What did I learn in my first year of flower farming?

To put it simply, A LOT.

Over the past 12 months, I have lived and breathed everything to do with flowers and flower farming. It has very easily become my life, and to say I am obsessed is an understatement—my huge piles of flower-growing books will prove it.

I've discovered a wonderful, supportive flower-growing community out there. Not just in New Zealand, but worldwide. Connecting with others in the flower world, hearing their stories, and learning from their experiences has been incredibly uplifting. It helps me feel less alone on this sometimes isolating solo business path.

While I anticipated hard work, the reality of growing flowers for sale was even more intense than I had imagined. It's not the glamorous job many might think; unfortunately, it does not involve floating around in a pretty dress with flowers in your hair and a basket and scissors in your hand 😂. The reality is very different and much less glamorous… think muddy gum boots, dirty clothes, and a lot of dirt under the fingernails. There have been moments when I'd go for a morning swim in the ocean and then head straight out into the garden, forgetting to comb my hair before delivering flowers! Definitely not a pretty sight, lol.

During my first year, I learned a huge amount about the flower farming industry and myself. Without a doubt, my first year of flower farming felt like navigating through massive learning curves with episodes of overwhelm and joy scattered throughout. Here's a glimpse into my journey and some of the lessons I've gathered along the way.

Flower support is a must, especially second-tier level

One of the key lessons I learned this year was the importance of staking and providing support netting for flowers. I faced challenges with some of my beds, particularly where I neglected to add a second layer of netting for taller plants. This oversight made it difficult to harvest straight, sturdy stems (instead of wonky or sideways ones).

I'm not fond of the commercial flower support netting, which is typically made of plastic. In the upcoming season, I plan to experiment with creating my support system using strong twine or rope, anchored around support stakes. My husband (and I’m sure other flower farmers) will think this is nuts and not cost-effective but I can’t shake the image of this netting ending up floating in the ocean one day. I'm determined to find an eco-friendly alternative to plastic, even if it requires extra time and effort. With my small growing space, I believe it's worth the challenge to try and reduce my plastic load on the environment.

Sow hardy annuals

I’ve learned to sow as many hardy annuals in the autumn as space allows. This helps to ease the load of the huge volume of seed sowing in early spring. Honestly, there was hardly time to breathe during spring and early summer.

I also discovered that you need to sow more seeds than you need. Not all seeds germinate and not all seedlings thrive so it is better to have more than not enough. You can always give away extra little seedlings to friends and family if needed.

Compost, feed, and mulch

Consistent feeding, composting, and mulching throughout the season are essential for healthy plants. Last season, I had to skip some of these practices due to time constraints, and I noticed that my flowers could have benefited from the extra care to stay healthy and ward off pests and diseases which show in the later part of the season.

This season I will block out time in my diary to regularly look after the soil and plant health, and I’ll label it as a priority so I won’t skip this important task.

Keep a garden flower journal

One of the most valuable tools I've discovered in my flower farming journey is keeping a weekly journal. By documenting what's thriving, what needs extra support, the flowering and harvest periods for each variety, and the yield per plant, I've created an essential reference for myself. This journal is my personal guidebook, helping me reflect on what worked well, what could be improved, and setting realistic expectations for the future.

I'll admit, sometimes when things get exceptionally busy, I tend to put note-taking aside, thinking I'll remember everything. But keeping track of all the details can be overwhelming, especially during the first few years of flower farming when there's so much to learn and absorb. Over time, this journal will become my ally, helping me stay organised, focused, and fine-tune my expectations for each flower variety as I continue this journey.

Clean buckets, sharpen snips

Maintaining clean buckets and sharp flower snips is essential for successful flower farming. While cleaning buckets after each use might seem tedious, it's crucial for ensuring the longevity of your harvested flowers and foliage. This simple task doesn't take much time and allows your carefully grown blooms to drink fresh, clean water, which is vital for their health.

It's surprising how quickly your flower snips and pruners need sharpening. Good quality snips are an investment, and looking after them is crucial since they are used every day in flower farming. Keeping them sharp ensures a clean cut when you harvest your beloved flowers and foliage, which contributes to their overall health and longevity.

Plant a flower bed with others that have a similar nature, height, and needs

One valuable lesson I've learned in flower farming is the importance of planting a flower bed with plants that have similar nature, height, and needs. Providing plant support becomes much easier when the plants in one bed are approximately the same height. It might seem obvious now, but it's easy to overlook such details in the beginning!

Keeping plants with similar heights, growth patterns, and needs together also simplifies the process of harvesting and removing finished plants. Clearing one entire bed at a time is much more efficient than dealing with plants that vary in height and harvest times. When a bed has different growth patterns, it can become messy and challenging to manage.

A gardening belt or apron

While you can manage without a gardening belt or apron, it can be quite helpful if you tend to misplace things in the garden like I do. Having one can save you time by keeping all your essentials—different snips, secateurs, ties, phone, and sanitising spray for tools—within easy reach. It's not a necessity, but it certainly is useful and makes your time in the garden more efficient.

Remember to take photos or videos

I often get so absorbed in my work that I forget to pause and take photos or videos. Being a private person, I don't naturally think to share what I'm doing, but I appreciate how important it is for connection, and this is something I'd like to improve on. Although I had planned to document and share more throughout my first flower growing season, I often felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount I had to learn on the go, coupled with other life events thrown into the mix.

I also felt a little self-conscious that my flower farm wasn't set up in the traditional way and was spread across different venues. By January, my beds were starting to accumulate a few weeds due to being so busy. Additionally, I was diligent about harvesting my flowers for bouquets and bunches, which left fewer flowers visible in the beds at any given time. In reality, working flower fields aren't as picturesque as one might imagine, making it difficult to share that reality.

But next season, I am committed to taking more photos and sharing more of the journey 🌻.

Connect with other growers

Connecting with other growers both in New Zealand and internationally has been really helpful for me. The support, knowledge, and friendships with others on the same journey are invaluable. Working on your own can sometimes feel isolating, but knowing others are on a similar path helps you to feel part of a community.

Plan

I admit it—I’m a bit of a planner. I love mapping out every detail and working with spreadsheets full of dates and information. Sometimes, though, I need to be careful not to over-plan and get bogged down in the details.

Having a plan is crucial when it comes to seed sowing schedules, growing your business, deciding what to grow, understanding what sells, and ultimately, achieving your dream. For me, if something isn’t in my diary, it tends to get lost in the shuffle and becomes part of a huge ‘to-do’ list in my head, which can be overwhelming.

Putting your dream down on paper or a digital document like Google Docs and planning out your steps can create mental space, allowing you to be more creative in your work.

Write down your dream, list your goals, break them down, and schedule them in your diary. Then, go for it.

Massage and self-care

Setting aside time for regular massages or moments of self-care is essential, especially during the hectic spring and early summer seasons. When we’re busy, self-care is often the first thing we neglect. However, without it, we risk burning out or sustaining injuries.

Prioritising our well-being is key to maintaining our ability to do what we love, especially when the work is physically and mentally demanding. Take the time to care for yourself so you can continue to thrive.

Wrapping Up: A Year of Lessons and More to Come 🌼

There is so much more that I learned in my first year, and if I wrote them all down, this would become one very long journal note. Over the next year, I will keep sharing what I am learning, in hopes that some of these points resonate with you and help if you decide to venture into the flower farming world.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Stay tuned for more insights, tips, and stories from the field.

All the best if you are on a flower-growing journey too.

With love x

Melanie

What I learned in my first year flower farming