Exploring the World of Seeds with Sandy from Egmont Seeds: Season 2 Episode 6
Flower Farming in New ZealandShow Notes
In this conversation, Jo Robinson chats with Sandy, the marketing manager at Egmont Seeds. They talk about her role, the history of Egmont Seeds, and the challenges and joys of working in the seed industry. Sandy shares insights into the company's operations, including sourcing seeds globally, ensuring seed is high quality, and the importance of understanding local growing conditions. The discussion also touches on the impact of COVID-19 on seed variety availability, the role of Egmont Seeds in the local flower farming community, and Sandy's personal experiences and preferences in gardening. Takeaways: • Sandy is the marketing manager at Egmont Seeds, focusing on customer needs and sourcing new plant materials. • Egmont Seeds started with John McCullough's passion for seeds, leading to the creation of New Zealand's largest seed company. • The company imports seeds globally and supplies retail businesses, nurseries, and commercial flower growers. • Sandy's horticultural background enriches her role, allowing her to contribute to both marketing and hands-on tasks in the business. • Egmont Seeds has expanded into growing sweet peas on a large scale, overcoming global supply challenges. • The company emphasizes the importance of understanding local growing conditions for successful seed cultivation. • Sandy shares personal gardening tips, including the use of heat mats for better germination and choosing plants based on personal preference. • Egmont Seeds is committed to sustainability, trialling compostable packaging while ensuring seed freshness. • The conversation highlights the difference between growing from seed and breeding, emphasizing the value of true breeding efforts. • Sandy encourages growers to choose seeds based on personal taste and local conditions for the best results.
Sound Bites: • Egmont Seeds is New Zealand's largest seed company. • We import seeds from all over the world. • Understanding local growing conditions is key. • Sweet peas are now a major focus for us. • Sustainability is important, but freshness is key. • Choose seeds based on what you love to grow. • Breeding and growing from seed are not the same. • Heat mats can improve germination rates. • Our seeds are in gardens all over New Zealand. • Gardening is my happy place.
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Egmont Seeds and Sandy's Role 02:41 The History and Growth of Egmont Seeds 05:10 Sandy's Horticultural Background and Personal Gardening 07:45 The Sweet Pea Project and Its Expansion 10:34 Sourcing and Importing Seeds Globally 13:10 Ensuring Seed Quality and Germination Rates 16:06 Choosing Varieties for New Zealand Conditions 18:39 Trialling New Varieties and Future Prospects 24:54 Common Seed Starting Mistakes 27:32 Tips for Successful Germination 29:13 Recommended Flower Varieties for Beginners 31:53 Understanding Seed Sourcing and Packaging 36:12 Sustainability in Seed Production 38:57 The Importance of Local Seed Production 42:57 Trends in Seed Demand 45:25 Egmont's Role in the Flower Farming Community 46:16 Personal Favourites in Flower Growing 48:50 Advice for New Seed Sourcing 50:37 Closing Thoughts and Support
Connect with Our Sponsors: (UFG) United Flower Growers: https://ufg.co.nz
Support Our Work! Don’t forget, if you like the way we are connecting the NZ Flower Farming Community, you can support our work by: · Advertising in an episode · Sponsoring an episode or a season or you can · Buy us a Coffee (make a donation) following this link https://coff.ee/flowerfarmersinnz Music Credit: Credit for some of the music in this episode goes to Shane Ivers - Happy Clappy Ukulele
Key words: #flowerfarminginNZ #nzflowergrowers #nzflorists #sustainablefloristry #sustainableflowerfarming #Egmont Seeds, #seedindustry, #horticulture, #seed sourcing, #seed quality, #local growing conditions
More from Flower Farming in New Zealand
What actually happens to a seed before you buy it? Today on Flower Farming in New Zealand, Jo Robinson is joined by Charlotte, co-owner of King’s Seeds, to break down the highly regulated, high-tech world of commercial seed production.
What if the biggest mistake flower farmers make isn't how they grow flowers, but how they sell them? Too many growers spend months nurturing beautiful crops, only to find themselves scrambling for buyers when harvest arrives. In this episode, Lissie from Provenance Brokers NZ shares a different approach: start with demand, build a plan, and grow with a market already waiting for your flowers. Drawing on years of experience as both a florist and commercial flower buyer, Lissie offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what florists are really looking for, what products are currently missing from the market, and why some growers thrive while others struggle to make flower farming profitable We discuss: • Why growing more flowers isn't always the answer • The flowers florists wish they could source more easily • How pre-selling crops can reduce risk and improve profitability • The importance of quality control, grading and presentation • Why freight and logistics matter more than most growers realise • How small-scale growers can compete without growing thousands of stems • The reality of turning a flower-growing hobby into a viable business • Why collaboration, not competition, is the future of the flower industry One of the most powerful messages from this conversation is that successful flower farming isn't about trying to grow everything. It's about identifying the right crops, growing them exceptionally well, understanding your market, and building relationships that support long-term success. Whether you're planning your first season, trying to increase profitability, or looking for a better way to connect with buyers, this episode is packed with practical insight and hard-earned industry knowledge. Contact Provenance Brokers Here: [email protected] or https://www.instagram.com/provenancebrokers/ Find Kings Seeds Here: https://www.kingsseeds.co.nz
Healthy flowers begin with healthy soil—but what does that really mean? In this episode of Flower Farming in New Zealand, I sit down with Nicky from Crop to explore the fascinating world beneath our feet. We discuss how soil biology influences plant health, why understanding your soil test is so important, and how microbes, fungi, pH and organic matter all work together to produce stronger, healthier flowers. Nicky also shares practical ways flower farmers can improve soil naturally, including the role of biochar, avoiding common phosphorus mistakes, and building resilient soils that support productive crops year after year. Whether you're growing flowers commercially or simply want healthier plants in your garden, this episode will change the way you think about soil. It's all about healthy soil for flower farming. Easy Ways to Support Our Work! 1) Subscribe Subscribe to Flower Farming in New Zealand for practical conversations with growers, florists and industry experts from across New Zealand. 2) Share If this episode helped you, please share it with another grower. Every recommendation helps strengthen New Zealand's flower farming community. 3) Donate If you'd like to support the podcast, please consider making a donation. Your support helps us continue sharing practical knowledge and connecting New Zealand's flower industry. The easiest way to donate is to Buy us a Coffee (make a donation) following this link https://coff.ee/flowerfarmersinnz 4) Comments and Likes Comments and Likes really help the algorithm find us so that other flower farmers and growers can enjoy our content.
How Rachel Inger Built a Thriving Small Flower Farm Join us as we explore Rachel Inger’s journey in flower farming, highlighting her adaptable approach to growing flowers in Hamilton's climate, and the importance of community and planning in flower farming success.
In this episode of Flower Farming In NZ, Jo Robinson sits down with Julie Treanor, business coach, flower farmer and co-founder of the Floral Business Activator. We move past the "build it and they will come" trap to explore the marketing strategies that actually move the stems you are already growing.