2026 - What I did today.

Went to the garden center to buy ericaceous compost and of course a few plants. I'm currently fixated on growing flowers to cut and sell, perhaps an extension of my flower focus this year. I need SC and Scarlet to tell me it's too difficult and to be sensible. I'm currently making a spreadsheet......

I’m not going to tell you it’s too difficult. I’m just playing at it and make very little from my flowers. I think that due mainly to location. But it still enjoyable. Scarlet on the other hand is doing very very well with her cut flowers . Here’s a link to her cut flowers fb page https://www.shurnholdflowers.co.uk/?fbcl...JV1rAZcUUA go get inspired     .

Went to the garden center to buy ericaceous compost and of course a few plants. I'm currently fixated on growing flowers to cut and sell, perhaps an extension of my flower focus this year. I need SC and Scarlet to tell me it's too difficult and to be sensible. I'm currently making a spreadsheet......

I'm not sure what's the most difficult = growing flowers or making a spreadsheet. I can't help you with either!

No problem to make a spreadsheet. But I have nowhere to sell hobby flowers. And I have an allotment because my garden is quite small (extension and garage) and you're not allowed to sell anything grown on the allotment.

But of course I'm shopping for a few long raised beds to shoehorn into the garden and will probably just give away flowers to any neighbours who don't start to avoid me. I've been thinking about it a lot so I might as well see how I get on growing flowers specifically for cutting, try some new varieties, and think about a business side to it a couple years down the line.

No problem to make a spreadsheet. But I have nowhere to sell hobby flowers. And I have an allotment because my garden is quite small (extension and garage) and you're not allowed to sell anything grown on the allotment.

But of course I'm shopping for a few long raised beds to shoehorn into the garden and will probably just give away flowers to any neighbours who don't start to avoid me. I've been thinking about it a lot so I might as well see how I get on growing flowers specifically for cutting, try some new varieties, and think about a business side to it a couple years down the line.

Can you sell from your front garden/gate (if you have one?)

My husband seems to think that would not be allowed, although whether it would actually cause a problem I don't know. We live in a city suburb so I think we would either run the risk of people being theoretically on our property or causing a problem with the public pavement. Something to think about

I made a bamboo & coconut spoon this morning, but it snapped just as I was putting the finishing touches to it. Very annoying and wasted morning. I might try again it was quite fun and was starting to look quite good.
This afternoon I dug out all (hopefully) the volunteer potatoes that were coming up in the crescent bed. I thought I’d got them all last autumn when I harvested the spuds. Obviously I hadn’t. I wasn’t up for letting them take over the bed again this year. I found some lovely big spuds that would have made lovely jackets. They were all growing though. I had to dig out 3 of the plants from the bed to actually get them all. Plants got put back without spud growing in the middle of them and given some fresh compost and a drink. Planted lots of spuds in 2 potato grow bags. Anything not worth planting got added to the potato feed bucket.
Then I attacked a pot of Geraniums that a friend gave me last year. A really lovely pale pink. I spotted in the pot I’d also acquired some crocosmia as well. So when I noticed everything in the pot starting to grow again. It was time to dissect the pot and eradicate the crocsmia. Geranium was spilt and replanted into 2 pots and everything else from the pot went into a bin bag. Not risking that spreading in my garden!

I had planned to visit a family with an amazing garden that I met last year. I'd promised them some perennial kale and have been rooting some up over winter. She also wanted some perennial leeks. Spent the morning digging up the leeks and finding the pot of kale plants - there were 4 healthy plants. Unfortunately, Ted the dog thought they looked quite tasty and while my back was turned, he pulled out two of the plants and ate them!!! He loves brassicas. Fortunately, there is plenty of cutting material on the kale so I took some more and they can grow them on themselves!
I was all set to leave at 2, loaded up the car with plants and..........the car wouldn't start! Lots of warning lights and beeps but no sign of life from the engine. Ended up having to jump start the car and cancel my visit. Couldn't risk going there and not being able to start the car again to come home.
I'll get the battery checked over tomorrow. It is the original battery and about 8/9 years old so I guess it wants to retire now.
Since I was now housebound, I went back to sieving compost and filling pots. Also pulled up lots of Vinca.

My husband seems to think that would not be allowed, although whether it would actually cause a problem I don't know. We live in a city suburb so I think we would either run the risk of people being theoretically on our property or causing a problem with the public pavement. Something to think about

Then maybe you could just advise your cut flowers on your local buy & sell fb group and /or put a sign on your gate. Not as much chance of impulse sales that way. But it does give you the opportunity to start selling. Especially if you’re good at marketing and have a good sales pitch.

Apparently its Earth Day today? so if you have a tree to plant, do it now! 

No tree to plant here but I do have a Tayberry that's sat in a small pot all winter so THAT will be my fau tree planting for today! I have loads of wooden and metal trellis I liberated from my son's new garden (he didn't want it) and I have been looking for an excuse to use it, so need to decide which trellis and area to plant Tayberry?

Thanks, SC, really good idea. I might feel less like I was running afoul of any rules that way and could give me a better picture of the local feeling. I found out there's a place on our high street, very trendy, that sells £50+ bouquets of locally grown flowers. I had previously been telling my husband how I would feel so embarrassed and guilty about asking for even £20 for a really big bouquet. A lot to learn, starting with I'm too tight to be my own target market...

I had a look at Scarlet's site. Just incredible. I didn't realize she was doing so much. I knew it would be beautiful though. Very inspirational. I secretly didn't think you would discourage me, I must confess...