Cosmos and hollyhock grower and Chelsea exhibitor Jonathan Sheppard is preparing for this year's Chelsea Flower Show and is battling the elements to make sure he had enough quality plants available from the thousands he grows for the show.
One big concern is heating oil prices rises caused by the Iran war. He feels for growers bigger than himself who set prices at the start of the season but have seen costs rise. The former public affairs professional says the Government is unlikely to intervene for a sector as small as horticulture, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't.
He is a veteran of Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in 2022 and 2023 where he won silver gilt for his Cosmos collection display. In 2024, he made his exhibiting debut at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. He won gold in 2025 and had it officially awarded at an RHS event in 2026.
Promotionally, he says the BBC gives plenty of coverage but, using a film analogy, he says growers don't want to be seen as just the extras behind the headline stars who design gardens.
He also suggests that publicity shouldn't be the only payment for articles on nurseries.
Sheppard also has views on growers who produce all their own plants to show versus exhibitors who buy in plants.
As a National Collection Holder he is less interested in Plant Heritage's Chelsea garden and more in their members exhibits, of which his is one.
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