growing · November
To Lift or Not to Lift? Your Dahlia Tubers Over Winter
Leave them in or dig them up? Our climate-specific advice on overwintering dahlias without losing your stock.
The Journal
Words from the
flower farm.
Seasonal growing notes, technique how-tos, and plain-talking business advice, written by Roz Chandler from the farm in Buckinghamshire.
It's November, here's what to focus on right now.
growing · November
Preventing Deer and Rabbits From Entering Your Garden or Plot
Ten practical ways to keep deer and rabbits off your cutting patch — from fencing to scent barriers to motion-activated sprinklers.
growing · October
When Is a Bulb Not a Bulb? Tubers, Rhizomes and Corms Explained
Why the language matters: a clear guide to bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes — and how each one multiplies in your garden.
growing · October
Autumn Jobs in the Garden and Cutting Patch
September–October is when next year's flowers are made. Our step-by-step autumn routine for a thriving cutting patch.
growing · December
Seven Jobs to Do in Your Cutting Patch in December
It's not too cold to garden. Seven deliberate December jobs that will give you a head-start by March.
growing · October
Setting Seed — The Ingenious Ways Plants Propagate
Explosive pods, parachutes, helicopters, velcro, ant couriers, ocean drifters — the clever ways plants spread themselves.
growing · October
What Bulbs Should I Be Planting in the Autumn?
A month-by-month plan for spring-flowering bulbs — tulips, daffodils, alliums, fritillaries and the lesser-known stars.
Evergreen reading
seasonal · January
What Is in Bloom in January: British-Grown Flowers This Month
January might feel quiet, but British flower farms are still growing beautiful blooms. Here's what you can find in season this month.
growing · January
Scented Cut Flowers: the varieties worth growing for fragrance alone
Not every flower needs perfume, but the ones that have it can transform a room, a bouquet, and your entire growing year.
business · January
Pricing Cut Flowers: The Formula I Wish I Had in Year One
The pricing formula that transformed my flower farm from chaos to confidence, with real UK examples and the margins that actually work.
growing · January
How I Store Dahlia Tubers: The Simple Method That Works Every Winter
After two decades of growing dahlias commercially, I have learned that dahlia tuber storage does not need to be complicated or expensive to work brilliantly.
business · January
Starting a Flower Farming Business in the UK: The Honest Numbers
Thinking about turning your flower growing into a business? Here are the honest numbers on costs, income, and what it really takes to make it work.
growing · January
January Cut Flower Gardening Jobs
Seed orders, propagation, dahlia checks, tool servicing — what to tackle before the season hits.
sustainability · January
The UK Border Target Operating Model — or, Why You Should Buy Locally
How the January 2024 BTOM affects imported flowers — and why this is the moment to throw your weight behind UK flower farmers.
growing · September
Our Top Seven Cut Flower Varieties This Year
Seven brand-new varieties we trialled at Field Gate Flowers this season — and every one is now a keeper.
business · January
Cut Flower Book Recommendations for January
Five books to get you ready for the growing year — Michael Marriott on roses, the RHS Wellbeing Garden, Seed to Vase and more.
growing · January
Jobs To Do in January on the Cutting Patch
The month that decides your season. Planning, seed-ordering, dahlia-checking and the first sowings under cover.
seasonal · February
February Flowers UK: Narcissi, Anemones and Early Spring Blooms
February brings the first proper flush of British-grown flowers: narcissi, anemones, pussy willow and early tulips. Here is what to look for and why seasonal matters.
growing · February
Saving Seed on the Cut Flower Farm: Which Flowers, When, and Why
Not every flower is worth saving seed from, but the ones that are can save you hundreds of pounds and give you healthier, site-adapted plants.
growing · February
Growing Ranunculus: The Cut Flower That Changed My Spring Planning
Ranunculus transformed my spring stems from scarce to abundant. Here's how I pre-sprout, plant and grow these extraordinary corms in the UK.
business · February
From Grower to Wedding Florist: The Transition I Made and Would Make Again
I started as a grower selling buckets at the gate. Adding weddings transformed my floristry business, and I would make the same choice tomorrow.
growing · February
Growing Roses for Cutting: David Austin and Beyond
David Austin roses are beautiful, but they are not the only game in town. Here is what I have learned about growing roses for cutting on a working flower farm.
business · February
Launching a Flower Subscription: Pricing, Logistics and Keeping Customers Coming Back
Subscriptions bring reliable income and loyal customers, but the logistics and pricing can trip you up. Here is how I plan mine.
growing · February
Ten Best Annuals for Cutting I Grow Every Year in My Cutting Patch
The ten hardy and half-hardy annuals I sow every February without fail, because they deliver armfuls of flowers from June through to the first frosts.
growing · February
Back to Basics — Planning Your Cut Flower Plot (Part One)
Space, layout, sunlight, soil, watering, sustainability — the foundational decisions before you sow a single seed.
growing · August
Seeds — Get Saving
Foxgloves, lupins, honesty, sweet rocket, poppies — a practical guide to saving seed from your own patch so you never buy again.
sustainability · August
What's the Point of Wasps?
A short defence of the insect everyone else is spraying. Why the flower farm leaves the wasps alone.
growing · February
Back to Basics — Planning Your Cut Flower Plot (Part Two)
Flower selection, succession, pollinators, spacing, soil preparation, mulching — the plant-level decisions for a productive plot.
growing · February
How to Start Growing Flowers — An Absolute Beginner's Guide
From 'I've never sown a seed' to a productive cutting patch — Roz's start-here guide for absolute beginners.
floristry · August
Flowers Suitable for Drying
The dozen cuttings that reward a minute's work with a year of beauty.
business · August
Flower Lover Books for Book Lovers Day
Six books every flower farmer should read — from Rachel Siegfried's Cut Flower Sourcebook to Dave Goulson's Garden Jungle to Seed to Vase.
growing · February
Top Tips for a Cutting Patch
The shortest, bossiest advice you'll read on planning a first cutting patch. Start here, then layer in the nuance.
floristry · August
Dried Flowers — The Forever Bouquet
Strawflower, statice, achillea, grasses — what to grow, when to pick it, and how to dry it properly.
growing · July
Flower Bed Irrigation: Drip Lines, Sprinklers or a Can?
Which watering system actually works for a cutting garden? I compare drip lines, sprinklers and hand watering after twenty years of trial and error.
seasonal · July
July Flowers UK: Every Colour, Every Shape in the Cutting Garden
July is the month when the cutting garden explodes. Every colour, every shape, everything you dreamed of in January is here now.
business · July
Tax, VAT and the Flower Farmer: what I learned the hard way
The tax side of flower farming terrified me at first. Here is what I wish someone had explained when I started selling stems commercially.
growing · July
Growing Tulips for Cutting: Single Late, Parrot and Peony Varieties I Plant Every Year
Single Late, Parrot and Peony tulips give you the best stems for cutting. Here is how I plant them, which varieties I choose, and the mistakes to avoid.
seasonal · March
March Flowers UK: The First Proper Week of Colour on the Farm
March is when the flower farm finally wakes up. Here's what's blooming now: tulips, ranunculus, anemones and the sweet scent of early narcissi.
business · March
Flower Farm Hiring: When, Who and How to Keep Them Happy
When your flower farm outgrows your own two hands, hiring well makes all the difference. Here is how I approach seasonal labour and part-time help.
growing · March
Organic Flower Farming: The Principles I Will Not Compromise On
The non-negotiable standards that underpin everything I grow and sell: peat-free, foam-free, pesticide-free. Why these principles matter.
business · March
Diversifying a Flower Farm: Workshops, Retreats and Products That Actually Work
Growing flowers alone rarely covers the bills. Here are the diversification routes I have tested, what works, and what takes more than it gives back.
growing · March
Overwintering Hardy Annuals for an Earlier, Bigger Harvest
Autumn-sown hardy annuals give you stronger plants, earlier flowers and longer stems than spring sowings. Here is how I overwinter mine for the best harvest.
business · March
Instagram for Flower Farmers: what to post, when, and why
Instagram can sell flowers or waste hours. Here is what I post, when, and why it works for a small British flower farm.
growing · March
Spring Bulbs for Cutting: What Every UK Grower Should Plant This Autumn
The spring bulbs you plant this autumn will be your first income of next year. Here are the varieties I rely on for cutting and selling.
business · March
SEO for Flower Farmers: rank for 'flowers near me' without the agony
Local SEO is not complicated. I will show you how to rank for 'flowers near me' with simple, repeatable tactics that cost nothing but time.
growing · March
Why Pinching Out Annuals Makes or Breaks Your Cutting Patch
Pinching out is the single most important job you will do in your cutting patch. Skip it and you will get tall, single-stemmed flowers. Do it right and you will harvest for months.
floristry · March
From Field to Frame — The Held in Bloom Collaboration with Madeeco
A limited-edition pressed-flower fine art print collaboration between Field Gate and Madeeco — 10% of profits to Breast Cancer Now.
growing · March
March Jobs for Your Cutting Patch
The one-month jump that sets your whole season up — hardy annuals, sweet peas and the first wave of dahlias to wake up.
business · July
Why You Need to Factor Dried Flowers Into Your Portfolio
Extend your season from 5 months to 12. What to grow for drying, when to cut it, and the four drying methods that actually work.
growing · July
How to Water Effectively for Your Plants
Overwatering kills more flowers than drought. A short, opinionated guide to when, how much and how to water a cutting patch.
growing · July
Not Yet Convinced by Dahlias?
From Z-list to A-list — why dahlias are having the most extraordinary floristry comeback of the last decade.
growing · July
Is It Worth the Wait to Plant a Biennial?
Ten biennials that fill the May–June hungry gap — foxglove, sweet william, wallflower, honesty, sweet rocket, and more.
business · June
From Grower to Wedding Florist: The Transition I Made and Would Make Again
I grew flowers for years before I did a single wedding. Here is why I made the leap, what I learned, and the advice I wish someone had given me at the start.
growing · June
Slugs, Aphids and the Rest: organic pest control in the cutting patch
No chemicals, no panic. How I keep slugs, aphids and other pests in check on my cutting patch with simple organic methods that actually work.
seasonal · June
June Flowers UK: Roses, Sweet Peas and the Height of the Season
June is the month every British flower grower waits for. Roses, sweet peas, delphiniums and peonies all come good at once.
business · June
Marketing a Flower Farm: The Three Things That Actually Move the Needle
Most flower farm marketing advice is noise. I have tested it all. These three strategies are the only ones that reliably bring customers through the door.
growing · June
Winter Jobs on a Cut Flower Farm: The Quiet Season Is Not Quiet
Winter on a flower farm is not dormant time. It is prep time, planning time, and the season that makes or breaks your success next year.
growing · June
The 12-Month Seed Sowing Calendar for a UK Cutting Patch
A practical month-by-month guide to when to sow flower seeds in the UK, so you always know what to plant next in your cutting patch.
seasonal · April
April Flowers UK: Tulips, Fritillaries and the First Foliage
April is when British flower farms finally hit their stride. Tulips, fritillaries, hellebores and armfuls of fresh foliage: here's what's actually in season.
business · April
The Part of Flower Farming Nobody Talks About: Your Wellbeing
Running a flower farm can damage your health if you let it. Here is how I protect mine, and how you can protect yours.
growing · April
Composting on the Flower Farm: a system that actually works
A simple three-bay system turns tonnes of spent stems, weeds and green waste into the best soil amendment you will ever use on your flower beds.
business · April
Insurance on a Flower Farm: what you need, what you do not
Most flower farmers carry too much insurance or none at all. Here is what you actually need, what you can add later, and what you can safely skip.
growing · April
Growing zinnias: the late-summer workhorse every cutting patch needs
Zinnias are the hardest-working flowers in my cutting patch from July to October, and they are ridiculously easy to grow if you follow a few simple rules.
business · April
Keeping Your Flower Customers: The Unglamorous Retention Work That Actually Grows Your Florist Business
Customer retention is not glamorous. It is admin, follow-ups, decent packaging and remembering names. Here is the unglamorous work that actually keeps your flower customers.
growing · April
Flower Forcing: How to Bring Spring Bulbs and Branches Into Bloom Early
Flower forcing lets you bring tulips, narcissi and lilac into bloom weeks ahead of their natural season for early spring sales and weddings.
business · April
Bookkeeping for Flower Farmers: The Spreadsheet I Use Every Month
I hated bookkeeping until I built a spreadsheet that actually made sense. Here is the system I use every month to track my flower farm finances.
growing · April
Cutting Garden Layout: how I arrange rows, beds and paths (and why)
How I lay out my cutting garden for maximum productivity, minimum weeding, and harvests that last from May to October.
seasonal · May
May Flowers UK: Peonies, Sweet Williams and the Big Month Begins
May is the month every flower farmer waits for. Peonies arrive, sweet williams peak, and the polytunnel overflows with scent and colour.
business · May
Selling Cut Flowers: Direct, Wholesale or Wedding-Only?
Direct sales, wholesale or weddings only? I compare the three main routes for selling cut flowers, with real figures, pros, cons and what works on my farm.
growing · May
Growing Foliage for Florists: What to Plant for Year-Round Cutting
Foliage is the backbone of every bouquet. Here's what I grow for florists and how to plan twelve months of cutting from your own beds.
business · May
Starting a Flower Farming Business in the UK: The Honest Numbers
The real costs, profit margins and financial truths about launching a flower farming business in the UK, from someone who has done it.
growing · May
Direct-sowing Hardy Annuals: timings, tricks and troubleshooting
Everything I have learned about direct-sowing hardy annuals, from autumn and spring timings to fixing patchy germination and slug trouble.
business · May
E-commerce for Flower Farmers: What to Sell Online, What Not To
Not everything you grow belongs in your online shop. Here's what works, what doesn't, and how to build a flower e-commerce system that actually makes money.
growing · May
Biennials for cutting: the often-forgotten secret of a full spring patch
Biennials fill the spring gap when annuals are still establishing. Here is how I sow, overwinter and cut them for serious stem count.
business · May
Building a Flower Brand That People Remember
Your flower brand is more than a logo. Here is how to create an identity that customers remember, trust and return to year after year.
growing · May
Soil Prep for a Flower Farm: What I Actually Do Each Winter
My winter soil preparation routine for the cut flower patch: compost, testing, timing and the no-dig approach that keeps my beds productive year after year.
growing · May
Gardening With Slugs — The Battle Begins
Our honest, six-season report on what actually keeps slugs off seedlings — and what we no longer bother with.
growing · May
Liquid Feeds for Cutting Flowers
Comfrey, nettle, seaweed — the three homemade liquid feeds that keep our patch productive with zero synthetic inputs.
sustainability · March
Why Should We Care About Peat?
Peat bogs store more carbon than all the world's forests combined — and horticulture has been digging them up. What to use instead.
growing · December
UK Cut Flower Perennials — Roz's Top Picks
Perennials do the heavy lifting once established. Peonies, achillea, lupins, rudbeckia — the ten we grow every year.
floristry · October
Foliage for Floristry — The Backing Track Every Bouquet Needs
Eucalyptus, viburnum, dusty miller, ninebark, myrtle, alchemilla, panicum, cotinus, mint, borage — what we grow for cutting greens year-round.
growing · September
Choosing and Caring for Eucalyptus
The foliage crop that now features in every British wedding. Which varieties to grow, how to cut, and why it loves neglect.
growing · June
What Is Propagation?
Seed-sowing, cuttings, division, layering — the four ways to multiply the plants you already love.
sustainability · October
Seven Ways Gardening Can Improve Your Mental Health
Growth mindset, connection, mindfulness — why gardening is the most effective mental-health routine I've ever found.
inspiration · March
Save the Date — And How to Choose it Wisely
Your wedding date drives every floral decision. Here's how we'd pick it — seasonality, weather, flower availability and price.
growing · March
How to Make a No-Dig Flower Bed in Five Simple Steps
Why we've stopped digging our beds — and the Charles Dowding-inspired method we now use every year on the farm.
growing · March
What Do You Call It Again? Weird and Wonderful Plant Names
Sticky Willy, Hooker's Lips, Sneezewort, Pussy Toes — why plant common names are a loving chaos, and why Linnaeus tried to tidy them up.
growing · September
Are You Living on Flower Time? Linnaeus' Flower Clock
Telling the time by flowers: Linnaeus, the Horologium florae, and the 46 flowering plants that obediently open on the hour.
sustainability · July
Dr Olivia Chapple on the Healing Power of Horticulture
Horatio's Garden won Best in Show at RHS Chelsea 2023. Dr Olivia Chapple on gardens designed for spinal-injury patients — and why it works.
inspiration · July
Viva Magenta — A Pantone-Inspired Cut Flower Palette
Penstemon, amaranthus, dahlia, foxglove, salvia — a full magenta-hued cutting-patch palette to honour Pantone's colour of the year.
sustainability · June
Six Ways Buying Locally-Grown Flowers Benefits the Environment
Six clear, specific reasons British-grown flowers are the greener choice — even compared to Fairtrade imports.
sustainability · June
4 Ways Gardening Can Benefit Your Health
Sensory play, better sleep, cognitive function, natural vitamin D — four evidence-backed ways your cutting patch is quietly keeping you well.
sustainability · April
Why Sustainability is Vital to the Cut Flower Industry
Airmiles, pesticides, plastic and peat — the four realities the imported flower trade doesn't want you to see.
growing · January
The Best Flowers to Grow for Cutting — Roz's Top Ten
Our definitive shortlist of the ten flowers every beginner cutting patch should plant — chosen for scent, vase life and generous yields.
sustainability · January
Rewilding Alice — A Career Change from Pharmacist to Flower Farmer
Alice managed 400 pharmacies. Then she burned out in Cardiff station. This is the story of her rewilding — from boardroom to flower farm.
growing · January
Can I Grow Flowers on an Apartment Roof? (Sharayna's Story)
Sharayna grows dahlias, poppies and vegetables on a West London apartment-block rooftop allotment. Proof there's always space to grow.
sustainability · January
Growing Through Grief — A Seed to Vase Story (Alison's Story)
Alison lost her daughter Alana. This is how flower growing — and her allotment — helped her rebuild, one dahlia at a time.
sustainability · December
Always More to Learn — Kim's Seed to Vase Story
Kim moved from the South East to Somerset and started flower farming with the help of her rescue ponies' manure. A tale of continuous learning.
sustainability · December
Why You Should Buy British Flowers
Seasonality, scent, supporting local business, shorter supply chains — five evidence-based reasons British flowers win.
sustainability · December
Why Gardening is Good for You — Health, Happiness & Horticulture
Sensory play, better sleep, cognitive function, natural vitamin D — why gardening is the hobby that loves you back.