The Cut Flower Patch
When I first started writing my blog one of the topics closest to my heart was growing cut flowers on my allotment. I have been a little quiet on the subject this year and that’s because I have been writing a book about it. Up until now I haven’t been able to say too much but at last I no longer have to keep it a secret. So I thought I’d tell you a little bit about it and give you a sneaky peek inside.
The book is called The Cut Flower Patch and it will be published on 6th March. Eeeeekkk!!! It’s all a little odd to be honest. This time last year I had just started the writing and had my first photo shoot. It’s hard to believe that I now have a finished book, I do find myself having to pinch myself. The book is a ‘how to’ guide to creating your own cut flower patch based on my own experiences over the last few years. When I first started growing flowers for cutting I thought I would need lots of space, which I didn’t have, for it to be successful, but it’s surprising what you can do even with a small patch of soil. The book covers everything from preparing a site and how to grow, to how to make your flowers last once picked. There is a whole section devoted to the flowers I’ve found to be the most productive and ideas about how to extend the cutting season using pickings from your garden and the hedgerows.
A section from Chapter 2 of The Cut Flower Patch
I love my cut flower patch, and it’s so addictive planning my list of what I want to grow next year. I really hope the book will inspire others to cut their own too. It frustrates me that so many flowers are flown half way around the globe. The environmental cost of this is huge. Then there’s the lack of any real choice, originality or seasonality. There are so many plants out there which make stunning cut flowers but we seem to be mainly offered lilies, chrysanthemums and carnations. There’s nothing wrong with any of these flowers as such but I’d like a bit of variety, blooms which reflect the seasons and ones which haven’t damaged the planet in the process. The theme of sustainability runs through the book with thrifty ideas of what to use as vases and using local suppliers and resources where possible.
A section taken from Chapter 9 of The Cut Flower Patch
Writing a book is an odd process. It has been fun, fascinating and at times frustrating. I feel really privileged to have had the opportunity. Like any other job, it comes with its stresses though. For a long period of time it is your baby and then you hand it over to the publisher and you realise it’s a collaboration where the finished product ends up a collection of ideas rather than just your own. I heard an interview with the crime writer Ian Rankin recently in which he said a draft copy of one of his books came back from the editor with a whole character removed from it!!! It can be quite a lonely process too. The ideas were in my head, it was up to me to produce the goods, and in the case of this book that meant not only the words but also the flowers. As a gardener I have always been fairly obsessed by the weather but that was taken to new levels this year. The coldest and latest spring on record followed by such a hot July played havoc with my plans. At times you start to take it personally. Growing flowers for cutting is really easy, growing them for a specific time when a photo shoot has been booked is a whole other ball game. I had small windows of opportunity for my flowers and the allotment to look their best which led to a few sleepless nights and moments of panic. Should I dead head and risk there being no new flowers or should I leave them and risk there being no new flowers. Planned photo shoots had to be rescheduled and there was a point in June when I did wonder if the plot would ever look like summer. But, in the end, it all worked out well and I’m really pleased with the final product. I have Jason Ingram, a wonderful photographer to thank for capturing the flowers and my allotment so beautifully. The photo shoots were one of the best bits of the whole process. Generally they went past in a frantic, lack of sleep induced blur but I loved them. When I have to leave my allotment behind some time in the next year or so it will be lovely to have such a beautiful record of the space I love so much.
A sneaky peek inside -Chapter 8 of The Cut Flower Patch
The night before the last photo shoot I went up to the plot to give everything a final water and to make sure it was looking at its best. The sense of relief that I was nearly there was almost overwhelming. Tomorrow would be the culmination of all my hard work. I allowed myself a few minutes where I felt a real sense of pride, and then panic took over. The site is quite visible from the main road, and although I hadn’t experienced any problems with vandalism other plots on the other side of the road had. A horrible thought suddenly struck me – ‘What would happen if my flowers were sabotaged over night?’. It sounds funny and more than a tad paranoid now when I look back but this was it, a year’s worth of work now in front of me. The idea that something could happen to it over night was too hard to contemplate. Wellyman, bless him, stayed watch at the plot until 11pm. He probably would have slept up there if I had let him but fortunately our rational brains kicked in and everything was where it needed to be the following day.
So, in less than 4 months the book will be out there, which is quite scary. Of course, that’s always the point but it was an abstract thought when I first started this. The other consequence will be I’ll no longer be just Wellywoman. My cover will be blown!! Oh yes, and I need to get use to the publicity stuff which doesn’t come particularly naturally. So I’d better not forget this bit.
The Cut Flower Patch is available to pre-order now on Amazon here in the UK and in America or from Waterstones. If you would prefer to buy from your local bookshop you can pre-order from there too.
wellywoman 
Thanks for the peek! The book looks lovely–very well designed. And you just might inspire me to put more cut flowers in the garden next year!
Hi Sharon. Thank you, I’m very pleased with the design. I have found growing cut flowers very addictive. Each year another patch of soil is devoted to them. Hope you’ve got space to squeeze some more in. 🙂
Congratulations, it must be so exciting! As you know I would love to have flowers to pick so I will await your book with great interest. March is probably a bit late for me to start sowing seeds here, and I’ll have to have the flowers in the vegetable garden where they’d get irrigation. Thanks for sharing the preview, it makes the book seem very personal to us bloggers who follow you. Christina
Thanks Christina. The book is out at the start of March so hopefully that isn’t too late for your seed sowing. I think there are plants in it that will suit your climate and provide you with cut flowers. March is seen as one of the best times to publish a book in the UK. And, even though the book is finished, the actual physical books still have to make their way to the UK from the printers. It’s all a surprisingly long process. Little bits have snuck out on twitter about the book but I wanted the internal shots to go out first on the blog. I’ve enjoyed being able to share it with people. Now just hoping people like it. 🙂
It does look really lovely and you must have had a tremendous challenge with the weather. I share your reluctance to buy flowers that were flown half way round the world and yes to more grow your own. Well done and pressure off you can simply enjoy gardening again.
Thank you Sue. It’s lovely to have nice feedback.
Congratulations! Looks wonderful.
Thank you Eirlys. 🙂
Congratulations!!!
Thanks Donna. 🙂
It looks lovely 🙂
Congratulations, it looks fabulous, all the hard work has finally paid off and you’ve produced something to be proud of. I think I could do with the book, every year since I’ve had my allotment I’ve said I’m going to have a cutting patch but I still haven’t got round to it. Perhaps next year will be the year.
Hi Jo. Thank you. I hope you do get to start off a cutting patch. It’s fab and really addictive. In many ways it can be much more economical to grow some flowers rather than certain crops. Having a house full of flowers is a luxury I could never afford if I was to buy them but growing them myself means I can.
How exciting, congratulations!
Thank you. 🙂
Congrats, Louise! What an achievement after all these months of hard work. But it’s worth it, I’m sure, and I can hardly wait to see my own book finished so I know how exciting it is. I wish you lots of success and many happy readers 🙂
Thank you Annette. Ooo! You have a book out too. I will have to take a look. It is hard work and I do feel proud of it. Just hope people want to buy it now. That’s probably the scariest bit. Good luck with your book. Best wishes 🙂
Oh WW/Louise! Thank you for sharing the emotional tribulations of preparing your new book in such an honest way – I look forward to seeing the real thing in only a few months time. Ironically, after deciding during the year to utilise some of my little veg beds as nursery beds instead, I had also just decided to dedicate one of them to a cutting bed! How timely is this blowing-your-cover post, then?!! Perhaps the timing of the book is significant as it will be a lasting record of the joy you have received from working on this particular plot when your enforced move does indeed become a reality…
Hi Cathy, The last year has been a real insight into a world I knew very little about before. It has certainly made me look at books in a different way and make me appreciate the amount of work that has gone into them. I am so pleased to hear you’re planning a cutting patch because it’s just so much fun. There’s such a sense of pride when you can fill a bucket of super fresh home grown cut flowers. The timing of the book does feel a little serendipitous and I think myself incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful record of my allotment. 🙂
Congratulations, the book looks wonderful, the photos a delight with all your beautiful flowers. I will certainly place an order and learn what to do, I’m sure I can sacrifice one of my raised beds in the veggie garden!
Thank you Pauline you’re very kind. I hope you do grow some cut flowers and they’ll be the perfect accompaniment to your veg beds. 🙂
Great stuff – and you did get a top notch photographer: should be a stunning book. (and I don’t mean when you bop someone on the head with it…)
Next bit is marketing it…..
Thank you Anne. Yes, Jason is a super photographer and a really lovely guy. I was lucky to get to work with him.
Such a huge achievement, I’m not in the least surprised you had some funny minutes along the way, but the sneaky peaks show that the book itself is beautifully presented, and the content is sure to be attractive to so many people who share your frustrations with the whole “fly flowers round the world” thing. Funnily enough I have been thinking a lot about what I want out of my back garden, and one of the conclusions I have come to is that I want lots of colour, and am willing to sacrifice some vege growing space to get it. I think your book could really help, so role on 3rd March! Congratulations on finishing that phase, and good luck with the publicity bit.
Hi Janet. I don’t know what’s scarier, creating the book or the phase I’m now entering where I’m wondering whether people will like it and whether all the hard work will be worth it. Mmmm … giving it a few seconds thought, yep it’s this stage. 🙂 My plot was certainly colourful and even if you’re picking there are still flowers left over to provide colour and food for insects. I’m just planning what I’ll be growing next year and on a grey and miserable day it is cheering to think of all those flowers on my plot and in my house 🙂
Well done for all your hard work and effort. Can’t wait until next spring to get started on a cut flower patch. I only wish your book was out sooner!
Hi there, thanks for your kind words. I know it would be nice if the book could be out sooner but it’s a long old process. :)The book is finished but the physical book is still being put together by the printers. Not long now though. I hope you enjoy growing your own cut flowers.
Oh thanks for the sneaky peek WW or should I say Louise. You must be oh so excited. It’s a project that must have been worth all the hard work, sacrifices, panics etc. What a star you have in Wellyman watching over the plot. I only wish that I could put the book down on my Christmas pressie list but will have to speed read in early March:)
Hi Anna. I know Wellyman is such a star. He has helped so much with the book and photo shoots. I think he’s really enjoyed being involved in the whole process. I wish it was out for Christmas too but spring is seen as the best time to publish gardening books, apparently. And whilst the book is finished the physical book still needs to be put together and transported to the UK. So I’m not sure it would have made the Christmas deadline anyway. There’ll hopefully be plenty of time in March and April and I hope the book works and is easy to follow. 🙂
Congratulations, it must be wonderful to see all of your hard work captured in this book, it looks wonderful. I’m intending to grow a cutting patch at the allotment (and in the garden) next year, so I’ll be watching with interest. Wellyman sounds like an absolute star. I can just imagine what my other half would say if I suggested my allotment needed guarding! Well done again, you should be very proud of all you have achieved.
Hi CJ, Thank you, you’re very kind. It really means a lot that people have left such lovely comments. I always get excited when I hear people are going to start a cutting patch because mine gives me such pleasure. Yes, Wellyman is a star. He has been incredibly patient this year and has loved being involved in the whole process. :0
Congratulations – it looks wonderful. I did wonder if a cut flower patch was to be the subject as you’ve always been so passionate on the subject 🙂
Hi Michelle, Thank you. I’m really pleased with it. I did wonder if anyone might have guessed the subject. 😉
Congratulations to you! Can’t wait to get your fabulous book. 🙂 The cat’s out of the bag now Louise!
Hi Felicia, Thank you. I hope you enjoy the book. 🙂
Well done, and I have to say that I admire anyone who writes a published book of any kind.
Much as I like growing flowers I don’t actually cut many of them, apart from the sweet peas.
Needless to say I’m looking forward to reading your book as I’m sure that it will every bit as enjoyable as this blog is. xx
Thanks Flighty, It has certainly made me look at books in a different way now I know how much work goes into them. I know you don’t like to cut your flowers. I hope there might be some plants that you might want to include on your allotment though. I picked ones that are great for wildlife and my plot looked so colourful all summer long, even when I was picking. I hope you’ll enjoy the book. You’re very kind. X
Congratulations! The sneak peeks are “BEAUTIFUL”!!!
Can’t wait to get a copy!
Stacey
Thanks Stacey. That’s so lovely of you to say. Hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I never buy cut flowers, for all the reasons you mention (and the chemicals, and the water pollution, the conditions of the workers) but my garden gives generously. Altho I’ve never set out to plant to cut – except the roses. For the rest it’s foraging for what I can find.
Is ‘Wellywoman’ going to stake her claim to Google Authorship under her RL name?
Hi Diana. Yes there are lots of problems with the cut flower trade, hopefully more people will be encouraged to source locally grown flowers or even better grow their own.
Aha! Glad you’ve lifted the lid on your ‘secret project’ – I caught a glimpse the other day on Instagram so had a shuffle over to Amazon. Can we now call you by your UK Veg Gardeners name of Sweet Pea Lou? Haha, joking, of course! Seriously, fabulously well done, HUGE achievement – I’m so impressed by your perseverance in the face of weather adversity this year. It will be a huge wrench to leave the allotment behind so I hope that you’ll be able to get another one (or a large garden) at your next home. I think the book will be very timely; it seems to me that growing flowers for cutting is very topical – I’m definitely jumping on that bandwagon!
Hi Caro, Thank you. Yes the weather nearly did for me at times this year. It felt like Mother nature had it in for me. 😉 But I suppose it makes it all the more sweeter when you finally get through it. Yes, hopefully we’ll be able to get another plot, although I’m hoping I might get one more final year at this one. It will be very sad to leave it behind but new beginnings and opportunities and all that. There are few things as satisfying as a bucket-full of your own home grown flowers. I look forward to seeing what you think of growing. 🙂 Louise
Many Congratulations, can’t wait to buy the book in March. Will definately be trying flowers on our new plot next year & will rely on your expertise from the book to help. (Unless of course you want to come up & give a hand!) xxx
Thank you! I look forward to seeing the results. I’m sure there’ll be opportunity to give you some personal tips. 🙂 x
Congrats Louise! Looks fantastic, you must be delighted. Really looking forward to reading it come March.
Thanks Naomi. Yes I’m really pleased with it. Hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Congratulations – it looks lovely and I’m sure will do very well… coming out at just the right time, too!
Thanks Kate. I hope so. 🙂
well done wellywoman! you’re a dark horse Louise – brilliant topic. It breaks the mould of growing allotment flowers as mere companion plantings
🙂 Thank you. I really hope people like the idea behind it.
Fantastic news, and what a lovely record of your achievements and a place that has brought you so much pleasure. The glimpses look very inviting.
Thank you. I can’t wait to see the actual book. 🙂
This sounds as if it could be my sort of book as I am always on the look-out for ideas about what sort of flowers to grow for cutting.
Hi Sue, I hope the book will be just what you’re looking for. 🙂
Wow! Many many congratulations on a beautiful and useful book. You must be thrilled with this accomplishment!
Hi Nikki, Thank you. It’s a long process so I do have to remind myself at times that it’s something I should be proud of. 😉
How very exciting, WW. (Sorry I’ve been away and only just seen this post). The best of British with your endeavour and I hope it is a great success – I’m sure it will be. And thanks for the peeky sneak. Dave
Thanks Dave. I like a peeky sneak myself and I was a bit sick of having to keep it secret. ;)Hope the trip away was for pleasure and that you had a great time. Will there be a blog post? Lou
Several small trips and all were a pleasure thanks, LouWW. Seem to have lost the whole gardening blogging thang at the moment but I’m sure it’ll come back at some point soon! D
Sorry for the delay in commenting, but this is fantastic news, so excited for you. The book looks fabulous you must be very proud. what a stressful time for you but worth it all in the end.
Thanks Annie that’s very kind and yes I am really pleased with it.