Tippety Top Daffy Down Dillys


Regular Veg Plotting readers know I'm rather partial to a bunch of Cornish daffodils at this time of the year. I find January and February really hard going, so they're one of the ways I ensure there's some sunshine around no matter what the weather's doing outside.

I've been uneasy about the daffodils for sale nowadays as they're displayed in boxes rather than the vases of water they'd been in previously. The shops concerned have tried to reassure me everything's OK, but I've had my doubts a) because the flowers don't seem to last as long in the vase as they used to and b) the flowers on sale quite often are showing a touch of yellow, rather than remaining tightly in bud.

One of the great things that's happened since the flower farmer day 2 weeks ago, is they're having a regular forum on Monday evenings between 8 and 9pm on Twitter. I'll miss most of these as I'm at choir, but this week I was able to join in:


So there you have it. Not only did I have my question answered within minutes by two friendly flower growers, I've also had an insight into the way they treat their flowers and I know exactly what to look for when I buy my next bunch of daffodils :)

If you can't join in or follow the #britishflowers conversation on Monday evenings, then it's also worth looking out for Georgie's blog the day after or so. She puts up a summary of what's been discussed, together with topic suggestions for the next get together. I may not be a flower farmer, but I'm learning loads. I usually prefer my flowers to be outside in the garden, but I'm encouraged to try and bring them indoors a bit more from now on.

Comments

  1. Like you I prefer my flowers to be outside so tend to only bring daffodils home from the plot if they've been blown over.
    This interest through Twitter for British flowers is good to see and I must try to remember it on Monday evenings.
    Thanks for an interesting, and informative, post. Flighty xx

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  2. Hi Flighty - it's great to see the momentum of the first flower farmer meet up being maintained via Twitter :)

    I've also suggested that there's a campaign to label shop flowers with their country of origin. I suspect many customers aren't aware of where their bunch of flowers comes from. My husband was very shocked and angry when I told him. Wiggly Wigglers said on Monday that the UK buys 17% of the world's production of flowers, but of that percentage just 10% is grown in the UK.

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  3. Thank you for the twitter information! Excellent. I did buy some potted up tete a tete's the other day. They seem to last forever in the house and then, it's out to the garden later on. I too, need dafs to get me over the January Feb hump!

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  4. Hi Bren - you've reminded me, I have some daffodil bulbs t oplant!

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  5. I like to buy lots of daffodils at this time of year too. i always wondered if they should be in water. The supermarkets often sell them in sealed cellophane. I've been taking an interest in the #britishflowers chat. I'm thinking of having a cutting bed this year in the garden, as I may have a spare raised bed

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  6. First daffs of the year are always really precious, good to have the tip about how to make sure they are good quality ones.

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  7. My mum bought me some daffs last weekend and they are just opening, love their bright jolliness

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  8. Had our first daffs in the house this week, courtesy of my neighbour who knew I had a bad day the day before. Came home from work yesterday to find a bunch on my door step!

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  9. What a lovely spring-like image VP - in the garden my daffs are poking up but no flowers for months (Yes I planted daffs this Autum, only a few, and only small ones!) :)
    Thanks for the reminder on twitter regarding the flower farmers
    K

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  10. Maybe I have been a little hasty in dismissing Twitter.

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  11. I just bought a small bunch of white tulips for the same reason. They're not as sunny as daffs, but they light up a windowless room. Thanks for the daffodil buying tips!

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  12. That display is really refreshing! A recent convert to yellow daffodils, bought my first bulbs (in the green) last week. They are however dwarf varieties - maybe one day I'll get round to beauties such a these!
    I've only ever visited Twitter once, to comment on a discussion that was taking place on the radio. Maybe I should take a look around next time I've a question to ask!

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  13. A warm welcome to The Diligent Gardener, Ricki and Angie :)

    Margaret - I try not to buy them in the cellophane if I can - less to throw away.

    Janet - glad you found that useful :)

    PG - me too!

    Karen - I think you'll find it really useful for your new project this year :)

    ricki - it has good and bad points

    Helen - hmmm - windowless rooms, I must ponder that one

    Angie - my local garden centre has a freebie pot of tete a tete on offer today, so guess where I'm heading...

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