The Cutting Garden : November 2026

It’s been a while since I wrote a Cutting Garden update. There simply hasn’t been much to do. Everything that can be, has been left to go to seed. The scorched or soaked flower beds have been left to recover. Next years seeds have germinated nicely. Despite the challenges of the year, the cutting garden has been looking after itself. This is something I’m really focusing on going forward. It’s given me time to attend to life indoors and prep the house for what looks to be a busy month of Christmas workshops.

However, there was a joyful nip in the air this week. Finally the weather and the month are holding hands. It was delightful to feel the sting of cold as I did the bins. The only downside was reaching for my winter coat but that’s another thing…

I have loved the warm weather but it’s been strange. Deep in my brain old cycles were telling me that things should be happening that weren’t. There is normally a point in September when the urge to order spring bulbs takes hold. It didn’t turn up. Instead an email from Hayloft Plants arrived in my inbox last week which finally prompted me to order some spring bulbs.

For Spring 2027, I’m approaching bulbs as a ‘normal’ person rather than a person who grows and sells flowers. Why? They are SO expensive and SO temperamental. I LOVE tulips, they signal the end of winter and bring absolute joy to the cut flower garden. They just don’t bring in enough money and take up a lot of space which I need for crops that bring in the cash. Simple as that.

The good news is they love flowering in pots, you can really squeeze ’em in.

When I have been tidying up and putting bits away. The big pots which scatter themselves around the garden all summer have been gathered together. When my new bulbs arrive, they are due any day. They’ll be planted up and kept somewhere dry but not too dry and damp but not too damp. Basically along all the pathways between the beds. They are happily planted in a mix of basic compost, if you have squirrels put a top of chicken wire over your pots to stop them being dug up.

If you haven’t grown tulips before, please add some, somewhere. They are always worth it. If you’d like to know more about bulbs, these two links will give you plenty to read!

The Cutting Garden : Planting Spring Bulbs 

Spring : A look at what’s to come

Into the greenhouse now and my Autumn sown seedlings have been germinating beautifully. Mostly. I used up a few old seed packets, those have had mixed results but the seed picked straight from the plant and sprinkled are looking so good. Strawflowers, are having the absolute best time. One seed tray has already been potted up, the next two are ready for the big seed trays. This gives the cutting garden a great start on next years flowers. There is only one wedding on the books for next year. I have plenty of availability if you’d like gorgeous seasonal flowers for your wedding day. These strawflowers will be used for that wedding and hopefully a few more as 2027 unfolds.

Unless you sow a few sweet peas, my advice would be to hold off sowing anything until the Spring arrives. Winter gives plenty of time to perhaps plan new beds and get them ready for next year.

The summer was hard for my beds. After 6 years and two change overs of crops per year, my instinct is telling me to let them rest. I have cut back all the dahlia’s and will give them a big mulch when I’m next outside. I’ll add fresh (well rotted) manure and compost the the hardest hit middle bed and then leave until spring. In the greenhouse alongside the strawflowers are hundreds of tiny snap dragon seedlings. They are the sweetest. It’s amazing such tiny seeds give me so much motivation to work throughout the winter. These teeny plants deserve the best growing conditions. The plan is to get the cut flower beds into great shape ready for Spring planting.

If you’d like more November garden chat, this post from last year is very good.

That’s it for now, this months lesson is; to be patient and let things go quiet once in a while.  I’ve been given a funny looks when it comes to my business lately. Yes it’s small but it’s ok. Honestly, I like it this way. It’s just where it needs to be.

A little reminder, I will be running some gorgeous Festive Floral Workshops. You can see all the dates here. The workshops I run from home show how connected everything is. We’ll be making Wild Garden Wreaths or Festive Garlands and Table Decorations. I have designed them to give you the skills and confidence to grow and work with flowers from a Cutting Garden. You can email or send me a DM on Instagram to book.