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I've got this crazy idea about creating a cutting garden...
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Katieowl



Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4317
Location: West Wales
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 9:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

bernie-woman wrote:
Katieowl wrote:
Thirded Sara Bloody Raven...but whatever you do DON'T BUY HER SEEDS - I think they sell her duds from the seed factory, and laugh behind their hands as she sells them at four times the price of everyone elses.


Interesting - not bought any so can't comment on 'dudness' but her tomato seeds were 49p cheaper per packet than the T&M ones from Wyevale garden centres


Were there three seeds in the packet?

Not had good germanation rates...and the quantities of seed for the money is also small...she's gardening royalty so you have to pay for the priveledge of supplying crown polish!

Kate

bernie-woman



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Katieowl wrote:


Were there three seeds in the packet?



As I said, didn't buy any but that could well explain it

Nicky cigreen



Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9702
Location: Devon, uk
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

are you seeing this as a business or for yourself?

business wise - prolly more money in bedding plants - i would have thought

either way, be careful over change of use of the land. - you will be going from agricultural to horticultural, and i *think* you need PP for that.

Mary-Jane



Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Right, in the cold (sober) light of day I realise that I may have run away a bit with my idea last night
I had a look at the *cutting garden* i.e. the paddock out of the bathroom window this morning and thought "Ummm...probably a bit ambitious to begin with..."

But yes, I'd still like to have a cutting garden.
Yes, I am thinking of it as a possible income source.
Yes, I have considered buying HRH Sarah Raven's book.
But no, I didn't buy it and instead have ordered this one: The Flower Farmer

So I'm going to put two of my raised beds over to cutting flowers this year - rather than an entire paddock...

Mary-Jane



Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Katieowl wrote:
Thirded Sara Bloody Raven...


Do you think I should get her book as well though...
Can you have *too many* gardening books?

Bebo



Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mary-Jane wrote:
Can you have *too many* gardening books?


Probably not. In the same way that it isn't possible to have too many cook books.

Mary-Jane



Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Bebo wrote:
Mary-Jane wrote:
Can you have *too many* gardening books?


Probably not. In the same way that it isn't possible to have too many cook books.


Ah yes. That's Katieowl's take on cook books too

Bebo



Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mary-Jane wrote:
Bebo wrote:
Mary-Jane wrote:
Can you have *too many* gardening books?


Probably not. In the same way that it isn't possible to have too many cook books.


Ah yes. That's Katieowl's take on cook books too


Must be a Battersea thing. Maybe the smell from Gartons was a mind altering drug that results in lifelong complusive cook book buying.

lorrayne



Joined: 17 Dec 2004
Posts: 239
Location: Hampshire
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 7:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Try this link https://britishcutflowers.com/contents1a/2010/07/kilcoan-gardens-in-northern-ireland/ - the link that should take you to a feature in Country Living was worth a read - especially if you want to make a bit of extra cash from it - I am soooooo envious. Dont forget plenty of foliage to mix with your flowers, try learning to create a hand tied bouquet it might be useful. i suppose the difference is creating a garden that you can go and pick for yourself or producing an area that has commercial value but with a little careful planning you should be able to do both.
L

Mary-Jane



Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 7:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hey, thanks Lorrayne - that's really helpful

Vanessa



Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Definitely think "interesting foliage plants" as well ... mostly shrubs. Plant these round the edges ... they'll double as wind-breaks

Katieowl



Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4317
Location: West Wales
PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 11 9:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Bebo wrote:
Mary-Jane wrote:
Bebo wrote:
Mary-Jane wrote:
Can you have *too many* gardening books?


Probably not. In the same way that it isn't possible to have too many cook books.


Ah yes. That's Katieowl's take on cook books too


Must be a Battersea thing. Maybe the smell from Gartons was a mind altering drug that results in lifelong complusive cook book buying.


LOL...Gartons WAS spectacularly dreadful. Suspect it may have tainted EVERYTHING my Mother and Grandmother cooked? Either that or neither of them could rustle up a tastebud between them (more likely ) Funny thing was my mother actually owned Elizabeth David cookbooks...She must have been using them to press flowers or something! I still remember mum buying an aubergine in Safeways in the Kings Road, and bringing it home and roasting it whole, in the oven, and then cutting it in half and dishing us up half each. For the record, yes, it was vile!

Kate

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Mon Mar 21, 11 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mary-Jane wrote:
Right, in the cold (sober) light of day I realise that I may have run away a bit with my idea last night
I had a look at the *cutting garden* i.e. the paddock out of the bathroom window this morning and thought "Ummm...probably a bit ambitious to begin with..."

But yes, I'd still like to have a cutting garden.
Yes, I am thinking of it as a possible income source.
Yes, I have considered buying HRH Sarah Raven's book.
But no, I didn't buy it and instead have ordered this one: The Flower Farmer

So I'm going to put two of my raised beds over to cutting flowers this year - rather than an entire paddock...


The flower farmer is American, and quite 'read-ey' rather than useful, IMO (ie interesting, but not terribly helpful) Sarah Raven's is much more useful. The library may have it, but it's worth buying I reckon. Of course you can't have too many gardening books. The very idea!

I have my eye on half an acre for the same purpose. Pity I will never manage to make the time. Probably a good idea to start smaller - I'm trying to make my beds at the front of the house a cutting garden - started too late last year, though. Must buy more glyphosate...

gardening-girl



Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 6024
Location: Somerset.
PostPosted: Mon Mar 21, 11 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I agree with the Sarah Raven book.
I am growing loads more flowers on the allotment this year,a good mix of perrennials and annuals.I have cheated somewhat,and have ordered some plug plants from Dobies.
Last year I had Lupins,Delphiniums,Dahlias,Sunflowers,Sweetpeas,Calendulas,Sweet Williams,Achimilla Mollis
and Gladioli.
I`ve just planted Lavander and Echinacea.
The plants from Dobies are,Stocks,Snapdragons and some I can`t remember.

Have fun.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Mon Mar 21, 11 10:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Right, baby in bed and I can type without her 'helping'

MJ if you can still change your amazon order (or don't mind returning it), I'm happy to lend you my copy of the Flower Farmer instead - I can put in the post today or tomorrow, and then you can buy Ms Raven's book instead (I can't lend her out, because I refer to her too often!) I'm not in any hurry to have it back.

I've had Sarah Raven Seeds, and they are expensive (wilko's do a lot of the same varieties for much less) but not had problems with germination. Some of the less ordinary kinds are hard to find elsewhere. You do get good service, though - they sent me the wrong Dahlias, and of course by the time I found out, it was too late to plant more, so they refunded no questions asked.

I can't remember the exact quantities, but I think Lady Raven suggests something 2 x 4 M giving you two buckets of flowers twice a week from May to October. Ish. I'll go and check later on.

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