Growing Cut Flowers

This week we are SO excited to welcome Erin from Floret to talk about the origins of Floret, some of the challenges they’ve had along the way and about the future of the farm. https://www.floretflowers.com

https://www.instagram.com/david_austin_roses?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/bayntunflowers?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/santacruzdahlias?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

August on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/augusts_garden?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Website: https://www.milliproust.com

In this week’s episode, we chat bulbs, bulbs, bulbs with Linda and Marlies from Fam Flower Farm! The lovely ladies from the Netherlands tell us about what to do with your spring tulips now they’ve finished blooming and also we look ahead to next year’s flowers and how to prepare 🌷 And if you are a Patreon subscriber, you can hear all about Linda and Marlies’ favourite flowers and varieties! Head over to the our website www.letsgrowgirls.co.uk to find out more (spoiler: it’s less than a cup of your favourite fancy coffee to listen to the super secret side episodes for every episode!) ☕️

Our Director of Enabling is back for another fabulous episode! Marryn tells us all about the madness of her recent dahlia tuber sale and then gives us the scoop on her exciting sweet pea news! Don’t forget, our lovely Patreon subscribers also have access to a super secret side episode and this week Marryn tells us her most favourite sweet peas. You can find out how to become a subscriber by visiting our website www.letsgrowgirls.co.uk

This week we’re coming to you with just us to go over the gossip: where the two of us are growing this year, what we’re growing, and lots more. Lets Grow Girls links Follow the podcast on Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/letsgrowgirlspodcast/?hl=en⁠ Join our super secret Facebook group - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/3411863942230260/⁠ Check out our website - ⁠https://www.letsgrowgirls.co.uk/⁠ YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0SaU1V6XyJnSXB8QoeYMXw⁠ Or become a Patreon (and discover all the super secret side episodes) - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/letsgrowgirls⁠ 

We are incredibly excited to welcome Rachel and her endless knowledge onto the show to discuss an important topic: growing perennials for cut flowers. Which are the best cultivars? What couldn’t she live without? How did she pick just 128 for her book? We have all the answers for you this week! Rachel's social media - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gandgorgeousflowers/?hl=en Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/greenandgorgeousflowers/ Lets Grow Girls links Follow the podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letsgrowgirlspodcast/?hl=en Join our super secret Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3411863942230260/ Check out our website - https://www.letsgrowgirls.co.uk/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0SaU1V6XyJnSXB8QoeYMXw Or become a Patreon (and discover all the super secret side episodes) - https://www.patreon.com/letsgrowgirls 

It’s Nicole’s favourite week of the season so far: it’s rose week! The team from David Austin roses are back to give us some important rose care tips as we all prepare to care for our roses this year (and every year after!) Follow the podcast on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/letsgrowgirlspodcast/?hl=en Join our super secret Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3411863942230260/ Check out our website - https://www.letsgrowgirls.co.uk/ Or become a Patreon (and discover all the super secret side episodes) - https://www.patreon.com/letsgrowgirls  David Austin links - Website - https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/davidaustinroses YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIqj_w8c7iGXNrXgdWXs4fg Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/david_austin_roses/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/davidaustinroses/

*After recording we have realised an unexpected tech issue has caused some unusual audio on this episode but we hope you are still able to hear all of Rebecca’s insights!* Who doesn’t love a bunch filled with eucalyptus?! This week we are excited to welcome Rebecca who has all the answers for anyone wondering how to plan a cut flower farm and what she has learned since she started.  The icing on the cake is her insights into growing foliage for cut flowers. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/silvergreyfoliage/?hl=en Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/silvergreyfoliage/

We are kicking off season 8 with a dedicated dahlia episode with dahlia extraordinaire David Hall of Halls of Heddon, a specialist dahlia nursery here in the U.K.   If you’ve listened to our podcast before, you’ll know Nicole was in her element with this episode and David certainly fed her habit!  Don’t forget to tell your other flower friends about the podcast by sharing on social media, you can find us on Instagram or Facebook @letsgrowgirlspodcast. We’d also love you to leave us a review if you enjoyed listening.   David's socials - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hallsofheddon/?hl=en YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU8LiX904bk-rK_GaDkCu1g?app=desktop Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HallsOfHeddon/?locale=en_GB Webste - https://www.hallsofheddon.com/

It’s rose time!

It’s ranunculus time!

This week Michaela comes back to tell us about what she learned in her first year flower farming

This week we have something a little bit different for you! We are joined by Tom Leonard, aka Daisy Desire the Drag Queen Gardener, who is here to bring a bit of couture to our manure! We chat to Tom about how getting an allotment helped him through some tough times and gardening means to him to and his mental health. It’s become so important to him that he’s now a trained horticulturist, has started a career in this field and with the help of Daisy has made it their mission to promote the mental wellbeing benefits of horticulture, encouraging people to go outside and get growing, and motivating them to do what makes them happy. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we loved recording it!

This week we are joined by the peony master Alec White from UK peony specialists Primrose Hall. Their website: https://primrosehallpeonies.co.uk

Zinnias have a reputation for being a bit of a difficult flower but this week’s guest, Kori from Dawn Creek Farm, tells us all her secrets to getting the best out of them especially when growing for cut flowers. Kori is also an extraordinary breeder of new flower varieties and zinnias are one of her specialities. She’s developed a range of the most perfect pinkish coloured blooms and is a hit with flower farmers across America. She gives us all her tips for breeding including how to get a better chance of those elusive cupcake heads! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review! And don’t forget if you become a Patreon at letsgrowgirls.co.uk you can listen to a special side episode with every guest!

Ever wondered what it was like to be a grower in a big city like London? Well, wonder no more because Marianne and Camila from Wolves Lane Flower Co are here to tell us! We talk about what it’s like to be an urban farmer, what unusual things they grow and also what it’s like to grow in a large glasshouse. Marianne and Camila also have a book coming out this month, How to Grow the Flowers which we also chat about.

It’s time to sow your hardy annuals and we are joined by Cel Robertson of Forever Green Flower Co to tell us all her favourites and how she does it! We’ve also got a sponsor for this first episode, Harrod Horticultural who have kindly given us a discount code to get 10% off all of their amazing products by entering LETSGROW10 at checkout valid until the end of the year. T&C’s apply, please note Harrod Horticultural only ship within the UK. See their website for further details.

Ever wondered what propagating is or where to start with it? Well wonder no more, we have the episode for you! With our first ever Irish guest, Fionnuala Fallon, we talk about seed collecting, dividing and taking cuttings plus much more.

This week we’re joined by author Marianne Slater from Frances & Rose to hear about her journey to flower-queen and how she started her flower farm and flowery empire.

This week we are joined by short term flower farmer but long term dreamer Melissa from The Real Bloom co in the North of England. We learn all about how she dreamed up her new life as a flower farmers and a self builder.  Her website: https://therealbloomcompany.co.uk/

They smell the best when stolen from someone else's garden.. this week we're talking all things lilacs. Naomi Slade, author, lilac fan, gardening extraordinaire joins us to bestow much lilac related wisdom. If you've ever wondered how to grow lilacs for cut flowers, this is the episode for you. Naomi's website: https://www.naomislade.com/

We're fan girling over this one a little bit today... especially Nicole! We are joined by the one, the only, Kristine from Santa Cruz dahlias. Dahlia breeding extraordinaire with over 16 years experience, she's giving us the basics on how to start hybridizing dahlias. So if you've ever wondered "How do I breed my own dahlia?" then boy do we have the episode for you. Kristine's website: https://www.santacruzdahlias.com/

We’re joined yet again by our resident Director Of Enabling who heard that we were in need of a shopping list update…

Back with Season 6, we speak to India Hurst of Vervain Flowers all about her floral obsession, bearded irises. If you ever wondered how to grow these dramatic cut flowers then this is the episode for you! India gives us tons of tips on how to grow them and we have our usual lovely flowery chat and laughs along the way.

In our season 5 finale, we chat to Felicia Alvarez of Menagerie Farm. Felicia is a third generation farmer with 100 acres farming beautiful garden roses as well as other specialty flowers, French prunes and rice. Felicia’s favourite childhood memories include farming fragrant garden roses with her grandmother and years later in 2014 she accidentally became a rose farmer! In this episode you can hear more about Felicia’s journey to rose farming, some of her top tips and favourite varieties, plus all about how you can learn more about growing your own wonderful roses with her.

Surprise!! We're all on our own - and we're covering the past year's successes and our big plans for the year to come. Plus, a bit of an insight into us two - your mysterious hosts!

Calling all soon-to-be brides and grooms - it’s time to grow your own wedding flowers! This week Georgie returns to wow us again with her never ending flower knowledge to tell us how to grow our own wedding flowers

This week Kate, aka the Compost Queen, joins us to talk all things compost including her bokashi, ceramic impost and worm farm systems for at home composting. For more: https://www.instagram.com/compostable.kate/?hl=en

This week we are joined by Gemma from Green Rabbit Flowers again to talk about the mystery that is Icelandic poppies. Her website: https://www.greenrabbitflowers.co.uk

In this week’s episode we talk all things lilies with Loraine Hart from Harts Nursery. Ever wondered the difference between an Asiatic and a tree lily? Well wonder no more. We hope you all feel inspired to grow lilies after this. For more info on the podcast please head over to our Instagram @letsgrowgirlspodcast Happy growing!

This week we are joined by talented floral photographer Janne Ford who shares some insight into how she found herself in this dream job, and tips for us all to improve our own floral photography.

Guess who's back?! After a nice winter break and a minor editing drama - we are back! And with the one and only Grace Alexander for company. See her website: https://www.gracealexanderflowers.co.uk/ 

This week we have our first ever Australian guest - and we are so excited to talk dahlias with Lorelie from Florelie Seasonal Flowers

This week we are joined by the one an only sunflower Steve! The breeder of the most incredible double sunflowers - which have probably captured your attention via the magic of Instagram. Steve has been flower farming for 21 years and shares his fascinating journey, his top tips and spills all the secrets about his upcoming seed line!

This week we are joined by the LGG Director Of Enabling, Marryn! This is her third appearance on the show and our favourite (and only) repeat guest. This week she's talking us through how her sweet pea season went, her fave varieties from this year and the ones she's most excited for in the year to come. Marryn's website: https://www.thefarmhouseflowerfarm.com/ Marryn's instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thefarmhouseflowerfarm/

This week we're joined by someone we've both admired for a long time - and she's covering a topic we haven't really covered yet. Muddy acres flower farm: https://muddyacres.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muddyacresflowerfarm/  

This week we're so excited to return from summer hiatus to bring you a highly anticipated flower that's very hard to grow.   The wonderful Briana joins us to talk all about how she got into farming, how she focuses on making her farm more sustainable and more. Find out more about Briana: https://blossomandbranchfarm.com/

This week’s episode is with Sophie, the head gardener of the cutting garden at Chatsworth House. We talk all things Chatsworth before getting stuck into the real flower chat about how to grow Larkspur and Lupins!

This week we talk to the gardening legend that is Lisa Mason Ziegler from The Gardener’s Workshop. We talk all about growing successfully in soil blocks and the technique of growing cool flowers which Lisa is known for.

This week we are joined by Natasha from 1818 farms to talk all things dried flowers, soaps, wax sachets. Check out her farm: https://1818farms.com/collections/most-popular-items

In this week’s episode (the second of the second) we are joined by the lovely Heather of Petal Pink Flowers. We talk all about statice, a flower that we are predicted a big comeback for, and why/how to run a subscription flower service for your customers. There’s some farm animal chat in there too as usual!

Season 4 of Let’s Grow, Girls is back with a bang and we’ve got Danish gardener, photographer, broadcaster and publisher, Claus Dalby! Claus tells us all about his garden inspiration, his love of colour and talks about some of his favourite plants. Not only do we cover our usual cut flower chat, but Claus also chats to us about growing in his garden “rooms”, his spectacular container displays and definitely adds a few more plants to our ever growing lists! Remember to come find us on Instagram @letsgrowgirlspodcast and also our Facebook group where you can ask us any questions about the episode. We also have a new Patreon account where you can subscribe to get access to exclusive content. Links to all of these are on our website www.letsgrowgirls.co.uk or via our Instagram bio. Thanks!

This week we are joined by the amazing Sarah Gray, of Bloom & Gray flower farm in Yorkshire aka Sarah #1 for the purposes of telling them apart!

Today we are joined by Michaela from @planting.with.Michaela

This week we are joined by Niki from Flourish flower farm! You can find her here: Instagram (@flourishflowerfarm) | Website ( more info about ordering her book on her website!)

This week we are joined by Amy from Chicks and Veg to talk all things wedding flowers, hornworms and Randy chickens