Becoming a Cut Flower Grower

Hello and welcome to Friday 27 February 2026.
You join me on the plot today for some thoughts about what's going on this week. I'm not quite myself this week and I think it's my hormones again so I talk about this a little bit. If you're feeling a little bit "off" then this may (or may not) resonate with you, and if it does, you're not alone. 
Today's Plant Profile Series continues with Hazel: a wonderful shrub for long straight stems of very useful and desirable foliage. It's a super-easy plant to care for and inexpensive to buy which makes it the ultimate low-maintenance, high-yielding foliage option for growers. 
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.

Hello, it's Tuesday 24 February 2026.
I have lots of news from the plot to tell you in the first part of tonight’s episode including planting my new perennial plugs, removing nettles from the old nigella bed, and tidying Kylie’s room plus more. I also started to make a dead hedge with apple prunings, which I’m very proud of. 
In the second part of the episode I’m sharing all the prep work involved in getting my greenhouse ready for seed sowing including cleaning the glass, replenishing the soil base, sorting the shelving, getting the trays ready plus plans for my seed compost trials this year. This time next week I’ll be cracking on with it so if you’re at the same stage as me you might find this of interest. 
I really hope you enjoy today's episode and that you’ll 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.

Hello, it's Friday 20 February 2026.
In tonight's episode you join me on the plot where it's windy and rainy (at one point we even had sleet) and the hens make a guest appearance when one of them scared themselves and then frightened all of the others. I'm talking about what's happening on the plot right now including all the new growth I'm seeing, the plants which are still fast asleep, or in the wrong place, or have just been put in the right place but not actually planted (sorry, phlox).
In the second part of the episode I'm continuing my Plant Profile series with Statice, a very pretty annual which I grew really well in 2024 but not so well last year. It's very easy to grow but I'm not planning on doing it this year although after this episode I realised I actually want to grow it again. 
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.

Hello, it's Wednesday 18 February 2026.
Happy Shrove Tuesday for yesterday!
Today I'm talking about a Floret video I saw on instagram about using a rich potting mixture for sowing seedlings rather than just a plain seed compost: it's really interesting and Erin shares the recipe if you want to take a look. I've always used a nutrient-poor compost for germinating seeds and had excellent results but I'm fascinated by what Erin is suggesting so I'm going to try it, see what happens and report back to you.
Valentine's Day in Spain was a very laid-back affair but it seems that back home in the UK a battle has been raging on instagram about whether we should be using imported roses or choosing an alternative, like red tulips. I'd certainly love to see more tulips offered for Valentine's Day and many growers have made truly stunning bouquets this year. I'm also discussing a newspaper article about the chemicals found on imports and I've put a link to the article below.
Finally I wonder about whether growers are disrupting the floral system (in a good way): if we're selling directly to the public and bypassing florists, are florists going to continue buying imports because there aren't enough British stems available to them? I'd love to know what you think.
Please do come back and join me for the next episode - you're always very welcome and my Plant Profile Series will feature in Friday's podcast.
The Guardian article about chemicals on imported flowers:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/14/valentines-day-flowers-roses-pesticides-testing
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.

Hello, it's Friday 13 February 2026. Are you superstitious about Friday 13th?! I hope it was a good day for you.
In this episode I continue talking about pricing. I talk about how I did it in 2025 as a year 1 grower including the market research I did and the places I hunted for prices, how I worked out my costs of production (and what I didn't record) plus I share with you what this actually meant when I grew my Cosmos last year. I contrast my Cosmos data with that of my Hazel, which I didn't have to touch except when harvesting.
I also reflect on my new attitude to pricing in 2026 and what I'll be focusing on when selling. I've also included a tip that I try to use that I learnt from other trades/businesses, which may be of help. 
In part 2 I continue my Plant Profile series by talking about Craspedia globosa. It's a super-cute and highly desirable flower that sold really well for me. I'm sharing what I've learnt about this plant and how I grew it in 2025. 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.