As a flower farmer in my first full season, I can honestly say it has been a total whirlwind – full of joy, a few tears, and a whole lot of learning.

I’ve learned more than I ever imagined about planning, resilience, and how every single decision shapes the growing season. Running a flower farm isn’t just about planting seeds and watching them bloom – it’s about carefully planning for continuous colour, reliable stems, and weather surprises. It’s been a real test-and-learn kind of year, and every decision I’ve made has helped shape what’s next for Evie & Flo.

With just under 67 square metres of growing space (that’s less than 0.02 of an acre!), every single bed, row, and patch of soil has to pull its weight. Whether it’s for our flower stand, markets, subscriptions or our lovely florists – it all starts with a plan.

And right now, I’m deep in the thick of planning what to grow for next year.

🌤 What This Year Taught Me (The Hard Way!)

Where do I even begin? This season has been a tough one. Weeks without proper rain, scorching heat, and pest pressure have made growing a real challenge.

In the spring, our tulips all decided to bloom at once (typical!) and I was left trying to pick, bunch, and sell them in a matter of days. Some were stunted, and we lost quite a few to tulip fire, a fungal disease that damages the bulb and flowers.

Then our ranunculus – usually the stars of spring – completely failed after it got too hot too fast. And as for the sweet peas? They gave me one stunning flush and then quickly gave in to aphids and mildew, no matter how much I watered, fed, or deadheaded.

One of my biggest regrets? Not planting nearly enough biennials. I felt the gap they were meant to fill more than ever – and I’m making sure I don’t make that mistake again.

🌷 Bulbs – The First Splash of Colour

Planning bulbs feels like laying the very first brick of the season ahead. This year, I’m being more thoughtful with tulip timings, choosing a mix of early, mid and late bloomers so I don’t get hit with another overwhelming glut.

I’m also going for stronger varieties that can withstand our unpredictable weather, and I’ll be growing in crates again to control any disease issues, blooming times and get a bit of extra protection.

I’m also trying out a few more Narcissi varieties and adding in some Alliums!

🌼 Biennials – The Unsung Heroes

Biennials like Sweet Williams, Hesperis and Foxgloves are sown in late summer and planted out in autumn for flowering the following year. They are critical for bridging the gap between spring bulbs and summer annuals.

This year, not planting enough was one of my biggest mistakes. It left a lull in the field just when it should’ve been buzzing with colour and texture.

So I’m tripling my numbers this time. I’m picking ones I know will thrive here and give me colour, height, scent, and structure just when I need it most.

🌱 Hardy Annuals – Reliable and Early

Hardy annuals are some of my favourites – they’re the first to bounce into bloom after the bulbs. Think Ammi, Cornflowers, Calendula, Nigella and Snapdragons.

This year taught me how important it is to sow some in autumn and again in spring. That way, I’ve got flowers ready early and still coming in later. I’m also focusing more on drought-tolerant varieties that can handle dry spells without sulking.

One of the (many!) lessons I learned this year is how important it is to stay on top of netting. I can't tell you how many times I looked at a bed and thought, "I’ll net that tomorrow," only to come back and realise everything had grown too tall to do it properly. Netting early saves time, supports stems, and prevents the dreaded flop. Next year, I’m making it a non-negotiable part of bed prep!

“Net - Net - Net - Net - Net!”

🌸 Tender Annuals – Summer’s Show-Offs

These are the ones that really bring the drama – Cosmos, Zinnias, Dahlias, Celosia, Sunflowers. They love the heat, but even they struggled a bit this year.

I’m choosing heat-tolerant types and spacing them better for airflow. I need every plant to work hard, so I’m focusing on those that give lots of stems, last in the vase, and hold up well in bouquets.

🌿 Perennials & Foliage – Building for the Future

I’ve slowly been adding more perennials and reliable foliage plants – things that keep coming back and fill out bouquets beautifully.

They’re not only good for structure, but also cut down how much I need to sow from seed each year. Plus, pollinators love them and they’re often more tolerant of our weather extremes.

This year, I’ve totally fallen in love with Lupins. I will be sowing my seeds over the next week to over winter them in the Greenhouse to plant out in spring.

🛒 Seeds – Where the Magic Begins

Buying seeds is one of my favourite parts of planning – but it’s also a slippery slope if I’m not careful! It’s easy to add a hundred things to your basket and forget you’ve only got a few beds to plant them in.

This year, I’m being more disciplined:

Stick with the proven workhorses – Things like Cosmos, Orlaya, Calendula, Cornflowers, Scabious and Statice.
Listening to you! My amazing customers – if it sold well or got lots of love at the stand, it’s staying!
Think about yield and value – every seed needs to earn its keep. Stem count, vase life, being able to create different beautiful combos with.
Try a few new things – it keeps things fun and helps me find new favourites (And gives me that naughty dopamine hit when I know I still don’t have space!)

I’m also ordering earlier this year, especially for autumn sowing. I missed out on a few favourites last time by not making my mind up quickly enough!

Where I Get My Seeds:

I try to buy from UK-based, ethical, and good-value seed suppliers. Some of my favourites include:

Chiltern Seeds – for something a bit different
Moles Seeds – good for bulk and reliability

Alma Proust – small but beautifully curated
The Hampshire Seed Company – excellent value and good quality, especially for small-scale growers
Marlston Farmgirl - a lovely selection and some great unusual finds
Plants of Distinction – lovely variety and a few wildcards
Forever Green Flower Company – fab fillers and reliable hardy annuals

...and honestly, anywhere with good value and solid quality gets my attention. Budget matters.

🌍 Sustainable, Adaptable Growing

If this year has proven anything, it’s that growing sustainably isn’t optional – it’s essential. I’m:

Picking varieties that need less watering
Adding more compost and mulch to help retain moisture improving the overall health of my soil.
Growing with pollinators and wildlife in mind. Where the field got a little wild with weeds, I left it a little longer than I probably should have. As a result of that the garden was a wash of ladybirds, Large White and Peacock Butterflies! Evie absolutely loves trying to find them in the jungle that is our garden!
Planning better for gaps and being flexible when things aren’t quite going to plan.

It’s not just about being eco-conscious – it’s about creating a resilient, future-proof farm.

💬 What Would You Love to See Next Year?

This is where you come in. Whether you’ve bought from the stand or visited us at the market – your opinion matters.

Tell me:

What flowers would you love to see next season?
Were there colours or textures you missed this year?
Got a favourite bloom I should try?

Drop me a message, reply to our newsletter, or pop a comment on Instagram – I’d love to hear your thoughts while I finish finalising next year’s list.

Thanks for being part of the journey <3

Behind the Scenes: Planning Next Year’s Flowers at Evie & Flo