Join me for a behind-the-scenes look at how I'm starting to grow and sell cut flowers in the south of England. Over the course of the year I'll be sharing every...
What's Really Holding YOU Back from Growing Cut Flowers?
It's time to put our cards on the table and answer this question: what's stopping you from becoming a cut flower grower? It's been a rainy old week yet on the sunniest two days I wasn't around to get on the plot but as the ground is still so wet, it's not a huge problem. So I'm talking to you in this episode from the warmth and dryness of indoors, where I'm really analysing what sort of things hold us back from starting to grow and sell cut flowers. By challenging as many reasons as I could think of, ranging from lack of time or money (or both); to lack of knowledge or experience (or both); to lack of confidence (I've been there...); to the fears that we all get (everyday) like fear of failure/rejection/ridicule/pity/financial ruin... (the list goes on); to backing yourself and being your number one supporter, I'm smashing through these one by one. Towards the end of the episode there's a timely reminder of why I wanted to get into growing cut flowers and how I hope this is going to be a really fun and exciting enterprise. ** When I was in the doldrums in 2024, I was lucky enough to have a few life coaching sessions from a very good friend of mine, Gina. This incredibly talented and wonderful lady is brilliant at what she does, and thanks to her I now have positive affirmations stuck all over my home (and in my head). And thanks to her (and some HRT patches) I'm feeling like a totally different woman. If you have the opportunity to work with a life coach, I highly recommend you take it. Please ask me if you'd like Gina's details. **In this episode, I’m diving into what's holding you back.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ Why lack of money, experience or knowledge should NOT hold you back✅ How to stop fear and lack of confidence halting your dreams✅ The importance of being your own No. 1 supporter and advocate ✅ How nature will always throw curve balls and test you ✅ A reminder of why growing cut flowers is fantastic, exciting and magical🌻 Follow & Stay Connected!If you like what you hear, please follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review – it really does help more flower lovers find the show. Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot.Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers. I'm going to give 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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19:54
Why I Don't Use Chemicals on my Cut Flowers & How to Tackle Weeds Effectively
Join me on my frosty plot this morning as I let the hens out and find out if my young hen Kylie is still broody! In today's episode I'm answering a really great question from a listener about weeds: love them or hate them, you're going to get some! It's never too early to start thinking about weeds and it's how you deal with them that matters: spend your time wisely! Whether you're going down the chemical route or not, decide your weed strategy early on. I talk about my refusal to use man-made chemicals when I garden and why I think growing chemical-free cut flowers is the best way forward. I want to protect my soil, the invertebrates that live in and on it, as well as the insects that visit my plants, and I really hope that you do too.In this episode, I’m talking about how to deal effectively with weeds and why I won't use chemicals.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ The weeds you must remove from your plot✅ Why some weeds make great ground cover✅ The importance of keeping your soil covered ✅ Why I don't use any herbicides, pesticides or insecticides ✅ How your use (or not) of chemicals is a unique selling point 🌻 Subscribe & Stay Connected!If you like what you hear, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review – it really does help more flower lovers find the show. Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot.Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers. I'm going to give 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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17:00
Who Do I Sell to? How Do I Find my Cut Flower Customers?
Have you thought about exactly who you're going to sell your flowers to? Before you sow any seeds or buy any plants, start thinking about this crucial part of the process right now. Are you dreaming of turning your cut flowers into bouquets and selling directly to customers at a local market? Or would you prefer to sell to florists? What sort of florists do you have in your area and would they buy from you? How easy do you find rejection? Do you hate hearing the word "no"? There's a lot to get through in this episode so let's dive in and get started!In this episode, I’m talking about how to find the right buyers for your cut flowers. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ Who am I going to sell to?✅ Should I sell direct to the public or to florists?✅ The importance of understanding your customers✅ How to choose a florist to sell to ✅ My tips for selling at a local market ✅ How to get used to rejection (and not take it personally)🌻 Subscribe & Stay Connected!If you like what you hear, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review – it really does help more flower lovers find the show. Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot.Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers. I'm going to give 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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21:15
Storing Seeds & Money Saving Tips for Making Your Own Seed Compost
It's February so let's talk about seeds! Collecting, drying, storing and saving, plus some seeds to avoid and the best seed compost. Everyone is talking about seeds right now and I'm certainly thinking about mine. In this episode I explain why seeds are saved from one year to the next and I cover the basics of how to store your seeds. Plus I talk about tricky seeds that need special conditions to germinate (and which are possibly best avoided if you're a novice). Finally I talk about how I make my own seed compost (and potting on compost) so that my seeds have the best possible start whilst not costing a fortune either. In this episode, I’m diving into how I store seeds for the best germination rates. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ Why saving seeds saves money✅ My DO's and DON'Ts for storing and saving seeds ✅ The importance of labelling seeds correctly ✅ Why I make my own seed compost (and how you can too)✅ Seeds to avoid if you're new to sowing 🌻 Subscribe & Stay Connected!If you like what you hear, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review – it really does help more flower lovers find the show. Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot.Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers. I'm going to give 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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14:42
Which Cut Flowers Should I Grow? How to Select the Best Ones
Are you wondering which cut flowers you should grow? Are you confused by all the choices and not sure which will suit your needs or your budget? Are you thinking about the impact of vase life, stem length or scent? In this episode, I’m diving into how to select the best cut flowers to grow. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ What makes a flower ideal for cutting✅ Easy-to-grow varieties for budget-conscious growers✅ The importance of understanding what your target market wants✅ How to choose unique flowers to give yourself the edge ✅ My tips if you’re new to growing or on a tight budget✅ My Top 5 flowers that are perfect for cutting🌻 Subscribe & Stay Connected!If you like what you hear, please subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review – it really does help more flower lovers find the show. Follow me on instagram @henhillcutflowers for a behind-the-scenes look at life on my cut flower plot.Join me on my journey through a year of growing and selling cut flowers. I'm going to give 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.
Join me for a behind-the-scenes look at how I'm starting to grow and sell cut flowers in the south of England. Over the course of the year I'll be sharing everything I'm doing from planning through to harvesting flowers, by way of highs and lows, hints and tips, lessons I've learnt the hard way and (hopefully) some beautiful cut flowers. 🌻 If you're thinking of starting your own cut flower business or you'd just like the low-down on what it's really like, this is the podcast for you. Subscribe & Stay Connected!✅ Find me on instagram @henhillcutflowers ✅ For more information visit the website www.lydiathegardener.co.uk |✅ Subscribe so that you don’t miss an episode✅ Please support the podcast by leaving a review/some kind words and sharing this podcast with someone who loves flowers - thank you.
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