Starting a Flower Farm
- Jane Westoby
- Jan 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 27
In this episode 4 of The Blooming Garden Podcast, I’m joined by Jen from Life on the Lot, a first-year flower farmer who’s just moved from an urban allotment to a two-acre plot on a working farm in the Wirral. Her story is one that will resonate deeply with anyone starting from scratch, juggling dreams with spreadsheets—and wondering if they’re really cut out for flower farming.
Spoiler: You are.
From Lockdown Allotment to Flower Farm
Jen’s journey began like many of ours did—unexpectedly. When lockdown hit in 2020, she had just picked up the keys to an allotment and found herself with the gift of time. Over six months, she learned to grow, documented her progress on Instagram, and slowly built a community that would later become her future customer base.
“It just felt like feeding a hobby that had gotten out of hand,” she laughs.
But that hobby soon turned into a business plan. And with her background in franchising and business strategy, Jen started mapping out the next step—a proper flower farm.
Land, Layout and Logistics
Jen now grows on two acres within a larger commercial farm—complete with café, parking, toilets and footfall. It's a huge advantage for her pick-your-own flower farm model, which she’s launching in May 2025.
Her first steps weren’t about seeds—they were about systems:
Water access: installing IBC tanks for rainwater collection
Composting: securing bulk deliveries of compost and thinking about drop-off logistics
Layout: ensuring water and compost were accessible to every bed (wheelbarrow distances matter!)
“Every five-minute trip with a barrow becomes hours when you multiply it by 300,” Jen explains.
Start with a Business Plan—Not Just Seeds
One of Jen’s biggest takeaways? Planning is everything. Before planting, she reverse-engineered her revenue goal to calculate:
How many stems she needed to grow
What each plant would produce
What mix of filler, focal, and foliage she’d need for each month
She even used Instagram Stories polls to test colour schemes with future customers—a brilliant way to validate ideas before sowing a single seed.
Why Pick-Your-Own?
While many growers aim for florists or weddings, Jen saw the opportunity in experiential farming. Her site already hosted pick-your-own pumpkins and strawberries, so offering flowers was a natural fit.
“It’s not just about the flowers—it’s about the experience. Walking through the beds, choosing your own, learning as you go… that’s what I love most.”
She’s also set up workshops, DIY wedding flower bookings, and has a website ready to take sales before the flowers have even bloomed.
Pests, Wind, and What You Can’t Predict
No first season is without its challenges—and for Jen, the biggest unknown is wind. Her open site is beautiful, but exposed, so she’s taking time to observe the field and install windbreaks where needed.
As for pests? She’s taking a high-attrition approach: planning for losses, observing as she goes, and adjusting next season.
“Some of this will be left to Mother Nature. And that’s okay.”
Jen’s Advice to Aspiring Flower Farmers
Don’t just grow—plan to sell.“We love flowers, but if we don’t know how to sell them, it won’t work.”
Balance the romantic with the practical.Think compost access, frost pockets, and wind direction just as much as colour palettes.
Share the journey.Build your audience early. People want to follow your progress—and they’ll become your future customers.
Enjoy the process—and don’t forget to shout about it.
“Even if nobody’s listening yet… shout anyway. They will.”
🎧 Listen to the Episode
Want to hear the full story—including Jen’s soil prep process, her field layout, and how she plans to run workshops on-site?
More Resources for Aspiring Flower Farmers
If you're planning your own flower business, here are a few resources to help:
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