Market Gardens

[bonniethomas06]

Hi,

I am toying with the idea of renting another field for a market garden - for flowers. I am not talking exotic blooms, rather nice british cottage garden cutting flowers, to sell at farmers markets.

Does anyone have any experience of this? I would love to hear if so. It wouldn't be a major industry or anthing, but just a bit of extra pocket money - and would be seasonal, obviously.

I am thinking it is not a major investment to start with (apart from bare root rose bushes) but if I did a floristry course, locally grown country flowers would be a bit of a selling point for weddings and things. And if it all goes wrong, I would only be left with a field full of pretty flowers and worse things have happened.

I can grow a lot of things from seed (have already started) like delphers, aconitus, stocks, anthirrinum, artemesia, euphorbia - all things which cost an arm and a leg at florists.

Any thoughts??

[niknik]

go for it !

got to be worth a try, if no major investmentrequired. and , if a lack of sales, you´ll have a house full of lovely flowers!

also if dont sell, could consider drying all the petals, to sell for pot-pourri!, or dry flower arrangements!

[boboff]

GREAT IDEA!

[locum76]

there's a lady who rents one of the polytunnels at my work to do just that, she works two days a week and occasionaly at the weekends for events such as weddings. It seems to work out okay because she's done it for 2 years.

[Clarry]

Fab idea!

[Thomzo]

Hi

If you have the time, why not? But how about growing herbs alongside? Many herbs look lovely in a flower display and, of course, smell wonderful. Then, at the end of the season, you can use the herbs in chutneys and sauces. On the Chelsea programme they used herbs in flower displays so it's high fashion. Think mint, fennel, curry plant (yellowish flowers and grey foliage), lemon balm, marjoram, rosemary, lavender.

The other thing is to grow foliage plants. It's the one thing the supermarkets forget but good quality foliage really helps a display. A lot of evergreens are suitable and you can use it to supplement out of season floral displays.

Good luck.

Zoe

[happyhippy]

I think its a fab idea!Maybe its time people considered more where their flowers come from.The focus has been food,so why not flowers!Might be a good place to have some hives too and go down the honey route???

[Nomada]

lovely idea, I think its worth a go!

[Lucy Robyn]

This is a good idea, local ethical flowers are all the fashion now.

Don't forget flowers and seed heads for drying to extend the season.

Approach floristry courses with caution, they are probably based on imported commercially available flowers and not home grown ones. I used to be a florist (and have had some thoughts along this business idea myself) but alot of what I did in retail floristry doesn't really apply to garden flowers. Traditional retail is quite formal whilst ethical is more free (hand tired bouquets) in style. That said you do need some training if you're thinking of doing weddings (and lots of patience with bossy mothers and fussy brides!) and I've been out of the trade for 15 years. If you haven't done so already do have a good look at peoples web sites and don't forget Interflora as that will give you an idea of whats going on in the mainstream commercial floristry.

Don't forget Mothering Sunday and Valentines day are both big business for florists and are early in the season.

Good luck.

[MuddyWitch]

GO FOR IT!!!

MW

[bonniethomas06]

Fab ideas, especically the herbs.

Thanks all.