I’ve Just Finished the Biggest Stock Check We’ve Ever Done — And Everything’s Changing
Every summer has its own rhythm here at Collie Flowers, but this one came with a job I’ve been putting off for months: the full stock check. Not a quick count, not a tidy‑up — the big one. The “every single packet, every variety, every trial, every maybe‑one‑day” kind of stock check.
And now it’s done. All 444 varieties catalogued, reviewed, judged… and in many cases, retired or promoted.
It’s the biggest overhaul we’ve ever done — and it’s going to shape what you see in the shop for the rest of the year.
What Actually Happens in a Stock Check?
It’s not just counting packets. It’s deciding the fate of each variety:
- does it stay?
- does it need restocking?
- does it get retired?
- does it finally come into general stock after passing our tests?
- or has it been quietly living with our Seasons subscribers and is now ready for everyone?
And that’s only the beginning.
A full stock check also means diving into the label situation, which is always more work than anyone expects. For every single variety I have to check:
- do we already have printed labels?
- do I need to order more?
- or do I need to design the label from scratch before I can order anything?
Then there are the growing guides, which come in three versions:
- the Pocket Companion guides
- the website guides
- and the Sow & Grow app guides
Every new variety needs all three. Every returning variety needs checking. And every retired variety needs archiving from sale only — because while the seeds might be leaving the shop, the growing guides stay. People still grow these varieties, still ask for advice, and still rely on the information. So nothing gets deleted; it simply moves into the “retired but still supported” corner of the library.
A stock check isn’t just about what’s on the shelf. It’s about keeping the whole ecosystem tidy — packets, labels, guides, app entries, and the long‑term record of everything we’ve ever grown, tested, loved, or moved on from.
118 Varieties Retired — And Why That’s Not a Bad Thing
Yes, 118 varieties are being retired. It sounds dramatic, but every single one has a reason behind it.
Sometimes:
- it hasn’t performed as well as something else we’ve been testing
- our suppliers can’t get hold of it anymore
- the wholesale price has become ridiculous
- I’ve left a crop too long and the seeds have disappeared (it happens)
- or — honestly — I’m just bored of it and ready to change things up
Retiring varieties isn’t about cutting back. It’s about keeping the collection strong, reliable, and interesting.
And Now the Fun Bit: 120 New Varieties Coming In
If 118 retiring sounds a lot… how does 120 new varieties coming into stock sound?
I’m not superwoman, so I’m not listing all 120 this week. I did build an entire website in two weeks last winter — complete with listings and most of the growing guides — but I’m not doing that to myself again.
So here’s the plan:
- update stock counts for 27 of the 68 that need doing
- list 28 new varieties this week
- prep labels for 29 more that will go live next week
Slow, steady, organised chaos — the Collie Flowers way.
You can keep up with with's coming into stock here.
What’s Being Uploaded This Week
Angelica archangelica Aubrieta, Cascade Red Basil, Lemon Bergamot Broccoli, Purple Sprouting Rudolph Broccoli, White Eye Cauliflower, Sicilian Violet Claytonia, Winter Mier Cornflower, Classic Romantic Cyclamen, Neopolitan Erigeron, Pink Jewel Heuchera, Bressingham Hybrids Lavender, French Mustard, Red Giant Papaver somniferum, mixed Papaver, Black Swan Papaver, White Swan Passion Flower Penstemon, Mystica Physalis Silene coronaria St John’s Wort Sweet Pea, Matucana Sweet Pea, Painted Lady Sweet William, Auricula Eyed Mixed Thalictrum, alpinium Verbena bonariensis Viola, Brush Strokes
If you’re hoping for something specific — a variety you loved, a plant you want us to trial, or something you think deserves a comeback — tell us. Head Gardener Hazel’s already got a list going.