The challenges and rewards of growing Manuka
plants in the UK: A beekeeper’s perspective

As a gardener and a beekeeper, I’m always looking for ways to support our buzzy little friends
and add beauty to my garden. That’s why I decided to give Manuka plants a try. These plants
are native to New Zealand and are grown there for their medicinal properties, specifically in
Manuka honey. However, I have to admit that growing Manuka plants in the UK can be
challenging. They prefer a milder climate than what is generally found in the UK, and they can
struggle to survive in harsh weather conditions like frosts and strong winds. The good news is
that with some care and planning, it is possible to grow Manuka plants here in the UK. In this
blog post I’ll share my experiences and tips for growing healthy Manuka plants, which the
bees will undoubtedly thank you for.

Germinating and propagating Manuka plants

Despite the challenges, I have found that the Manuka plants are relatively resistant to pests
and diseases. They can be propagated using cuttings taken from mature Manuka plants, but I
prefer to propagate from seeds. It is relatively easy to get the seeds to germinate if you follow
this process.

• Obtain some Manuka seeds. We supply Manuka seeds in little packets if you want to give
  them a go from scratch. If you already own Manuka plants, taking the seedpods directly
  from a mature Manuka plant is possible, but more on this later!
• Prepare your seed tray. It is essential to use a well-draining soil mixture. We use a layer of
  gravel at the bottom of the seed tray, followed by some finely sifted ericaceous compost.
  Tip! for much higher germination success, don’t skip the sifting.
• Sow the tiny orange Manuka seeds evenly over the soil; we sift ours for an even spread.
  Gently press the seeds into the soil using your fingertips. They need to make contact with
  the soil and don’t need complete coverage.
• Water the seeds; moisten the soil with a spray bottle, be careful not to wash the seeds
  away.
• Provide light. The seeds require sunlight to germinate; a greenhouse or a sunny
  windowsill is perfect.
• Keep the soil consistently moist using the soft spray water bottle; mist the soil if it looks
  dry.
• Germination can take 2 – 6 weeks; the seedlings should emerge after this time. They will
  be very delicate, so continue to mist with the water bottle to keep the soil moist.
• The seedlings should remain in place until they are about 1 inch in height; you can then
  transfer them into individual cells or small pots.
• Continue caring for them this way until they are large enough to be transferred into larger
  pots.
• Always protect the young plants from frost. For the first year to 18 months, it is best to
  treat them like patio plants and bring them indoors when the weather is cold

Following these conditions, Manuka plants can be grown without too many problems. They
will flower profusely between April and June with small clusters of white to pink flowers. The
foliage is needle-like, attractive dark green and sometimes reddish. They are evergreen, so
they shouldn’t lose their foliage during the winter months.

At the end of the flowering season, the Manuka plants will produce numerous seedpods, each
containing many tiny orange seeds. You can collect and save these for germinating new
Manuka plants the following season

I hope you find these growing tips helpful and enjoy growing them as much as we do

Foraging bees on Manuka

My bees are certainly attracted to the Manuka plants we grow. The flowers are beautiful and
bring additional colour to my garden. I also love the fact that the honey my bees produce
may contain some of the powerful medicinal properties known to the Manuka plant. Whilst I
know I can’t officially claim to have Manuka honey, as this would require lab
testing, https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/honey-bee-products-processingrequirements/manuka-honey-testing/ I can say that the honey tastes delicious. We use it for
everything from soothing sore throats to treating minor skin irritations. So is it worth growing
and caring for these little wonder plants? With 100% certainty, the answer is yes!

Want to grow your own Manuka?

If you’re interested in growing your own Manuka plants, why not check out our selection of
Manuka plants for sale? Our Manuka plants are nurtured by hand and cared for with love here
in the UK. We provide full growing instructions to ensure your plants thrive and produce
beautiful flowers, which the bees will certainly thank you for