Elizabeth

Snapdragons, or antirrhinums, are one of those flowers that really reward patience. They take their time to get going, but once they do, they give weeks of colour and wonderful, long stems for cutting. For us, they’re an essential early-summer flower, bridging the gap between spring and the height of the cutting season. This is how I sow and grow snapdragons here, along with a few lessons learned along the way. Why sow snapdragons early Snapdragons are half-hardy annuals and naturally slow to...

Growing Sweet Peas for Fragrance and Cutting Sweet peas are one of those nostalgic flowers that feel woven into early summer itself. Their ruffled petals, climbing stems and unmistakable scent make them a favourite for cutting gardens, and once you’ve grown them, it’s hard to imagine a year without them. For me, sweet peas are all about scent and abundance. They are flowers you grow to cut, armfuls at a time, bringing the perfume of the garden indoors and sharing it generously. With the right...

The first real frosts arrived at Birch Farm this week. That bright, icy glaze that settles over everything in the early morning always feels like a quiet turning point in the season. Frost changes the way the farm looks, the textures, the colours, even the sound of your boots on the ground. It’s a reminder that winter is very much on its way. It also reminded me, rather sharply, that I’d forgotten to cover my trays of seedlings. Every grower makes this mistake at some point, but it still...