Grow Summer-Long Flowers That Are a Cut Above the Rest

Summary

---

The beauty of flowers has, throughout history, inspired us to bring them indoors to decorate and fragrance our homes; from the intricate detail of a single flower, to enormous lavish displays for weddings and other occasions. According to the Flowers and Plants Association we spend Pounds 28 per person on cut flowers a year, with about 60 per cent for ourselves and the remainder as gifts. Most of our cut flowers are imported from brighter, lighter, warmer climes such as Colombia, Israel and Kenya. Many pass through Holland on the way; still a major grower and the main dealer in cut flowers.

However, there is a growing trend to grow and buy British. Kate Middleton's wedding bouquet was subtle and seasonal and everything was grown in the UK. The lily of the valley came from Ferndale Farm in Cornwall and other flowers were cut from royal estates. Throughout the year flowers and foliage in our gardens can be cut and brought indoors. As we enter into the most abundant months for fruit and vegetable harvests we also have the richest palette of flowers ready for picking.

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

Grow Summer-Long Flowers That Are a Cut Above the Rest

Growers look for specific qualities in a cut flower such as a good colour; long stem length and good shelf life, which does not always go hand in hand with qualities like fragrance. Roses, for example, picked at home may not last as long as bought flowers but the chances are that the scent wi...

See the full content of this document

---