J A N U A R Y
T A L E S F R O M T H E
C U T T I N G G A R D E N
Happy New Year! Here we are in 2023 on a slightly grey winters day. For us as growers January is a time to slow down and catch a breath before preparing for the year ahead. The seedlings in our poly tunnel and greenhouses need tending to, seeds and tubers sourced, gardens & sheds tidied and upcoming wedding plans finalised.
Already in our greenhouse and battling against the cold; Orlaya, Cornflower, Calendula, Sweet Peas, Daucus and many more seedlings springing into life promising the beginning of spring will soon be upon us. Frost blankets are at the ready to tuck them up from the threat of frost and many bulbs that were planted in the Autumn have already began to slowly emerge from the soil, their rate of growth guided by the air temperature.
January brings with it the exciting task of ordering seeds to sow in the Spring. Spreadsheets of successions have been created to ensure that each season produces flowers that compliment each other and its foliage - soft pastels in early Spring, warm brights in Summer and rich burnt tones in late Summer/Autumn. Seed buying is a little like a sweet shop for us and we can't help but get excited by visions of overflowing greenhouses and abundant cutting gardens.
This year we have tried something different with our dahlias than past years and instead of digging up, laying into crates and protecting from frosts, we have left each one under the ground with a warm layer of mulch. We can't pretend this doesn't feel a little daunting but what is flower farming without a little risk! Just to be safe and to build up our crop some new tubers in our favourite colours and varieties are on the way to us from Peter Nyssen.
The last of 2022's dried flowers have been bunched up and will be available to purchase at Make Holt in the coming weeks. Each bouquet is unique and full of character and movement - this year we plan to dry many more varieties of flowers and create artistic bunches to sell across Norfolk.
Wishing you a wonderful February and thank you for reading!
Harriet & Emily
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