Smith and Munson Tulips
Q&A with Jo Munson: Growing Tulips and Lilies in the Lincolnshire Fens
Tell us a bit about yourself and where you’re based.
We’re based in Gedney, Lincolnshire, right in the heart of the Fens. It’s an area known for its flat landscapes, rich soil, and an abundance of flowers. In fact, 200 million tulips are grown hydroponically around here each year! and we grow 10million here , with lilies being our other main crop.
We supply florists and wholesalers, focusing on fresh, high-quality British flowers delivered straight from the farm.
Read more about the 5 generations of Smith and Munson here
What’s your main selling season?
Tulips are our star crop, starting just before Christmas and peaking between early January and mid-May. With a large proportion of the crop sold at the peak weeks of Valentines and Mother’s Day
Our lilies between July and November are sold in bunches of five and wrapped in paper for an eco-friendly touch. Beyond these, we also grow peonies, snowberries, pussy willow, white lion cytisus, rosehips, eryngium, green globe, sanguisorba tanna, astrantia, hypericum, ranunculus, and scabious.
Who’s your ideal customer?
We love working with event florists who value fresh, local flowers. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, ensuring our flowers leave the farm at 3:30 pm and are with florists by noon the next day, thanks to DPD’s overnight deliveries.
What changes have you noticed in the past six years in what florists are buying?
There’s been a noticeable shift towards British flowers, with more customers valuing provenance and sustainability. It’s wonderful to see the continued love for tulips—they’re such a cheerful sign of spring!
Hydroponics have also made a big difference, reducing the need for pesticides. Each bin holds around 25,000 tulip bulbs, and we’re growing more each year. However, bulb prices have gone up, reflecting the dramatic weather extremes last year and wider economic pressures.
What trends do you think florists will love next year?
Double and crown tulips are set to steal the show—florists are always looking for something a bit special. Sustainability is also becoming more than just a buzzword, with supermarkets increasingly labelling flower origins, - I wish they’d label all the flowers with their origin, not just the British grown ones. This transparency is a step in the right direction for the industry.