is me reflecting on the latest episode of another podcast called Six Figure Flower Farming, hosted by Jenny Marks. The episode in question is a really passionate piece by Jenny about why it's ok to want to make money and it made me really sit up and take notice. Jenny touches on a lot of really important issues around making money in flower farming and I highly recommend you listen to it (link below).
Finally, tonight's Plant Profile Series is Agrostemma, aka Corncockle. This gorgeous hardy annual is a new one for me and it's flowering its socks off right now. I'm totally in love with it.
Here are the details of Jenny Marks' podcast. The one I'm talking about is episode 109 called Making Money Matters from 6 July 2026. Please listen to it and tell me what you think (drop me a DM on insta or send an email to lydia@henhillcutflowers.co.uk).
https://www.trademarkfarmer.com/podcast
Please come back and join me for the next episode - 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 and my email is lydia@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