Becoming a Cut Flower Grower

Lydia Watson
  • 4.3 (3)
  • Home & Garden
  • Updated Weekly

Becoming a Cut Flower Grower is a raw and honest podcast about growing and selling cut flowers and the realities of what it really takes to build a cut flower business from the ground up. Hosted by a working cut flower grower, the podcast combines practical insight with thoughtful reflections on the decisions, trade-offs, and rhythms of the work — from production and selling, to confidence, sustainability, and shaping an off-grid business on a tight budget. Episodes will be useful whether you’re starting out with cut flowers, developing a small-scale flower business, or simply interested in the craft, economics, and rhythm of growing cut flowers for sale.  With twice-weekly episodes, this podcast is an intelligent, steady companion for anyone curious to know what growing and selling cut flowers with intention and care really looks and feels like. Follow & Connect Instagram @henhillcutflowers. Subscribe/follow the podcast to hear the latest episodes. www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk

  1. 1d ago

    Pricing & Profit: Your Questions Answered, Plus How Does My Local Flower Hub Actually Work?

    Welcome to today's episode on Tuesday 8 September 2026. Ok, so after the last episode on pricing, I received some questions so I thought I'd answer them on tonight's episode. Pricing is a hot topic - if you have more questions, feel free to send me a DM on instagram or click the "Text The Podcast Here!" link at the bottom of these notes. I thought I'd share some information with you about my local flower hub, having sold some stems to it last week. I'll be sharing details about what it does, when I deliver, how I condition my stems before drop-off, and lots more. If you're thinking of joining your local hub, you might find this of interest.  I hope you enjoy the 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 (it's free) so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you really enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a rating or 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. You can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk and my email is lydia@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. Text The Podcast Here! Support the show

  2. 5d ago

    PRICING: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Pricing (And How I Do It)

    Welcome to today's episode on Friday 4 September 2026. Tonight's episode is all about pricing: why it's so hard (especially when you're a new grower), benchmarking with other suppliers (pros and cons), the impact of market forces, how the Dutch auction system works (it's fascinating), how to just get started with pricing and finally, THE most important thing to consider when pricing. I hope you enjoy the 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 (it's free) so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you really enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a rating or 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. You can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk and my email is lydia@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. Text The Podcast Here! Support the show

  3. Sep 1

    Exactly How I Chose My 5 Annuals for 2027, Hub Sales & Why I've Been Removing Dahlia Foliage

    Welcome to today's episode on Tuesday 1 September 2026. Somehow, it's September! How did that happen?!? Hub sales - I've finally made some! Very exciting and I'll tell you all about this tonight, including what I've sold.  I've been doing some work on my dahlias over the weekend and I'll share the details of what I've been doing and why. Plus, I found a slug!  I'm also talking about exactly how I chose my 5 annuals for 2027: did I choose based on profitability or best sellers? Well, I'm talking you through my thought process for each of the chosen ones. The next episode on Friday will be all about pricing: why it's so hard (especially when you're a new grower), benchmarking with other suppliers, the impact of market forces, how the Dutch auction system works (it's fascinating), how to start with pricing and the most important things to focus on when pricing - you won't want to miss this episode. If you haven't already, subscribe/follow the show so you'll be the first to hear it (it's free). I hope you enjoy the 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 (it's free) so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you really enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a rating or 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. You can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk and my email is lydia@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. Text The Podcast Here! Support the show

  4. Aug 28

    RAIN (At Last!), Borehole News, 2027 Annuals Masterplan & Plant Profile: Nicotiana

    Welcome to today's episode on Friday 28 August 2026. Much to tell you in tonight's episode including an update on the borehole, the rain situation, my footwear, and an unexpected pile of grey feathers on the field... Thank you if you sent me a message of support after my last episode - it's very much appreciated. The main topic tonight is those pesky annuals for 2027: what am I growing and why? I had some questions following my announcement that I couldn't face spring-sown annuals again (especially if we have heatwaves and drought again) so tonight I'm sharing all the details of my annuals masterplan for 2027. Today's Plant Profile is Nicotiana, and what a fabulous plant it is. Branching stems, big plants, pretty flowers and scent, oh, the scent! What's not to love? I hope you enjoy the 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 (it's free) so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you really enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a rating or 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. You can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk and my email is lydia@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. Text The Podcast Here! Support the show

  5. Aug 25

    Shocking News, Why Visiting Fellow Growers Is So Valuable & Composting Tips

    Welcome to today's episode on Tuesday 25 August 2026. I've just had some really shocking news about the future of my field, which I'm going to share with you tonight. It's potentially very serious and I won't know anything else for a while. Where does this leave me in terms of planning for 2027? In other (good) news, I'll update you on the work I've been doing on the field over the weekend and I visited a fellow grower yesterday and explored her growing arrangements. It was fascinating and I love meeting other growers, especially if they're at the same stage of their business as me. Plus, she made us a wonderful lunch (anyone who does that is a winner in my books!). If you haven't made contact with fellow local growers, do reach out, it's well worth it.  Finally I'm talking about my compost bins and what I probably should have done with them during this hot and dry summer. Plus I'm sharing my tips for composting and how to not get overwhelmed with all the information that's available about composting... I hope you enjoy the 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 (it's free) so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you really enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a rating or 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. You can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk and my email is lydia@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. Text The Podcast Here! Support the show

  6. Aug 21

    My Top Perennials For 2027, Exploding Seedpods & Plant Profile: Beech

    Welcome to today's episode on Friday 21 August 2026. Seed harvesting mini-disaster (already): all the details of this, plus a reminder to myself that as the rains are finally incoming, it's time to check gutters and downpipes for blockages and detritus, plus ensure that all taps are in the closed position, ready to capture as much water as possible.  I'm answering a listener question about what perennials I'm focusing on in 2027 and how I'm going to grow them. I'll be growing some from seed and some from plugs, and it's really time to get cracking with the autumn sowing.  Tonight's Plant Profile is Beech: a very useful plant which can be inexpensive to buy (I'll tell you how) and really in demand by wedding and event florists for use in displays, arches, urns and more. I hope you enjoy the 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 (it's free) so that you're the first to hear new episodes when they become available every Tuesday and Friday. And if you really enjoy this episode, please take a minute to leave a rating or 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. You can find my website at www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk and my email is lydia@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. Text The Podcast Here! Support the show

  7. Aug 18

    The Advice I Wish I'd Taken For Growing Annuals, Seed Harvesting & Underplanting Roses

    Welcome to today's episode on Tuesday 18 August 2026. Non-stop flower news from the field in tonight's episode including my sales figures since last week (and possibly why), all the seeds I've been harvesting over the weekend (and how I'm storing them), and the plants doing really well right now (and the reasons for this). Dahlias - I'm not doing any more disbudding for the rest of this season. I've decided to just let the plants do what they want and see what happens. I want more stems with smaller heads and buds (for more interesting stems). It's also a win because it reduces my labour costs. I'm talking about the substantial differences in sizes between my 2025 dahlia plants and the 2026 ones, and the impact of labour and materials costs of staking the dahlias on my cost of production figures this year. I'm answering a question about what 2027 on the field is going to look like in terms of what plants I'll be growing, in light of my decision not to do spring-sown annuals. It's certainly going to be different next year but if we have another spell of heatwaves and drought then it will be a good decision, if not, then not so much... Finally I'm offering you a top tip for growing annuals. You'll hear this advice everywhere - I completely ignored it - and I'm regretting it. So I'm talking all about this and the reasons why. I hope you enjoy the 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 and my email is lydia@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. Text The Podcast Here! Support the show

  8. Aug 14

    6 Really Important Lessons This Drought Has Taught Me, Plus Plant Profile: Physostegia

    Welcome to today's episode on Friday 14 August 2026. It's all happening on the field tonight: government wildfire warning alerts, teatime for the hens, and tonight's episode. The heat has been insane this week - yesterday was brutal - so I hope you've made it through the week ok. Tonight I'm sharing news of what I've been doing this week plus my seed harvesting plans for the annuals that didn't get sold this summer. I'm also sharing the six key things that the drought has taught me this summer including choosing the right types of plants for the field, why water harvesting is crucial if you're off-grid (like me), how watering at the right stage of seedling growth is crucial, plus the importance of a healthy soil for water retention.  My Plant Profile this week is Physostegia, a new perennial for me this year, which I've really enjoyed watching growing from a tiny plug to beautiful flowering stems.  And finally, a fellow grower has written a brilliant open letter to the UK Prime Minister about the significant impact that the weather this summer has had on the British cut flower industry and some brilliant suggestions for national infrastructure improvements. Kelly from Wye Grow in Herefordshire has uploaded the letter to her website and is inviting other growers (and in fact, anyone who has an interest in this issue) to add their names. I've signed and I'd encourage you to check it out. Have a read of the letter and see how you feel about signing it here: https://www.wyegrow.com/post/an-open-letter-to-the-prime-minister-andy-burnham I hope you enjoy the 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 and my email is lydia@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. Text The Podcast Here! Support the show

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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Becoming a Cut Flower Grower is a raw and honest podcast about growing and selling cut flowers and the realities of what it really takes to build a cut flower business from the ground up. Hosted by a working cut flower grower, the podcast combines practical insight with thoughtful reflections on the decisions, trade-offs, and rhythms of the work — from production and selling, to confidence, sustainability, and shaping an off-grid business on a tight budget. Episodes will be useful whether you’re starting out with cut flowers, developing a small-scale flower business, or simply interested in the craft, economics, and rhythm of growing cut flowers for sale.  With twice-weekly episodes, this podcast is an intelligent, steady companion for anyone curious to know what growing and selling cut flowers with intention and care really looks and feels like. Follow & Connect Instagram @henhillcutflowers. Subscribe/follow the podcast to hear the latest episodes. www.henhillcutflowers.co.uk

Information

  • Creator
    Lydia Watson
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    172
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Becoming a Cut Flower Grower
  • Show Website
    Becoming a Cut Flower Grower