Taylors Bulbs

Taylors Bulbs are the UK’s leading supplier of flower bulbs. They supply pre-packed and loose bulbs to garden centres, nurseries and landscapers throughout the UK. In 2019 Taylors Bulbs celebrated their centenary.

Taylors Bulbs History (1919 – Present)

It was in 1919 that the Government set up a number of smallholdings for returned servicemen of the First World War. One of these Crown Colonies was at Holbeach in Lincolnshire. Otto Augustus Taylor, as a result of being gassed in the war, was unable to return to his occupation in London. He applied for one of these new holdings and was successful. With his wife and two sons, Stanley and Percy, he moved to the new settlement with a house and 4 hectares of land.   He soon realised that working the holding, as a small-scale version of the neighbouring farm was unlikely to provide a living for his family. He decided to grow flowers and bulbs and became one of the pioneers of bulb growing in this country.  Otto died in 1946 having seen the business grow considerably with the help of his two sons.   By 1968 the family owned some 120 hectares of prime Lincolnshire silt and the nursery facilities had been expanded. John, Roger and Brian had joined their father Percy, and uncle Stanley, and in 1970 O.A. Taylor & Sons Bulbs Ltd was formed by the younger generation to supply bulbs to nurseries and garden centres. With the retirement of their father and death of their uncle in 1982 the management of their father’s business passed to the three brothers.   In 1985 the company was awarded The Royal Warrant as Bulb Growers to Her Majesty The Queen. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Warrant followed this in 1991.   Taylors Today

In 2018, Taylors won their 25th consecutive RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal for the Walkers Daffodil Collection. Taylors Bulbs have also been awarded the Garden Centre Association Associate Member of the Year award 6 times since 2008 as well as being voted Garden Industry Manufacturer Association Supplier of the Year 3 times since 2013.   Taylors have also been BOPP (British Ornamental Plant Producers) accredited since 2014 recognising their credentials as a trusted and reputable horticultural business.

Two members of the forth generation of Taylors have now been made directors of O.A Taylor & Son Bulbs Ltd illustrating the progressive thinking and future prospects of the business.

Taylors now farm over 750 hectares of which over 150 ha are daffodils (over 600 varieties, 70 main crop).  Other crops include vegetables, cereals, potatoes and sugar beet. Taylors are one of the largest bulb companies in the country sourcing all types of bulbs from around the world, to be packed on our site at Holbeach. Already this year, millions of bulbs have passed through our packing sheds.     They will have in excess 3,000 tonnes of daffodil bulbs pass through the yard each summer, and at peak times more than 20 vehicles from 24-tonne trailers to 35-cwt vans will be distributing bulbs throughout the U.K. Speedy order processing and delivery make it possible for Taylors to deliver bulbs somewhere in the UK every three minutes of the working day.

Taylors force over 80 tonnes of daffodil bulbs each year for flower production under glass from early November to February. They also market over 20 million outdoor blooms the bulk of which are exported although we do supply an increasing number of daffodil blooms to our garden centres.

Still a thriving family business employing over 200 staff at peak times, training continues to play an important role in ensuring high standards. In addition, courses for garden centre staff are held regularly ahead of the autumn bulb selling season - part of Taylors policy of working closely with their customers to promote and market bulbs.