You already know that we have planted daffodil bulbs which will be part of the new enterprise, but I have decided to go into doing flowers for the cut flower trade. I have spent numerous hours researching which cut flowers to grow, spent hours in the library and then trawled through various seed catalogues, (never a wasted moment spent there I find!), to see what's available and I still haven't got an indefinite list - there's so much choice!
I don't know if you've watched the Great British Garden Revival TV programme, an excellent series on all aspects of gardening, that are sorrowfully in decline, but they covered the decline in the UK cut flower trade in some depth. Apparently people are wanting British home grown cut flowers now as well as home grown veg and meat. This wasn't where the idea came from, but it did convince me that it was a good idea.
Part of this new venture is also to install some herbaceous beds in the garden, currently the garden looks like this -
This is the view from the patio, this morning, the back door is behind me.
So you can see I have rather a blank canvas. The fence down the side of the veg patch is in the process of being replaced with some more closeboarding like is already in place. I'd like to put in several large borders, especially down the long side along the fence line (see bottom picture). This will enable me to have perennials from which to collect more cutting material as well as from annuals in the veg patch.
If you have any ideas on design etc, they would be gratefully received, as I'm no garden designer!
Stats today -
Eggs produced = 7
Sales - 1/2 doz eggs £0.90
Expenses - Nil
Good luck with your new venture. I love cut flower as it's a treat I allow myself and even better if they are british. I'm sure they will last longer as they are used to our climate.
ReplyDeleteAlstromeria or however you spell them - brilliant long lasting perennials. I only grow dafs and the above to sell at the gate. Just a few of each to add a few pennies and abit of interest.
ReplyDeleteSame here SSS !
ReplyDeleteAlso sweet peas at the back of the boarder with medium height sunflowers. Dahlias ( cactus) also sell well as do spray crysanths and Gladioli.
We also grow a lot of different foliage stuff, more or less anything will do to bulk out the bunch and add some depth to any arrangement.
Good Luck... looking forward to seeing your flower border.
Gill
Thanks Ladies, for the comments and suggestions, it's quite exciting looking at all the things I'm planning to grow and do - not looking forward to all that digging though! Angela xx
ReplyDeleteThat space looks perfect for a garden bed, so much potential! Can't wait to see how it all goes
ReplyDeleteThanks Girl gone native, looking forward to doing it to be honest, looks rather bare really
ReplyDeleteI've just found you on facebook group, and I'm hoping to add flowers to herbs and salads this year too (I'm in Wiltshire, don't panic, lol) so I'll follow your progress with interest. I'm currently at www.chestnutsfarm.com, but might be going for a re-jig as most of that info is out of date.
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie, good to have you aboard, will check out your website too. Angela x
ReplyDelete