When it comes to sowing flower seeds, should you go high-tech, low-fi, or somewhere in between? In this episode I dive into one of the most spirited debates in the flower farming world: modules vs. soil blocks vs. direct sowing. I Cut through the noise, sharing real-life tips and lessons from my greenhouse and garden trenches. Whether you're surrounded by seed trays or armed with just a rake and a dream, this episode will help you find the sowing method that suits your flowers — and your life.

🌼 What You’ll Learn:

• The pros and cons of direct sowing, modular trays, and soil blocks
• Why “one size fits all” is a myth in seed sowing
• My no-fuss compost method for soil blocks
• Which seeds thrive with each method (hint: poppies love the wild life)
• The golden rule: Match your method to your lifestyle, space, and sanity
• Common mistakes to avoid (and why your cardboard pots might be the problem)

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Soil Blocking 101 Blog
• The Great Seed Sowing Debate Blog

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and share it with a flower-loving friend. And don’t forget to follow so you never miss a bloom-filled conversation.

Welcome to the Blooming Garden Podcast — the go-to space for aspiring and established flower farmers who want to grow beautiful blooms and build a thriving business.

In this episode, I’m tackling one of the biggest questions I get asked time and time again:

“How do I start a flower farm?”

Whether you’ve got a tiny patch of lawn, a couple of raised beds, or a whole field to play with, this episode gives you a clear, step-by-step plan to help you get growing — without the overwhelm.

Here’s what we cover:

Defining your goals — and why you need to know your "why" before you sow a single seed

• What to grow: my top 5 beginner-friendly, high-value flowers
• How to plan your first season like a pro (even if you hate spreadsheets!)
• Why marketing before your flowers bloom is your secret weapon
• How to find customers and make sales, even in your very first season

Plus, I share why starting small is the best thing you can do to succeed long-term — and why fancy tools or acres of land are absolutely not required.

Want to go deeper?

If you're ready to go from idea to income with your flower farm, Then register your interest for our course which launcher later this year:

Flower Farming 101: Start Your Business in 30 Days A practical 4-week roadmap to help you plan, grow, and sell with confidence.

Register Now for our waiting list

Free Resources Mentioned:

• Succession Planning Guide
• Planting Planners

Loved this episode?

Share it on Instagram and tag me @hampshireseedcompany — I’d love to see what you’re planning for your patch this season.

And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. See you next time!

In this episode, I’m joined by Ben Raskin, Head of Agroforestry at the Soil Association and author of The Woodchip Handbook, to talk about one of the most underrated (and free!) resources in the garden: woodchip.

We cover:

• What woodchip actually is (and the different types)
• How it supports fungi and microbial life in your soil
• The truth about nitrogen lock-up
• Why it helps with both drought and waterlogging
• How to use it around trees, borders, veg beds and more
• Where to get your hands on woodchip—without spending a fortune

Key Quotes:
“Woodchip is like fast food for fungi—full of cut ends, easy to break down, and full of potential.” – Ben Raskin
“Every bit of woody growth in your garden is captured sunlight. Don’t let it leave your system.” – Ben Raskin

🌱 Resources & Links:

• Buy The Woodchip Handbook – by Ben Raskin (Chelsea Green Publishing)
• Arbtalk – Register as a woodchip drop-off site
• 🎧 Listen to more episodes at [Your Website or Podcast Page Link]

🪴 Keep Exploring:

• How to Make Nettle Tea Fertiliser – another free garden boost you probably already have growing.
• Quick Compost: The Fast Way to Feed Your Soil
• Grow Again Next Year – The Essential Guide to Seed Saving

📩 Stay in the Loop:

Like what you heard? Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and sign up to the newsletter for weekly growing tips, podcast updates, and first dibs on new resources.

Ever felt overwhelmed by gardening advice that tells you to buy more, do more, and battle nature at every turn? What if there was a simpler, more sustainable way? In this episode, I chat with Jim and Sonia from The Edible Gardeners about their revolutionary approach to gardening, as featured in their new book The Circular Garden.

We’re talking:

• How to grow more with less – less waste, less cost, less stress
• Natural pest control that actually works
• Why “weeds” might just be your garden’s best friend
• The secret to composting without the fuss
• Simple ways to drought-proof your garden

If you’re looking for a practical, low-maintenance way to garden in harmony with nature (instead of fighting against it), this episode is packed with tips you can start using today!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ Why gardening isn’t about perfection – and how letting go of control can make your garden thrive.
✅ How Jim & Sonia’s garden became a case study in resilience – plus the biggest lessons from writing The Circular Garden.
✅ The power of planting strategy & timing – and why changing when and how you plant can protect your crops.
✅ Composting made simple – the biggest mistakes people make and how to fix them.
✅ Water conservation tips – how to garden without constant watering.
✅ Natural pest control without chemicals – how to work with nature to keep pests in check.
✅ Why your entire garden is a habitat – and how even small urban gardens can support biodiversity.

Links & Resources:

Get Your Copy of The Circular Garden direct from Jim & Sonia : www.ediblegardeners.co.uk
Follow Jim & Sonia on Instagram: @reasonablygoodlife
Follow our blogs & Growing Guides : www.thehampshireseedco.com

Ever sown seeds early in the season, only to watch them sit there doing nothing for weeks? Meanwhile, someone sows the same variety a few weeks later, and suddenly their plants are thriving while yours are still sulking. So what’s going on?

The answer lies in daylight length and the Equinox. In this episode, we’re diving into how plants measure light, why some flowers simply refuse to grow before the Equinox, and how you can time your sowings perfectly for better results.

I’ve learned these lessons the hard way—sowing too early and watching seedlings struggle, then waiting just a little longer and seeing them take off like rockets. Timing really is everything, and today, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned so you don’t have to make the same mistakes!

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✔️ What the Equinox is and why it affects plant growth
✔️ How photoperiodism works and why some plants respond to light differently
✔️ Why Cosmos, Zinnias, and Sunflowers sulk if sown too early
✔️ The best timing for sowing short-day, long-day, and day-neutral plants
✔️ Real-life examples from my own seed sowing this year

Resources & Links Mentioned:
Read the Full Blog Post on the Equinox & Plant Growth →HERE
Explore My Favourite Flower Seeds & Growing Guides →HERE

Share & Subscribe!
If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow grower who might be sowing too early! And don’t forget to subscribe to The Blooming Garden Podcast so you never miss an episode.

I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever had seeds sulk because they were sown too early? Let me know in the comments or tag me on @thehampshireseedcompany with your thoughts!

Thanks for listening, and happy growing!

Do you want to double your flower harvest without adding a single extra row? Whether you’re a flower farmer, a backyard grower, or just someone who wants more blooms from less space, today’s episode is for you!

I’m sharing the three essential techniques every grower needs to maximize production—without extra land, fancy tools, or complicated setups. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your flowers stronger, taller, and blooming for longer, this episode is packed with practical, actionable advice to help you do just that.

In this episode, you’ll learn about the 3 pillars of more blooms:
The power of cut-and-come-again flowers—why some plants thrive when you keep cutting and which varieties are the best for it.
Pinching for bushier, more productive plants—which flowers love a strategic snip (and which ones don’t!).
Succession sowing made simple—how to keep your cutting patch producing all season long without that dreaded mid-summer gap.

Must-Have Resources & Links:
FREE Download: My cheat sheet of which flowers to pinch (and which ones to leave alone!) – [Grab it here]
Read the Full Blog: A step-by-step breakdown of how to put these techniques into action – [Click here]
Related Episode: Love this topic? Check out my Blogpost on Cut-and-Come-Again Flowers – [Click here]

Let’s Connect!

📸 Share your success: Tried any of these techniques? I’d love to see! Tag me on Instagram @thehampshireseedco and let’s chat.
⭐ Support the podcast: If you found this episode helpful, please leave a quick review! It helps more growers find this content and keeps me motivated to share even more tips.
🎧 Subscribe & Listen: Never miss an episode! Follow The Blooming Garden Podcast on your favorite platform.

Happy growing, and I’ll see you next time!

In this episode, I sit down with Rainy from Cherry Tree Flower Farm to talk all things willow. From growing it successfully in wet conditions to harvesting, weaving, and using it in floristry, Rainy shares her incredible knowledge built over years of working with this sustainable and versatile plant. Whether you're looking to grow willow for weaving, floristry, or even as a windbreak, this episode is packed with expert advice.

Takeaways

• Willow thrives in damp soil but still needs full sun to grow well.
• The best way to plant willow is from a cutting—just push it into the ground and let nature do its thing.
• Harvesting is best done in winter when the leaves have dropped and the sap has gone down.
• Willow must be coppiced (cut back) every year to produce long, straight rods for weaving.
• Different varieties are suited to different purposes—choose the right type based on what you want to use it for.
• Dried willow can last indefinitely if stored correctly and can be rehydrated when needed.
• Willow is fantastic for wildlife, providing early-season pollen for pollinators.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Cherry Tree Flower Farm
Flowers from the Farm
ArbTalk – Free Woodchip for Gardens
The Living Jigsaw – Book on Garden Ecosystems
Ben Raskin’s Book on Woodchip
Tolhurst Organic – Sustainable Farming

Follow The Hampshire Seed Company and The Untamed Garden

The Blooming Garden Podcast
Instagram.com/thehampshireseedcompany
thehampshireseedco.com

Rate, Review & Follow

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you could take a moment to rate and review the show. It helps me create more episodes packed with useful, practical advice to help you grow with confidence. And if you haven’t already, make sure you’re following the podcast so you never miss an episode.

In this special last-minute episode, I address the flood of questions I've received about sweet peas—from customers, journalists, and bloggers. I share my personal tips on when and how to sow sweet peas, the benefits of autumn versus spring sowing, and how to keep your plants strong and blooming from May through September. Whether you’re dealing with leggy seedlings or wondering if you should soak your seeds, I break down everything you need to know to enjoy a vibrant display of sweet peas all season long.

Takeaways

• Sweet peas are hardy annuals that bloom best when sown in autumn for early flowering the following year.
• Sowing in a greenhouse or cold frame helps prevent leggy growth, while ensuring proper airflow minimizes the risk of damping off.
• Pinching out tall, floppy tips not only keeps the plants bushy but also lets you root the cuttings for extra plants..
• Regular cutting every two to three days prevents seed set and encourages continuous blooming.
• After years of practice, I’ve discovered that soaking sweet pea seeds isn’t necessary
• Protect your seeds and seedlings from pests like mice, squirrels, and slugs with simple covers or barriers.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Growing Sweet Peas Blog
Sweet Peas from Cuttings Blog

Follow The Hampshire Seed Company and The Untamed Garden
The Blooming Garden Podcast
Instagram.com/thehampshireseedcompany
thehampshireseedco.com

Rate, Review & Follow

If you found this episode helpful, please consider rating and reviewing the show. Your feedback motivates me to continue sharing practical gardening advice and tips. And don’t forget to follow the podcast to stay updated with the latest episodes. Happy growing, and see you next time.