If you're getting started on your Dahlia Seeds for this Summer you will wanna do these 5 things to guarantee successful germination ⤵️
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But first, hey - I'm Elly a small scale grower of dahlias and other cut flowers in NZ. Follow me here @daydream.green for more helpful advice on how to create your dream green space 💚
1️⃣ Check Viability
Viable seeds are slightly harder and darker in colour and will not bend easily. If you've saved your own seed and are having trouble telling the difference, you can always sprout using a damp paper towel and transfer to a pot to save on soil and space.
2️⃣ Know your Frost Zone
For some it will be too early to start Dahlia seeds. In my region we are now 8 weeks away from my last frost date and so I can begin sowing my dahlia seeds but if you are any longer than that, you may wanna hold off for now.
2️⃣ Give it Light
The seed needs light for germination so do not bury the seed, rather create a small indent in the soil using a pen and push the seed into the soil then cover with a light sprinkle of vermiculite.
3️⃣ Keep it Warm
Dahlia seeds need warmth to germinate, I would recommend grabbing a heat mat and setting it around 20°C at this time of year to get things going. If you don't have a heat mat, above the fireplace, heater or other warm environment will help but make sure it's not too hot or germination could be slowed.
4️⃣ Bring the Humidity
Keep a lid over your tray or place pots inside a Sistema tub to keep up the humidity. The seeds need moisture to germinate and the lid will help trap this heat, to build that humidity and prevent drying out.
Growing dahlias from seed is such an exciting experience with so many unique beauties to uncover! Let me know in the comments if you will be growing dahlias for the first time from seed this year 🌱
#dahlias #dahlialover #dahliasofinstagram #ilovedahlias #dahliaaddict #dahliaforsdays #dahliaseaso
We are officially in late winter with less than a week left until Spring!
🌱 If you take a walk around the garden and look down, you may notice fresh growth coming from much of your herbaceous perennials. This is the chance to cut back the old stems if you haven't already in preparation for the fresh shoots to emerge.
🌼 I will be cutting back all the seedheads of my phlomis, achillea, solidago, aster and sedum that have remained over the winter providing great structure and forage for the birds.
🪻 I'll hold back on cutting the penstemons and salvia until after the frosts though as the old foliage acts as a bit of protection from the cold and wet.
🌾 Ornamental grasses such as Calamagrostis and Miscanthus will get a hard cut back now too but I'll only brush out the Poa Cita.
🍂 The soil will be nice and hydrated after all this rain, so I'll take my chance to finish off with a woodchip mulch which always gives the border a clean, tidy look.
It's crazy that only a couple more months and we should see this level of growth from the perennials by late spring. Hard to imagine when they are mostly lying dormant under the soil right now 😌
#wildgarden #gardendesignlove #instagardenlovers #gardenersofig #perennialgarden #prarieplanting #naturalisticgarden #meadowgarden
So you wanna make a start on your cut flower garden for summer? Then you need to know LAST FROST DATE + SEED TO TRANSPLANT DATE to calculate which seeds can be sowed this month 💐
Remember some flowers are sensitive to the cold and therefore considering these two dates is the key to successful planning.
Using Labour Weekend as my 'safe zone' - by my calculations, I only need to sow a succession of Hardy Annual Flowers & Dahlias this month.
🌱 SEEDS I'M SOWING IN AUGUST 🌱
Cornflower Agrostemma
Dill Persian Cress
Honeywort Nigella
Strawflower Stock
Statice Matricaria
Scabiosa Mignonette
Ammi Sweet Peas
Buplureum Calendula
Orlaya Rudbeckia
Snapdragon Phlox
Poppies Larkspur
Dahlias*
*most of my tender annual flowers like Zinnia, Celosia and Cosmos will be withheld for a September sowing.
Of course, this may be different depending on your region!
❤️🔥 I have designed a free PDF seed sowing calendar for download to help anyone out there needing a little extra guidance.
Comment 'SEED' and I'll send you the link to download this calendar - alternatively check out the full article 'Seeds to Sow in Spring for your Cut Flower Garden' on the blog (link in bio).
#flowerfarmnz #fieldtovase #digwhereyoulive #gardentips #gramyourgarden #homegrown #flowerfarmnz #growflowers #newzealandgarden #thegoodlife #thehappygardeninglife
Another day, another LOW TUNNEL. I'm gonna tell you why I choose to cover my crops over winter. I'll give you a hint - it's not for frost protection.
But FIRST, hey - I'm Elly a small scale flower grower from New Zealand. Follow me @daydream.green if your goal is micro flower farming as I offer lots of tips and inspiration to get you started 💚
So my climate is temperate which means we don't get below -3°C over the winter time. The plants that I grow during these cold months are all hardy annuals and can take these temperatures without protection from frost.
The reason I cover my crops is:
1️⃣ Bird netting
I'm living in an area surrounded by bush which means we have a lot of birds close by. These birds play havoc with my newly planted seedlings so I always net to avoid damage.
2️⃣ Rain protection
Some of the crops underneath these tunnels, like anemone and ranunculus don't love it super wet. We live in an area that receives a high amount of rain during the winter and so the cloth does give these babies a bit of shelter helping to prevent rot while getting established.
3️⃣ Wind protection
It wouldn't be Wellington without a bit of wind, but with the mikroclima cloth, newly transplanted seedlings are protected in times of high winds that can put pressure on juvenile stems.
The product that I use is the Mikroclima Cloth available from Polynet. I then use second hand plastic piping and stakes to create my hoops.
Let me know what you think, is it worth covering your crops over the winter or do you prefer survival of the fittest 💪
#wintergardeningtasks #freshisbest #freshcutflowers #wellingtonflowers #huttvalleyflowers #homegrownflowers #flowerupyourlife #nzflowers #sharemewlg
You dream of using fresh, locally grown flowers in your wedding or event design but don't want the stress of creating all the arrangements?
That's OK! Many clients choose to leave the bud vases up to family and friends but don't want the pressure of putting together their own bouquet.
And we get it - your big day should be as easy and stress free as possible! That's why we also offer floral design services for your bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets and buttonholes should you need it.
Comment 'BLOOM' and I'll send our booking information and prices - I'm also currently offering a free 30 min zoom call to discuss your floral vision for the day 🌸
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@daydream.green is a small-scale cut flower farm that specialises in DIY Weddings and Events. If you're getting married this year, follow me here for more DIY wedding flower inspo 💍
#wellingtonflowers #realflowersoftheseason #weddingflorals #weddingflowerideas
#gardeninspiredflowers #diyweddingflowers #weddingflowers #freshisbest #flowerfarmernz
Steal this flower farmer's Floral Recipe 👇
[but first HEY LOVERS - I'm Elly, a small scale grower and florist from NZ.
Follow me here @daydream.green if you want to learn more about arranging the flowers you grow in your garden cause I love to give all my secrets away 🤫 ]
Over time, I have coined a signature floral recipe that I like to use which includes the same ingredients.
These ingredients are FLOWER TYPE + COLOUR PALETTE + STEM COUNT and when mixed up will make the most delicious, dreamy bouqs ❤️🔥
The floral recipe for this autumn bouquet includes 30 stems of the following flowers:
FOCAL - Dahlia 'Maarn'
SECONDARY - Zinnia 'Zinderella Lilac'
FILLER - Matricaria 'Tetra'
DAISY - Cosmos 'Fizzy Rose'
SPIKE - Celosia 'Flamingo Feather'
FOLIAGE - Mignonette 'Alba'
I can't quite believe we are nearly in July already guys - my attention has turned to planning my summer garden and thinking about the seeds I will buy for Late August sowings!
What's on your wish list for this summer?
#microflowerfarm #gardentips #cutflowergrower #nzgarden
#gardeningadvice #summergardenplanning #growflowers #floralrecipe #bouquetingredients #floraldesign #floraddict #fieldtovase
Hey 👋 I'm Elly, the founder and face behind Daydream Green. I currently grow and sell cut flowers from my backyard in Hutt Valley, NZ.
This little daydream started in 2019 when my partner and I moved into our first home, a little gem nestled in the bush which was overrun with blackberry and bamboo at the time. Slowly we began transforming the space and as our garden grew, so did my passion for flowers.
Coming into my second season of business, I am happy to be keeping it small - trying to find the balance between a grower and mumma, also hand raising two little flower children.
If you like all things flowers, small garden design, plant inspiration, seed sowing and propagation as well as floral styling then you're in the right place. Thanks for being here and supporting this little daydream of mine!
Also if you're new, I'd love it if you can introduce yourself in the comments. We have a fun, flowery community here full of like-minded gardeners - this space is inspirational, supportive and full of advice 🩷
#cutflowergrower #locallygrownflowers #grownnotflown #farmerflorist #microflowerfarmer #smallbusiness #nzbusiness #supportlocal #mysmallbiz #nzgarden
This client booked a bloom bucket with me for an early Summer Wedding, she wanted to incorporate locally grown flowers to showcase the season.
Included in her bucket were some yummy Apricot and White Foxgloves, Orlaya, Calendula and Snapdragons.
Book a bloom bucket with us for your summer event and these are just some of the beautiful florals you'll have to work with.
Comment 'BLOOM' and I'll send our booking information and prices - I'm also currently offering a free 30 min zoom call to discuss your floral vision for the day 🌸
Florals by @hollyandtwine_
Photography by @_piaphoto
#weddinginspiration #weddingflowers #weddinginspo #diyweddingflowers #nzweddings #weddingbouquets #weddingseason #weddingsnz
Finding the joy in my winter garden, part 4 and it's time to plant the Ranunculus 🌸
These are saved corms from last year that I presprouted back in May. Last autumn I started sprouting corms in March which was way too early and they developed powdery mildew early on.
I always intended to delay planting this time but with a very cold May I think I could've gone a few weeks earlier.
I was also disappointed to see the corms I grew from seed last year didn't store overly well and haven't sprouted yet.
Thankfully an order from @thepickery has helped to replenish the stock. Wishing you a beautiful week daydreamers x
#ranunculus #springflowers #inmygardentoday #springgarden #flowerfarm #fieldtovase #growflowers #ayearinflowers #homegrownflowers
WEEK TWO of getting back into the garden and I’m pricking out seedlings!
I’ve been challenging myself to complete a few easy tasks each day, a bit of weeding here or potting on there. The mental hurdle of tackling an overgrown garden can be harder than the actual work itself. The answer for me -- baby steps! and facing jobs I like to do first to encourage me outdoors.
You know what, it’s felt invigorating to get out into the fresh, crisp air each day. I’ve been quickly reminded why my garden is my happy place 🌞
Let me know in the comments which jobs you’ve tackled in the garden this week? I’d love to know 🫶
Hey if you don't know me already, I'm Elly 👋 five years ago I moved into my first home and set about converting loads of boring grass to garden beds. Somehow the hobby got a little out of hand and now I sell cut flowers from my backyard to earn extra money.
Recently life has become a bit hectic with kitchen reno and family life, meaning I haven't set foot in the garden for a long time. But the thing is motivation is at an all time low and I keep thinking to myself, "do I even miss it?" I guess maybe I'm burnt out a bit and wondering if this is the thing that really makes me happy.
But if I wanna take this sideline seriously and eventually turn it into a full time gig then I know the holiday is up and I gotta get to work. So I'm setting myself a goal to find the joy in gardening again. If you're feeling behind or a sense of overwhelm then why don't you join me @daydream.green while I sort out this hot mess. Ok daydreamers until next time, bye!
#inmygardentoday #gardengram #instagardener #nzgardening #nzgarden #newzealandgarden #growflowers
I'd love for you to join me for my first ever Online Event ~ How to Create & Wrap a Bouquet.
Date: Monday, 8th April
Time: 7.30PM NZST
Cost: $10
During this hour long event you will learn about:
~ How to harvest and condition flowers for the best vase life
~ Different flower types and number of stems that are required to make a bouquet
~ Spiral technique used for hand building
~ Paper wrapping tips to create the perfect packaging for your bunch of flowers
~ Opportunity to ask me questions at the end about anything from pricing to seed sowing
I will be using my signature floral recipe to make my bouquet, I encourage you to cut a bucket of flowers on the night to follow along 🌸
If you're interested in securing your ticket then comment 'BOOK NOW' and I'll send you the link to purchase.
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My name is Elly and this is my account @daydream.green . I grow cut flowers for sale from my urban garden in NZ. Follow me here and sign up for my monthly newsletter for lots more beginner gardener inspiration and advice.
When I started out in my gardening journey I never thought I would end up micro flower farming. It just happened after falling in love with the flowers and realising that there was a market out there for locally grown blooms.
The idea formed organically after growing flowers for myself and friends. Slowly I started receiving more and more messages from florists, DIY brides and other floral lovers.
Obviously I was hesitant at first, gardening on my small urban section. But by focusing on growing a careful selection of cut flowers and forming solid relationships with florists and customers, it turned out to be a budding business.
Who knows what the future will bring but I still pinch myself that I get to grow and arrange beautiful blooms like this. It's a joy to spread the happiness through the gift of flowers and thank you to everyone who chooses to support locally grown 🌸
If you want to learn more about growing cut flowers, then comment NEWSLETTER and I'll send you a link to subscribe to my exclusive monthly articles for free.
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My name is Elly and this is my account @daydream.green - every month I delve deeper on interesting topics to do with cut flower farming and garden design. The information is tailored for beginners who are gardening in small, urban spaces. If this sounds like you then I'd love for you to sign up and be a part of this fun community of like-minded growers 💚
After spending all winter in the mud, it feels so good to be surrounded by the flowers again!
Who else is feeling a little bit sad we only have a couple weeks on summer left ~ I don't know about you but I'm not quite ready for these slow days to end 🥺
While there is still a long time in this flowery season to enjoy, Autumn also brings an acceleration of work in the garden to prepare for the hibernation that is Winter.
But for now, I'm going to bask in the final chapter of summer abundance while I can. My recent newsletter came out this weekend ~ I hope you had a chance to enjoy it over a morning coffee or glass of wine in the garden, overlooking your hard work or future plans to come.
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If you're new here, hi 👋 my name is Elly and this is my account @daydream.green . I grow cut flowers for sale from my urban garden in NZ. Follow me here and sign up for my monthly newsletter for lots more beginner gardener inspiration and advice.
Last week this Cosmos plant was damaged in a wind storm - I placed the snapped branches into a bucket of water and as you can see they have started to grow roots.
Today I have buried the stems deep into the soil, about 25cm and gave the plant a deep water. I have also removed all the flowers and buds so the plant can focus it's energy on developing new roots.
The plant looks sad and wilted now but all going well it will perk up in a week's time and I will be able to save it for a late succession of blooms.
I have tried this method several times before with great success because of the fact that Cosmos (like Tomatoes) form adventitious roots. This is the term for when a plant has the ability to form roots from its stem.
Stay tuned as I'll give you an update in a few weeks to show you how they are looking and in the meantime, if you have any wind damaged cosmos, I recommend you try this little hack.
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My name is Elly and this is my account @daydream.green. I grow cut flowers for sale from my urban garden in NZ. Follow me here and sign up for my monthly newsletter for lots more beginner gardener inspiration and advice.
