Becoming a Cut Flower Grower

Hello, it's Friday 29 May 2026.
I'm really delighted to share with you a wonderful conversation with my wedding & event florist, Jo Caldwell, on today's episode. We had such a long chat that I've actually had to split it into two parts so here is part 1 and the second one will be available next Tuesday. 
We cover a lot of ground including how growers can adapt to colour trends, how and why stem length is linked to pricing, who you could sell to if you're just getting started, and how inviting florists to your field could strengthen your relationship and, crucially, improve your sales as well.
In other news, I talk a little about the impact of the recent heatwave on the field and the seedlings eagerly awaiting planting out, plus the new flower that I have flowering on the field right now (and it's really pretty).
Please do come back and join me for part 2 next Tuesday where we discuss what to do if you're already supplying a florist and they suddenly stop ordering from you, how Jo likes to receive her flowers from suppliers (and what she really hates), how important it is to have perfect images of your flowers, and more pricing talk (because we can never have enough information about pricing). 
https://joannecaldwell.co.uk/
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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, it's Tuesday 26 May 2026 and it's EVEN HOTTER!
It's a beautiful May evening and you join me tonight on the field to feed the chickens and tour the cut flower area. I haven't talked you through what's happening on the field in a while so I thought that tonight would be a good opportunity. If you're reading this in the UK, I hope you're surviving the high temperatures we're experiencing at the moment: it's pretty epic. 
On tonight's field tour you'll hear how everything is getting on, including all the new hardy annuals that have been planted out, the new perennials, the old perennials, the roses and the transplanted scabious, and what I've done with the seedlings in the greenhouse during the heatwave.
I'm also talking about why I've decided not to sell any flowers this week (even though I do have some ready) and what I'm doing with the stems instead. Plus I'm promoting the flower I really want to revive and sell more of, and what I use to protect self-seeders in the paths from people stepping on them (and it's probably something you have hanging around already). 
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.
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 22 May 2026 and it's HOT!
So much to tell you tonight including sharply rising temperatures (and the pressures that brings), my visit to my wedding & event florist today, and a new rose I'm desperate to acquire.
I'm also talking about what I'm calling the "tight rope zone" which is May: how do growers manage all the different tasks which have to be done all at the same time this month?  Just balancing the needs of all the different types of annual seedlings is a mission, never mind all the other demands on our time. 
I have news from the field: what the saponaria are doing, the mistake I realise I've made with my clarkia seedlings, the downside of my overgrown 'living paths' now that it's warm enough to wear shorts again, and some new alliums flowerheads have just appeared (very late to the party). 
I also talk about my watering schedule: what I'm watering, when and how. I'm off-grid so I have to be really careful with my water usage. I'll explain why I water the way I do and the things I do to keep the soil moist, and how to test moisture levels to avoid over watering. 
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.
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 Tuesday 19 May 2026. 
Oh the wind and cold is bothering me this week! I've just stocked up on more chocolate because I'm really not feeling it this week: one of the hens got into the flower area and dug up some of my sweetpeas, plus growth is slow because of the cool conditions. 
In tonight's episode I'm talking about why I wish I had gone to Chelsea Flower Show this year after all and why I'm having a bad case of FOMO as I watch it on tv (Fear Of Missing Out), plus details about the hardy annuals I've planted out this week, my Clarkia seedling accident, and an analysis of my living paths. 
As I've been planting out, I've been reflecting on the seedling size differences between the seeds sown in soil blocks and the ones in my recycled chicken thigh trays, and it's interesting. There's also news about what's going on in the greenhouse - including my first (and possibly only) Larkspur seedling! 
Finally I share what's actually flowering for me right now (and it's a mixed bunch, in every sense of the word) plus what I'm focusing on right now. 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.
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 15 May 2026. 
What a week: it started with frosts and continued with hail storms which were very strong and potentially damaging to the seedlings. So I spent 'Hail Day' i.e Wednesday, sat in front of the TV watching Rivals and eating a big bar of chocolate. Thank you if you sent me a message this week, it really cheered me up!
In this episode I'm talking about getting comfortable with the word "No": both hearing it and saying it to others. It's something I have to work on doing and I still have a heart-stopping moment when someone says "No" but I'm getting better at saying it and hearing it. I'm also talking about staying in the present to manage anxiety and not trying to second-guess the future (because that's impossible) and then I'm talking about a fantastic magazine called The Flower Farmer Magazine, a new publication which I am hoping to have an article featured in the upcoming issue 2. More details below: do consider subscribing.
Finally, tonight's Plant Profile Series continues with foxgloves, i.e. Digitalis. I adore these flowers and I have some on the field, although annoyingly mine are all at different stages of flowering so I'm going to be hard pressed to even get a bunch together for sale. I clearly need a lot more for 2027.
Please come back and join me for the next episode - you're always very welcome.
The Flower Farmer Magazine: check this out and do order yourself a copy, I think you'll love it:
https://www.theflowerfarmermagazine.co.uk/
Instagram: @theflowerfarmermagazine
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