The Blooming Garden

In this episode of the Blooming Garden podcast, Jane Westoby discusses the essential aspects of seed sowing, focusing on the often-overlooked process of seed stratification. Explaining  how to recreate natural conditions for seeds to germinate, emphasizing the importance of temperature, light, and moisture and providing  practical tips for gardeners to improve their seed germination success.  Takeaways Seed stratification is crucial for certain seeds. Understanding your seeds' needs to improve germination rates. Temperature and light play a  significant role in seed germination. Water and oxygen are also  essential for seed growth. Using heated mats to speed up germination. Moisture levels must be monitored closely during germination with lids to help maintain moisture Resources mentioned in this Episode:  Seed Stratification Blog Growing Orlaya Grandiflora Blog Growing Bells of Ireland Blog Growing Lisianthus Blog Follow The Hampshire Seed Company and the untamed Garden :  The Blooming Garden Podcast  instagram.com/thehampshireseedcompany thehampshireseedco.com Rate, Review & Follow  If you love gardening and you have found this podcast useful then please consider to rate and review the show. It helps us to keep going and produce even more resources for you to grow and sow better.  If you haven't done so already then do follow the podcast now and let us know what you loved most about this episode. 

In this episode of the Blooming Garden podcast, host Jane Westoby from The Hampshire Seed Company talks all things Dahlia breeding with Pam Lyons from the Untamed Garden.  Exploring  Pam's journey from Alaska to the UK, her passion for growing and breeding dahlias, and the various challenges and joys that come with it. How  The Untamed garden breeding programme started  and essential topics such as isolation techniques, seed collection, and the unpredictability of growing dahlias from seed.  Takeaways Dahlias can be grown successfully even in challenging climates like Alaska. Isolation techniques are crucial for successful dahlia breeding. The unpredictability of genetics in dahlias can be both a challenge and a joy and can lead to unexpected and beautiful results. Cutting blooms early encourages more branching and blooms. Let the bees do the work if you are starting out and don’t have any specific goals Resources mentioned in this Episode:  Dahlia Breeding Blog  Growing Dahlias Blog  Follow The Hampshire Seed Company and the untamed Garden :  The Blooming Garden Podcast  instagram.com/thehampshireseedcompany thehampshireseedco.com Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts  If you love gardening and you have found this podcast useful then please consider to rate and review the show. It helps us to keep going and produce even more resources for you to grow and sow better.  Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate the stars, and select write a review.  If you haven't done so already then do follow the podcast now and let us know what you loved most about this episode. 

In this episode of the Blooming Garden Podcast, host Jane Westoby from The Hampshire Seed Company talks to fellow Flower Farmer Jen from Jen on the Lot about her journey into flower farming. They discuss the importance of planning, market research, and the challenges of starting a flower farm. Jen shares her experiences transitioning from an allotment to a larger farm, the strategies she employs to decide what to grow, and the significance of pest management. The conversation also touches on the emotional aspects of entrepreneurship, including overcoming imposter syndrome and the importance of community support. Jen offers valuable advice for aspiring flower farmers, emphasizing the need to balance growing with business acumen. Takeaways Utilize local resources to inform decision-making. Planning and forecasting are crucial for success. Don't be afraid to pivot your business strategy. Engage with your audience for market feedback. Start with a solid infrastructure for your farm. Pest management is a key consideration in farming. Enjoy the process and celebrate your achievements. Calculate your growing space for maximum yield. Be prepared for startup costs to be higher than expected. Community support is vital in the flower farming industry. Resources mentioned in this Episode:  Business Resources   Follow The Hampshire Seed Company and the untamed Garden :  The Blooming Garden Podcast  instagram.com/thehampshireseedcompany thehampshireseedco.com Rate, Review & Follow  If you love gardening and you have found this podcast useful then please consider to rate and review the show. It helps us to keep going and produce even more resources for you to grow and sow better.  If you haven't done so already then do follow the podcast now and let us know what you loved most about this episode. 

In this episode of The Blooming Garden podcast, host Jane Westoby speaks with Catrina Fenton from Garden Organic about the significance of heritage seeds and The Heritage Seed Library in their 50th Anniversary year. Discussing the origins of the library, the importance of seed saving, and the role of volunteers in conservation efforts. Catrina shares insights on how to become a seed guardian, the process of saving seeds, and the viability of different seed types. The conversation also touches on the commercialization of heritage varieties and the future of sustainable gardening. Main Takeaways Heritage seeds are crucial for biodiversity and sustainable gardening. The Heritage Seed Library was founded to protect endangered seed varieties. Volunteers play a vital role in seed conservation efforts and anyone can become a seed guardian and help grow heritage seeds. Seed viability varies by type; some seeds last longer than others. Saving your own seeds is easy from Open pollinated varieties.  Resources mentioned in this Episode:  How long do seeds Last Blog Post  How to save your own seeds Bog Post  www.gardenorganic.org.uk Follow The Hampshire Seed Company:  The Blooming Garden Podcast  instagram.com/thehampshireseedcompany thehampshireseedco.com Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts  If you love gardening and you have found this podcast useful then please consider to rate and review the show. It helps us to keep going and produce even more resources for you to grow and sow better.  Scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate the stars, and select write a review.  If you haven't done so already then do follow the podcast now and let us know what you loved most about this episode. 

Are you ready to kick start your garden and improve your sowing & growing skills? Or are you a flower farmer wanting to be more profitable? In the first episode we talk about:   Succession planting  to ensure continuous blooms throughout the growing season. Knowing your frost dates for effective timing. Utilizing planning tools like our Sowing Calendars and Planting Schedules Selecting a diverse mix of flowers for maximum space. Understanding your local growing conditions. The hungry gap! Timing is everything in flower farming and gardening . Listen in to discover how you can get organised and master your dream gardening goals for the year! _ Resources mentioned in this Episode: The Hampshire Seed Company Annual Seed Sowing Calendar The Hampshire Seed Company Excel Automated Calendar   Growing Lisianthus In the UK Blog Post _ Follow The Hampshire Seed Company: The Blooming Garden Podcast instagram.com/thehampshireseedcompany thehampshireseedco.com Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts If you love gardening and you have found this podcast useful then please consider to rate and review the show. It helps us to keep going and produce even more resources for you to grow and sow better. Click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, tap to rate the stars, and select write a review. If you haven't done so already then do follow the podcast now and let us know what you loved most about this episode.