Cut Flower Book Recommendations for January

I know I am not the only one itching to get started on cut flowers for the year. Here are my cut flower book recommendations for January to whet your whistle (I tried to think of a flowery analogy but drew a blank — let me know if you think of one).

Roses — Michael Marriott

Now is a great time to buy bare root roses, so I had to choose this as one of my January recommendations. I first met Michael when he came and spoke to two of our online groups — A Cut Above (Propagation Course) and The Best Bunch Membership.

Michael Marriott is one of the world's leading rosarians, well-known for his rose garden design and his common-sense approach to looking after roses. He was an integral part of David Austin Roses for 35 years and has intimate knowledge of the 200+ English Roses bred by David Austin. His enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge encyclopaedic — especially for the species roses, old roses, climbers and ramblers.

With more than 30,000 different types of roses available to gardeners, how do you find the right one for your garden? The book's unique "rose selector" section is a real strength.

RHS Your Wellbeing Garden — Prof. Alistair Griffiths

I had the pleasure of interviewing Prof. Alistair Griffiths on my podcast. He is passionate and extremely committed to researching the links between gardening and improvement in mental health.

A survey conducted by Censuswide found that since the pandemic: - Over 7 million people say their mental health has benefitted from taking up gardening for the first time. - Over 3 million say their mental health has benefitted from moving out of an urban area to get access to outdoor space or a garden.

The book covers how certain plants can form a barrier against air and noise pollution, which birdsong alleviates anxiety, how plants can help save energy, and why green is so good for us. Every recommendation is backed by scientific research, drawn together by the team of RHS scientists and experts.

Seed to Vase: A Collection of Stories — Roz Chandler

My own book. I wrote the book I thought was missing — full of stories of how growing cut flowers has changed lives. We came together from all corners of the UK, USA and Europe to join a course on growing cut flowers. From homes on many acres in Scotland to apartment blocks in London with rented raised beds, they all had a common love of flowers.

But these people found so much more than that. Seed to Vase details some of their lives and experiences as they learned not only how to grow cut flowers, but a great deal about themselves and one another. See the book.

Your Cut Flower Planner

I decided to write this part planner / part book in late 2022. I felt there was nothing available for cut flower growers to record their year.

Includes:

• Month-by-month jobs to do on the patch (maintenance, pests and diseases, sowing and planting recommendations)
• Lots of space to record your sowing and planting
• Annual cut flower recommendations
• Recommendations on perennials and foliage
• A British flower guide by month — what's in season and when
• Areas to make a record of your patch and learnings for the next season

An absolute must for anyone wanting to have their own cutting garden.

Wedding Flowers — Georgie Newberry

First published in 2015 this book is a great resource for those looking to grow their own wedding flowers. Georgie is a flower farmer based in Somerset and has a wealth of knowledge on cut flowers. I first met her in 2012 and thank her for inspiring me on my journey.

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Please note: this blog contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you choose to buy.

Ready to grow? Seed to Vase runs every year from February.

Roz