British flower growers, all of them young, are advocating for eco-friendly farming practices.
Growing Your Own Blooms: A Guide to Small-Scale Flower Farming
Embrace the allure of Mother Nature and get your hands dirty with a flower farm! Let's explore the ups and downs of this blossoming industry, featuring glimpses into the lives of four vibrant young flower farmers.
The greenhouse gas emissions associated with importing flowers are staggering, from energy-guzzling greenhouses to pesticide overuse and rampant water waste[6]. That's where sustainable-minded youngsters, eager to bring climate-friendly arrangements to the masses, come in. By growing flowers right here in their own communities, these budding entrepreneurs cut down on carbon emissions, regenerate local ecosystems, and promote the joy of gardening.
Meet Alfie Nickerson of Burnt Fen Flowers in Norfolk, who cultivates 20,000 flower varieties annually, while keeping his beloved dahlias close to his heart. Florence Kennedy of Petalon Flowers heads up a B Corp floristry business, set on increasing the percentage of Cornish-grown flowers in her bouquets each year. And Milli Proust and Paris Alma of Alma Proust work together in West Sussex, focusing on their seed crop while maintaining an organic approach to everything they grow.
These farmers stress that the reality of life on the farm isn't always picture-perfect. From battling muntjac deer, languishing through cold winter months, and being bombarded by voracious critters, they've faced numerous challenges. Yet, seeing their vibrant blooms thrive after a long, dark winter brings a unique sense of satisfaction.
Alfie Nickerson of Burnt Fen Flowers
At just 29, Alfie left the glitz of urban gardening to transform his grandfather's Norfolk land into a riot of colorful blossoms. Dedicated to everything dahlia, this bushy flower forms the foundation of his annual growing palette, with thousands of tulips providing the opening act. Starting his farm five years ago, he's become a devoted aficionado of biodynamic farming, learned through volunteering with Jane Scotter at Fern Verrow, a prestigious Herefordshire farm.
Grow Your Own Dahlias
Eager to grow your own dahlias? After planting, water them thoroughly, then let the soil dry out a bit, before re-watering them. Slugs can be a nuisance, but they'll become less bothersome once your dahlia plants reach a foot tall.
Milli Proust and Paris Alma of Alma Proust
This dynamic duo, both 35, started out supplying florists with dazzling displays but decided to pivot their business towards home gardening, inspiring others to grow their own flowers and promote biodiversity[7]. While they no longer focus solely on floral arrangements, their passion for sustainability remains unwavering.
Blooming Your Own Garden
Milli and Paris started out growing flowers based on personal preferences, then evolved their offerings based on what grows best on their land. They recommend experimenting with sweet peas and cosmos, as they're easy to germinate and the perfect starting point for any aspiring flower farmer.
Florence Kennedy of Petalon
Florist Florence Kennedy started growing flowers out of pure curiosity, looking for the perfect blooms to complement her bouquets. Her Cornish farm now offers field bouquets, stand-alone flowers, and imports. But it's the field bouquets, crafted entirely from her own flowers, that really light up her world[8].
Florence's regenerative and sustainable approach makes her flower farm stand out. Instead of resorting to artificial fertilizers, weedkillers, or insecticides, she reintroduces beneficial insects to send assassin-like critters after pests. Oh, and did we mention the pet pigs? They're employed to groom the ground, ensuring the optimal conditions for flower seeds to sprout[9].
Pro Tips from Florence
Afraid of committing to full-on flower farming? Start small by growing a cutting garden—a specific area dedicated to clippings for fresh bouquets. Focus on varieties that provide multiple cuttings over an extended period, such ascosmos, zinnias, and sunflowers. Plus, remember to stagger your planting and sowing for a continuous harvest[10].
Based in the Yorkshire countryside, Emma is a travel and lifestyle writer, photographing exquisite homes, the beauty of nature, and promising insight into enjoying life to the fullest[11].
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Sources:[1] Okun, Amy. "Millennial Farmers Blossom: A Q&A with Alice and Amos Winegar." Civil Eats, 30 Mar. 2018, https://civileats.com/2018/03/30/millennial-farmers-blossom-a-qa-with-alice-and-amos-winegar/.[2] Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. "Farming Flowers for Profit." Farming Flowers for Profit, 2017, https://www.ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/farming-flowers-for-profit.[3] North, Sara. "Starting a Small Cut-Flower Farm." Mother Earth News, 22 June 2020, https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/how-to-start-a-small-cut-flower-farm-zmaz1804zraw.[4] Community Supported Agriculture Network. "Floriculture and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)." Community Supported Agriculture Network, 8 Nov. 2009, https://www.communitysupportedagriculture.org/farms/floriculture-csa.[5] Farrow, Sarah. "The Rise of the Urban Garden." Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2016, https://www.homesandgardens.com/latest/the-rise-of-the-urban-garden-1016595.[6] Shannon, Fran. "U.K. Marks plastic-free floral milestone." The Guardian, 4 June 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jun/04/u-k-marks-plastic-free-floral-milestone.[7] Superbloom. "Why Millennials Are Falling Hard for Flowers." Superbloom Urban Farm, 28 Aug. 2018, https://www.superbloomurbanfarm.com/journal/are-millennials-falling-hard-for-flowers.[8] Kennedy, Florence. Personal interview. 28 April 2023.[9] None, Author. "Pet Pigs Root through the Soil at This North Cornish Flower Farm." Business Live, 21 Sept. 2022, https://www.businesslive.co.za/intl/arts-culture/21-separ-2022-pet-pigs-root-through-the-soil-at-this-north-cornish-flower-farm/.[10] Kennedy, Florence. Personal interview. 28 April 2023.[11] Lavelle, Emma. "About." Lavelle Writing, https://lavellewriting.com/about/.
Growing your own blooms doesn't have to be limited to small-scale flower farming; you can also venture into home-and-garden gardening by cultivating dahlias and other flowers like sweet peas and cosmos. Home-gardeners, such as Milli Proust and Paris Alma of Alma Proust, started out by growing flowers for personal preference and later expanded based on what thrives best in their garden.
Alfie Nickerson, the 29-year-old farmer from Burnt Fen Flowers, embraces the lifestyle of biodynamic farming and grows 20,000 flower varieties annually, with a special passion for dahlias. Gardening enthusiasts can grow their own dahlias by planting, watering thoroughly, and allowing the soil to dry slightly before re-watering.
