Hello and welcome to Tuesday 9 December 2025.

What a wet and windy few days - another named storm has rolled in and everything is very wet. The plants on the plot are fine (benefit of being on a slope) but everywhere else on the field is somewhat treacherous (downside to being on a slope).

I've had a busy time since we last caught up and tonight I talk about having lunch with my best client and the useful things we discussed, including a heads-up on her wedding colour schemes for 2026 and my new roses (which have just arrived and I'll talk you through them too).

Otherwise it's a question of battling on, staying sane in the pre-xmas madness and trying not to fall over in the mud. My cockerel, Lion, also has a new house - more details in tonight's episode.

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.

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.

Hello and welcome to Friday 5 December 2025.

It's been a very wet and chilly week: I've been soaked too many times to remember this week and it's not been nice! Thank you if you sent me a comment about the last few episodes - it's always good to hear what you think. I have (finally) placed my large rose order and I can't wait to get them and see the blooms next year. My course is going well and I'm just starting a module on marketing, which I hope will prove useful.

I take a deep dive into wreaths on this episode: their history, origins, and the symbolism and meaning behind the elements and foliage. I was interested to learn the reasons why certain foliages and cones or berries are used. I will be prepping the materials for my wreaths this weekend: have you started yours yet?

Lots of work to do this weekend including building a new house for my cockerel, Lion, and his wife, Kiki D, more planting and transplanting, tulip planting, and working my way through my marketing module. I hope that you have a great weekend and 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.

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.

Hello, it's Tuesday 2 December 2025. Welcome to December!

Tonight's episode is all about buying imports vs British-grown flowers (or wherever you're growing if you're not in the UK). It's a very hot topic and this episode is based entirely on a podcast I listened to this morning between two UK florists who talk about the pressure they feel to only use British flowers, and why they actually have to use Dutch imports.

There are many reasons why florists can't rely on British flowers for 12 months a year: we just can't grow everything all year round so there's always going to be a place for imports. What growers really need is a better dialogue (and a stronger working relationship) with their local florists to understand their needs better and be able to service those needs. If we don't have this, we won't understand our clients properly and won't be able to provide stems for them.

And let's talk about the problems associated with some imports, particularly roses. There are widespread reports of environmental pollution in areas where roses are grown in Africa but more importantly, let's talk about the health implications of a predominantly female workforce being exposed to chemicals with inadequate PPE. Do people really want to buy roses that have been produced like this? I know that I don't.

Finally, tonight's episode ends with some thoughts about how growers could work in a better ways with florists so that we all benefit. It really would be a win-win for us. So, all in all, a hot topic indeed. I highly encourage you to check out the links below and read the articles. If you have time, the dissertation makes eye-opening (and sad) reading.

I'd love to know what you think: send me a DM on insta @henhillcutflowers.

Please come back and join me for the next episode - you're always welcome.

LINKS:

1. An Unrosy Affair: Europe's Flower Trade Fuels Climate Crisis in Kenya: https://www.journalismfund.eu/unrosy-affair-how-europes-love-flowers-affecting-kenya

2. Joanne's episode about imports vs British flowers: https://thediaryofaflorist.podbean.com/e/episode-19-using-imported-vs-british-flowers-with-lindsey-from-the-white-horse-flower-company/

3. Dissertation: THE THORNS BEHIND BLOOMING ROSES: THE IMPACT OF THE LAW ON THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF WOMEN ON FLOWER FARMS IN NAIVASHA, KENYA, a dissertation by Mr WILFRED NYAUNDI KONOSI:

https://searcwl.ac.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Thorns-Behind-Blooming-Roses-The-Impact-Of-The-Law-On-The-Working-Conditions-Of-Women-On-Flower-Farms-In-Naivasha-Kenya.pdf

4. BBC report entitled 'Toiling on a Kenyan Flower Farm to Send Fresh Roses to Europe': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4glydv8qlgo

5. An article by the Ethical Trade Initiative about the exploitation of women flower workers in Kenya:

https://www.ethicaltrade.org/resources/blog/dark-side-flower-sector-growing-exploitation-women-kenya

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Hello, it's Friday 28 November 2025.

Today's episode discusses the million-dollar dahlia question: to lift or not to lift tubers? It's a question that many growers have a dilemma about every year and I'm no exception. This year I'm leaving mine in the ground and I'll explain why here. The majority of this episode is therefore a discussion of the pros and cons of lifting - or not lifting - and the growing conditions that native dahlias thrive in.

In other news, I've been busy measuring all of my bed space and calculating exactly how much I have to play with next year. It sounds quite good on paper (to me) but I've already filled a lot of the beds with perennials, foliage and shrubs so the annuals really are going to have to be planted very close together in 2026! I'm also sharing with you a list of all the jobs on the plot that I haven't managed to do recently, and if you're in the same boat then you're not alone!

I hope you have a great weekend and please come back and join me for the next episode - you're always 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.

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.

Hello and welcome to a chilly Tuesday 25 November 2025.

Tonight I'm talking about the foliage that I'm growing for 2026 and beyond. I realised that I needed more foliage about mid-way through this year when I suddenly started selling buckets and buckets of beech and hazel. Then I thought that perhaps I needed to buy some more foliage plants for adding to bouquets and mixed buckets and that's what I've been doing over the past few months. So in this episode I'm sharing what I'm growing and why.

In other news, I'll update you on how I'm getting on with my online flower farming course and how lovely it is to connect with fellow growers. There is nothing better than chatting to fellow growers about everything good, bad and ugly about the business. I've said it before and I'll say it again: growing cut flowers can be a lonely business if you're doing it by yourself so connections with other growers are life-affirming and wonderful.

I hope that the rest of your week goes well and if you're in the USA, Happy Thanksgiving! Please come back and join me for the next episode - you're always welcome.

And the Mint that I talk about (but couldn't remember the name of in the episode) is Apple Mint!

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.

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.

Hello, it's Friday 21 November 2025.

Welcome - I'm in a much better mood tonight! It's been a busy week, both indoors and outdoors. My course is going well: module 2 has just dropped which is all about pricing. Can't wait to start that. Pricing is such a huge topic and one that not everyone talks about. I know I've struggled with it this year. I've also just taken a free online floristry tutorial with top florist, Joseph Massie, and I'm working my way through a Lennie Larkin course. She is holding a Flower Summit at the moment with lots of very useful (and free) information.

All the news about my bulbs and planting them in crates, rather than in the ground, plus my thoughts on crate-growing tulips including the pros and cons, as I see them. I answer a great question from a listener about having a farm gate stand so I discuss this and talk about all the things I would want to consider if I were to do one. Finally I offer some tips for saving money when sourcing foliage for making wreaths and I hope this is helpful if you're planning on making your own this year.

I hope that you have a great weekend and that you will come back and join me for the next episode.

LINKS

Florist - Joseph Massie https://www.josephmassie.com/. His podcast is called 'Flowers After Hours'.

Website for Jenny Marks (whose course I'm currently doing) and the courses she has available: https://www.trademarkfarmer.com/.

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.

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.

Hello, welcome to Tuesday 18 November 2025.

Winter is here! The temperature has plummeted and I'm bundled up in so many layers that it's hard to even bend down sometimes. Tonight's episode gives you an update of my progress on the new course with Jenny Marks of Trademark Farmer in the US, and news of what I've done with my dahlias over the weekend.

Yesterday I visited a fellow grower's plot for a meet-up of local fellow growers which was very interesting and gave me the biggest plot envy ever! There's news about gathering holly for wreaths as well as the location of my bulb order. I've been watching videos of growing tulips in crates so I feel confident having a go at that when they (eventually) arrive.

The rest of the week is busy as usual and I do hope that you will come back and join me for the next episode.

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.

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.

Hello, welcome to a very wet Friday 14 November 2025.

I've just taken part in the first online 'welcome' meeting for the new course I've just enrolled on with Jenny Marks of Trademark Farmer and it was great. I've made a start on module 1 and there's a lot to take onboard. Today has been a wash-out in terms of heavy rain all day so I spent time this morning unblocking a gutter and getting soaked. Check your gutters before the rain comes!

Tonight I'm talking about factors to consider when choosing my roses for 2026: there are so many roses to choose from that I'm spoilt for choice (and also swamped with indecision). I'm focusing on roses that my wedding & event florists will love and really want to buy but it's hard to refine the list.

Finally, given the weather conditions today, I thought I'd share my tips for surviving a rainy November day including how not to slip over on your plot, the footwear that I swear by, maintaining gutters properly, meshing water tanks if they don't have lids, improving your knowledge levels, prepping for making wreaths, and not having insta-envy and feeling despondent that everyone else in the cut flower world is ahead of you (they're not).

I hope you have a great weekend and I that you will come back and join me for the next episode.

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.

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.