Image courtesy of Kate Smith
When Kate Smith of @homegrown_blooms tried some Halloween pumpkin seeds, she had no idea they would snowball into a vegetable garden filled with tomatoes, potatoes, sprouts, and lettuce. But when I started planting the seeds for flowers, something really clicked. Their color, their movement, the way they cheer up in minutes… find out why growing flowers is so magical for Kate.
Please tell me about your current garden.
Image courtesy of Kate Smith
My gardening style is a little unusual. My eternal border is where I live out my cottage garden dreams, with towering spiers swaying in the breeze and workhorse plants that return year after year to provide structure. The planting here has a relaxed and casual feel.
Next is the cutting bed. This is where the logical and practical side of my brain sets the rules and plants things into a grid based on their height. Spreadsheets and graph paper can help with seasonal planning.
I love growing from seed, and the gardening tool I probably can’t live without is soil blocker. You can make the most of your small growing space by filling a small container with 40 plants to take home. Not only is it a space saver, but it also helps prevent transplant shock so you have happy, healthy little seed babies.
What inspires you?
Image courtesy of Kate Smith
There are many things in the garden that inspire me. No matter how overwhelmed and stressed I feel, I love knowing that if I just take a step and put my hands in the dirt, all my worries will melt away within minutes. I also love being able to put everything away at the end of the day and feel organized. It makes you feel like you accomplished something even if you didn’t complete all the work.
What are you most proud of?
Image courtesy of Kate Smith
What I am most proud of is how I have embraced the changes that growing a garden has had on me. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so after spending a lot of time planning something, I sometimes have a hard time pivoting when things don’t go the way I intended.
Growing from seeds, gardening, and arranging flowers has taught me that things don’t always go as planned. Nature has a mind of its own and sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Some years, for no reason or reason, the seeds won’t germinate, the pests will win the battle, or the weather will bother you. I’m really proud of the fact that I’m now able to adapt to it more. (Most of the time, I’ve found, the answer is to grow more seeds, and that’s where soil block addiction comes in handy!)
What are your future plans?
Image courtesy of Kate Smith
In the future, I plan to create something like a flower workshop space in the garden. I wish I had a place to store my ever-growing collection of vases and a place to sit and create beautiful homemade bouquets.
You can also be sure to brighten up your patio. Your favorite garden table is very useful, but you’re dreaming of a pergola, string lights, and comfy chairs to enjoy summer evenings outdoors.
gardening tips for beginners
Image courtesy of Kate Smith
My number one tip for beginners is to just get started – work with what you have. Sow the seeds in an empty milk jug or yogurt pot on a sunny windowsill. Initially, you can use a transparent storage box as a mini greenhouse. Don’t overcomplicate things, just try it and see where it goes. My guess is that it will be a slippery slope to obsession.
I’m a strong believer that you can create beautiful homemade flower arrangements even in the smallest of spaces: a 1 square meter bed, a few pots on your patio, or even a window box on your balcony. The happiness that comes from growing and cutting your own flowers cannot be experienced anywhere else.
Grow up like Kate
These stunning pink and white flowers have strong, tall stems that make them perfect for cut flowers.
Image: T&M Snapdragon ‘Potomac Apple Blossom’ F1 seeds
If you’d like to grow some of the amazing flowers you see on Kate’s Instagram page, here’s a quick shopping list.
I hope you enjoy learning more about Kate Smith from @homegrown_blooms. Browse our full Featured Gardeners series to find inspiring growers to follow.
Thompson & Morgan’s horticulture team produces a wealth of content about gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalog was published in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown to become one of the UK’s largest mail order seed and plant companies. Through publishing catalogs and operating an award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the highest quality products money can buy.
Related articles you might enjoy
