Course Description

'Great course - extremely knowledgeable teacher. '

At a glance, this course:

• Promotes low-impact living
• Supports biodiversity
• Saves money by growing your own

About the course

A one day course teaching you everything you need to know to set-up your own cut-flower patch at home and grow abundant wildlife-friendly flowers with a low carbon footprint. Horticulture teacher, Jane Gleeson, will guide you through how to sow seeds, plan your bed design, raise seedlings and choose plants for a long cutting season. We will look at annuals for cutting and perennials – both herbaceous and woody. The course will focus on the benefits to the environment and wildlife of growing local flowers that are pollen- and nectar-rich but also will give you stunning displays.  This course takes place at The Sustainability Centre within the Hampshire South Downs. 

The course will cover:

• why it is important to have locally-sourced cut flowers
• how to design your cutting patch
• choosing varieties that benefit you and wildlife
• soil care and bed preparation
• how to cut and condition stems

The course will give you:

• an ecological perspective on cut flowers
• knowledge of how to design and create a cutting patch
• understanding of timings of sowing and of 'cut and come again'
• the resources needed for successful growing of cut flowers
• course handouts and seeds for sowing

This course is suitable for:

People who have some experience of gardening as well as those who wish to be successful at growing abundant blooms for cutting.

What to bring:

• gardening gloves, if you have them
• notebook and pen
• camera
• clothing - regular shoes for the classroom plus sturdy footwear, warm layers, waterproofs for outdoor session
• water bottle
• a packed lunch, or lunch can be purchased from the Beech Cafe

Cancellations, refunds, and bursaries:

Read the full Adult Courses Cancellations and Refunds Policy and Courses Bursary Fund Information.

About the tutor

Jane Gleeson is an experienced ornamental gardener, food grower and horticulture teacher. She has worked in horticulture for over 20 years and trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the English Gardening School. For many years Jane was the Horticulture Programme Lead and Head Gardener at Schumacher College in Devon. She has also taught at Hadlow College in Kent teaching RHS and City & Guilds courses, as a grower at an organic vegetable small holding and box scheme in West Sussex and is currently teaching and working as a Horticultural Therapist at Tuppenny Barn in Hampshire. ​