Devon Flower Farm: The October edit of growing seasonal flowers from our garden at Holly Bee Flowers

 

Hello from our Devon Flower Farm. Growing and designing with flowers… I love both, but as the year and seasons change, the pull of different tasks and focus also change. Right now I’ve got my gardeners’ hat on, and spend most days in waterproof trousers and mud. Sustainable, eco friendly flowers take work and forward planning! Flowers are still going, and we’ve had no frosts yet, but the mental shift into preparing for next year has happened. Here’s what’s going on this month.

 

1.Sowing Hardy Annuals for 2021

Sowing seeds for next year. 2021 feels like an age away, but I’ll be so grateful to have done it come May next year. I don’t grow loads of Hardy Annuals, but always make sure to have a continuous supply of Ammi- umbels ALWAYS. And their white and green hues mix with everything beautifully. Ideal for natural weddings and wild looking bouquets. Also they happily self seed everywhere- we had a forest in the polytunnel paths this year- impractical but wonderful.

 

2.Sowing early flowering sweet peas

Sweet peas are one of the reasons I started flower farming in the first place. Highly scented, pick and come again, and holding nostalgic memories for so many of us (often requested in wedding flowers). I sow now for strong plants next year. Grown in pots, then planted in the polytunnel normally during the first week on January. We mulch round them with straw, and if colder temperatures are forecast, we push the straw up round the baby plants. This process means we get super early flowers, normally from the end of March into April.

3.Planting out Bi Annuals (finally)

I’m not the most organised grower, but things do eventually get done. And as we’re based in Devon, we stay milder for longer, so bi annuals still have a chance to get going- planting the plug plants out now. Again I don’t grow loads of varieties, but I know what works for me. I always, always grow foxgloves. I never seem to have enough. And also I grow the heavily scented (and marvellous) Sweet Rocket. These are my top 2 bi annuals and every garden should try them- they’ll both happily grow in most soils, and don’t need full sun either.

 

4.Clearing and covering beds: cuts down on work in the long run

Here at Holly Bee, we love our soil. It’s the backbone to everything- and gives us so much goodness and beauty each year. Sustainable and eco minded, we are fans of no dig. It also just makes life easier. So at this time of year, beds  slowly get cleared then covered over winter. Next year we’ll uncover, put a good layer of mulch down, and then plant. Simple right?!

 

5.Planning for growing and designing 2021

As it gets colder, darker and wetter, I need excuses to stay indoors and work. Searching for new varieties of flowers and foliages to grow is fun; it keeps things interesting. So each year I look forward to learning, experimenting and growing.

 

I’m also starting a photography course with the wonderful Eva Nemeth, which I’m so excited about- she’s a photography hero of mine. But for today, it’s off to mark out a new iris bed in the polytunnel, wish me luck! Also If you want further seasonal inspiration have a look through all our seasonal flower galleries.