Pick your own flowers in 2023 at Benton End in Hadleigh

When I meet her at Benton End Farm on the outskirts of Hadleigh, her face is flushed with a fresh ‘gardener’s glow’ - the result of hours spent on the land, combined with the nip in the air, and an internal sense of achievement and satisfaction. 

Because Jo has found a new love. Flowers. And where better to express this passion than meters from the home of artist and plantsman Sir Cedric Morris, whose irises are still adored by gardeners to this day? 

You might recognise Jo from her stints on local markets, selling no-dig, organically-grown veg, micro herbs and vegan honey alongside partner Dave Carney under the Applewood Acres brand. 

While veg are still part of their story, Covid and its lockdowns saw a massive change for the business, and it’s now blooms that are front and centre of all they do in new venture Benton End Flower Farm. 

“We survived Covid and the lockdowns by selling cut flowers,” Jo explains, leading me to one of her new growing fields – 10 100ft beds being banked up with earth using the same gentle gardening techniques they relied on for vegetable-growing. 

“The flowers were making people so happy and supported our business so much. Without them I think we would have gone under in the pandemic, to be honest.” 

At the beginning, growing flowers was a bit of an experiment for Jo. Something she wanted to explore. She had little experience, and it was a case of trial and error – the gardener sowing as many seeds as she could, watering, and waiting. 

“They all worked,” she smiles. “And that really spurred me on. I spent a long time studying the flower varieties afterwards. How to grow them, how to condition and work with them. I fell in love with things like gladioli again. I grew some beautiful cornflowers, ranunculi, delphiniums, larkspur, gypsophila....and cosmos, which is amazing used for foliage.” 

Tentatively Jo and Dave offered bouquets at their markets...and the response was overwhelming. 

“People loved the wild, natural, countrified look. We were blown away by how well they sold so we made the decision, as we took out more and more vegetable beds, that flowers would be the way forward for us. 

“I think, because I’m now a floral designer, not a florist, people like my more relaxed style. That, and the fact that the flowers are locally-grown and sustainable, and we don’t use any foam. Instead we make up instillations with chicken wire, flower tubes and string. It’s been a learning curve!” 

Jo doesn’t use any chemicals in her growing process, favouring natural pest-deterring methods such as companion planting with garlic. 

While it’s bare earth and a few seedlings at the moment, come next spring the farm will be awash with colour...while a top field has been planted with hundreds if not thousands of dahlias. 

“When we were based at Bentley we were a bit out of the way,” Jo explains of the move to Hadleigh. “We wanted somewhere more central and easier for the public to get to – this fit the bill perfectly.” 

The idea for the farm, she says, is that as well as selling ready-made bouquets in a little horse box from the roadside, and taking bespoke orders for occasions, it will open to groups for private pick-your-own parties. 

“It will be such a nice thing for people to do. They can book to come in groups, enjoy taking selfies in the flowers, and sit and have a picnic on one of the benches we’re adding. We’ll teach them how to pick flowers, how to make a bouquet, and how to look after it. They’ll have the whole place to themselves. I think it will be so lovely in summer.” 

Later in the year bookings will be taken for picking in the dahlia field, with customers able to visit ay the end of the season to dig up entire plants for £5. 

There are flower subscriptions too – with just a few slots left. “Customers pay a one-off fee of £200,” says Jo. “Then, from June, they’ll get 10 bouquets – one every fortnight. They can come and collect them or we’ll deliver locally free of charge.” 

A final string to the new business’s bow is workshops, which take place in a cosy cabin looking out over the flowerbeds. 

Wreath-making sessions in December have proved so popular they’ve already sold out (though Jo may add more if there’s interest), and there are plans in 2023 for crafting sessions – including the chance for visitors to make their own floral head garlands (perfect for the festival season). 

Wreaths (both fresh and made with the farm’s own dried flowers and foliage) are available to buy and order now. 

“We’re so excited about what we’re doing here. It feels a bit like a dream. I can’t wait for all the flowers to come up next year and to be surrounded by colour again,” says Jo. 

Find out more at applewoodacres.co.uk