The Ethical Florist

Sweet pea sow along part 2 🌱 By now are sweet peas should be germinated and growing well. Now we need to move them somewhere cooler to grow on or they’ll become leggy. Becoming leggy means the plants become too tall and spindly as they reach for the light resulting in weaker plants and disappointing flowers. Sweet peas prefer to grow in cool temperatures, around 10 degrees but they can tolerate lower as they are fairly hardy. I’ll be moving my seedlings to a zippy greenhouse outside. A cold frame would be perfect and you can make your own using a clear plastic lidded box, just drill some ventilation holes in the lid and place it somewhere sunny outside. The lid can be removed as needed. Before we move the seedlings outside, we’re going to pinch out the growing tip. This means removing the very top part of the main stem, just above a set of leaves. You should be able to pinch it out easily using your thumb and index finger, some clean scissors will work fine too. This will encourage the plant to become bushier rather than growing tall and result in more flowers! These pinched out tips can be placed in a glass of water on a sunny windowsill to root. Once rooted they can be potted up and grown on as new plants. Once you’ve moved your sweet peas to a greenhouse or cold frame, keep any eye on the weather. If a frost is forecast, cover them over night with a fleece blanket. Came back for part 3 soon where we’ll pot up our pinched out tips and create a structure for the sweet peas to grow up ready for planting out! How are your sweet peas doing? Let me know in the comments along with any questions 💕 Follow along for lots of cut flower growing tips & inspiration 🌱✨💐 #sweetpeas #sowingseeds #gardeningtips #flowergardening #gardeningforbeginners

Sow these beauties now for flowers that will start blooming in just a few short months 🌸 Snapdragons thrive in cooler weather, making them perfect for an early start. And they are very easy to get started: 🌸 fill a seed tray or an old fruit container, like I’m using (just make sure it has holes in the bottom), with compost. 🌸 gently scatter the tiny seeds over the top of the compost, don’t worry about being precise, snapdragons seeds a far too small for that and we will be thinning them out later. 🌸 the seeds need light so don’t cover them with compost, just very gently press them into the compost so they have good contact with the soil. 🌸 place the tray into a larger tray without holes in and water from the bottom so you don’t displace the seeds. You can also use a mister over the top if you prefer. 🌸 place on a sunny windowsill indoor, germination usually takes around 10-14 days. Stick around for part 2 coming soon where I’ll show you what to do with them once they’ve germinated 🌱✨💐 #snapdragons #growingflowers #sowingseeds #cutflowergarden #flowergardening

If you are limited on space or have poor soil quality then container gardening is your new best friend!🪴 This year I am redoing my front boarder as the soil is very poor here (new build rubble mixed with heavy clay 😣) so I am turning it into a container garden. Of course I want to fill it with mostly flowers I can cut and these are some of the best cut flowers I have found that thrive in pots: 🌸 Cosmos are fantastic for pots because they are lightweight, adaptable and thrive in well-draining soil, which containers provide. 🌸 Dahlia are perfect for containers, especially the dwarf varieties like Happy Single Kiss, Gallery Art Deco and Princess Laetitia. Bishops Children is also a gorgeous semi-dwarf dahlia that does well in pots and is one of my favourites to grow from seed. 🌸 Sweet peas not only grow well in containers but climb too, so are a brilliant space saving flower (with an unbeatable scent). 🌸 Compact varieties of sunflowers bring cheerful vibes to any corner and grow surprisingly well in limited soil space. My favourite is Vanilla Ice, it’s a brilliant cut flower. What are your favorite container-friendly flowers? Share below so I can add them to my shopping list 💕💕💕 Follow along for lots of cut flower growing tips and inspiration 🌱✨💐 #containergarden #flowersinpots #cutflowerpatch #gardeninginspiration #smallspacegardening

And now is a great time to sow these tiny seeds 🌱🌸 Did you know snapdragons got their name because their blooms look like tiny dragon mouths? 🐉 Just give them a gentle squeeze, and they “snap” open! 😄 Aside from being nature’s coolest named plant, these beautiful blooms are one of the most hardworking and prolific flowerers on my plot and are more often than not, the last flower standing come winter 💪 they flowered for 5 months straight on my plot last year! ✨ Snapdragons are very easy to grow from seed and easy to care for. And now is the perfect time to get them started undercover. Sow the tiny seeds thinly in a shallow seed tray filled with compost and leave on a sunny windowsill or greenhouse to germinate. 🌱 I’ll be sowing more snapdragons over the coming weeks so keep a look out for a more detailed sow-along video coming soon! Follow along for lots of cut flower growing tips & inspiration 🌱✨💐 #snapdragons #growingflowers #cutflowerpatch #instagardeners #seedsowing

Growing sweet peas from seed for gorgeous blooms part 1 🌱✨🌸 Pick a variety that suits your garden. Sweet peas come in a rainbow of colours, from pastel tones to bold, vibrant hues. Look for “highly scented” varieties if fragrance is your goal! Sweet peas can be sown undercover from autumn through to spring (October - March). You can soak the seeds for up to 12 hours before planting to soften the shell, I have sown both soaked and straight from the packet and have never noticed a difference so I’m not soaking here. Plant the seeds in deep pots as sweet peas have grow long roots and they will stay in these pots until planted out. I’m using 9cm pots and sowing 3 seeds per pot. Plant the seeds about 2cm deep in the compost and cover lightly. I’m watering my pots bottom-up, which means placing them in a tray with about couple of centimetres of water in the bottom. Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged. Place the pots on a sunny windowsill until germination. Germination usually takes 10-14 days. Any questions, drop them in the comments 💕 Stick around for part 2 coming soon where I’ll show you what to do with your sweet peas once they’ve germinated 🌱✨ And I’d love to see how you get on so do tag me in your sweet pea journey! 📸 💕 #sweetpeas #growyourownflowers #gardeningtipsforbeginners #cutflowergarden #flowergardening

A gentle reminder that change is always just around the corner ✨🌱 In the depths of winter, the world feels quiet, wrapped in grey skies and stillness. ❄️ But if you pause and look closely, you’ll find small signs that spring is making its preparations… buds on branches, a sliver of green poking out of the soil, the faintest scent of earth awakening. 🌱 Take a moment to search for these little spring promises. They’re there, even when it feels like they’re not. ✨ #signsofspring #flowergardens #springflower #wintergardening #decembergarden #cutflowerpatch #seasonalliving #allotmentsofinstagram #gardeningforbeginners #girlswhogarden

In just 2 short months these will be blooming in pots around my front door, brightening up the bleak winter months 💜 Crocuses are so easy to grow in pots, just chuck them in a pot with the tip facing up about 5cm apart and cover them with compost so that they are buried about double the height of the bulb. You can mix in some grit to the compost to help with drainage. Once they have gone over, you can move the bulbs to your garden and they will flower again the following year (or leave them in the pot if you don’t need it for summer blooms!) Although crocuses are no good as cut flowers they will certainly brighten up the front of my home and add some much needed colour to the winter months! Follow along for lots of flower growing tips and inspiration 🌱✨💐 #crocuses #winterflowers #wintergardening #flowerpots #containergarden #flowergardening #flowerbulbs #growyourownflowers #instagardeners #gardeningforbeginners #flowerlovers_on_insta

Brighten up your space and beat the winter blues by forcing hyacinth bulbs indoors! These fragrant, colourful blooms are easy to grow and bring a touch of spring into your home in the darkest of months. Here’s how I plant mine: - Fill a pot with potting mix, leaving enough room for the bulbs. - Arrange the bulbs in the pot with the pointed end facing up. They can be close together but should not touch. - Partially bury the bulbs so that their tops are just above the soil surface. - Water the bulbs lightly after planting. - keep the pot in a cool room away from direct heat sources. - In a few weeks, your hyacinths will bloom 🌸 I’m hoping mine will bloom in time for Christmas! And here’s a bonus tip for you… After blooming, you can plant the bulbs outdoors for next spring—they won’t bloom indoors again but will thrive in your garden 🌸💕💐 Follow along for lots more flower growing tips and inspiration 🌱✨💐 #forcingbulbs #hyacinth #indoorflowers #winterflowers #growingflowers #cutflowergarden #gardeningforbeginners #gardeningknowhow #flowerinspiration #girlswhogarden #wintergardening #springbulbs #winterblues

As the days grow shorter and the last leaves fall, gardening might be the last thing on your mind. After all, November often feels like the time to rest and reflect after a busy growing season. But here’s the secret: November is actually the perfect time to start planning for next year’s garden. Here’s why… 🌱The successes and challenges of the past season are still vivid. Reflecting now ensures you can adjust and improve next year. ✨By planning early, you’ll be ready to order your favourite seeds as soon as they’re available. And a little bonus - browsing seed catalogs is a cosy winter activity that keeps your gardening spirit alive! 💐November offers the luxury of time. You can research new plants, sketch out garden designs, and explore crop rotation strategies without the pressure of spring deadlines. Starting early allows your creativity to flourish and your plans to be more intentional. So, grab your copy of the 2025 Cut Flower Patch Planner, a warm drink, and let the garden planning begin! 💕🌸 Comment PLAN below and I’ll send you the link to the 2025 planner. #gardenplanning #growingflowers #cutflowergarden #wintergardening #gardeningforbeginners #allotmentflowers #gardengirl #flowergardening #gardenjournal #cosyliving #seasonalliving

November already… 🍂❄️ It’s important to look to nature and understand the importance of slowing down in these darker months. And November on the flower plot is all about winding down the gardening season, getting those last tasks done to ready it for its winter sleep and ensuring that it’ll be ready for action come spring. November is about protecting and tidying, with a focus on creating an environment where plants, soil, and wildlife can thrive through winter and come back strong in spring. This month I will be clearing away gone over summer annuals, mulching beds and covering them up with a weed membrane. I’ll also be lifting my dahlia tubers and when the weather finally turns cold, I’ll be planting my tulip bulbs. This will be one of my final gardening jobs of the year and knowing these spring blooms are slowly growing underground is the perfect remedy to the winter blues. A promise of the light returning and beautiful flowers to come. Follow along @ethicalflorist for lots of seasonal flower gardening tips and inspiration 🌱✨💐 What gardening jobs are on your to-do list this month? Let me know on the comments 👇🏻 #novemberishere #novembergarden #lateautumn #autumngardening #wintergardening #gardeningjobs #seasonalgardening #seasonalliving #flowergardening #springprep #growingflowers #cutflowergarden #cutflowergardening #gardeningtip #gardeningforbeginners #girlswhogarden #allotmentgardening #allotmentflowers

And you can sow them right now! 🌱✨ There’s something undeniably magical about sweet peas - their soft, ruffled petals, dreamy pastel shades, and delicate fragrance create such a sense of romance. These beauties always have a place on my flower plot as they make the most stunning cut flowers 💐 Sweet peas are easy to grow with a little care. They thrive in sunny spots, love a good climb, and bloom beautifully with regular picking. The more you harvest, the more flowers they produce! They can be sown right now undercover up until the weather turns really cold. After that, wait until the spring to sow some more! Autumn sowings will flower sooner so I always make sure I’ve got some germinated this time of year (don’t forget to check out my autumn seed sowing guide in the link in my bio if you want to sow some this autumn too 🍂💕) What sweet pea varieties are you sowing? Let me know in the comments 👇🏻 #sweetpeas #scentedflowers #autumnsowing #autumngardening #octobergarden #seedtovase #growingflowers #sweetpeaflowers #cottagegardenflowers #flowergardening #flowergardener #cutflowergarden #cutflowergardening #girlswhogarden #flowerinspiration #gardeninginspiration #gardeningtip #gardeningforbeginners #flowerloversofinstagram #growyourownflowers #allotmentflowers #allotmentgardening #seasonalflowers #seasonalliving