Episodes
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This episode is an interview that Lisa recently did on The Flower Podcast with host Scott Shepherd. Scott and Lisa covered a broad range of topics, including:
The importance of evaluating your season & your goals regularly How perfectionism is a hindrance to success (70% is good enough!) Making every effort to start your business with cash (debt-free) Take the time to get to know your market & what your clients want Always eat the ugly frog first!If you haven't listened to The Flower Podcast, you should check it out here!
Mentions
Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners!
Topics Covered
Watering Tips for Sunflowers & Lilies Growing Limelight Hydrangeas Tips for Fall Planting Campanula Dealing with Leaf Hoppers Storing Dahlia Bulbs Over Winter Managing Vole Damage Best Flowers to Plant in Tropical Areas Harvesting Tips for Astilbe Growing Lisianthus & Snapdragons Preventing Botrytis on Peonies Pre-sprouting Techniques for Ranunculus Propagation Methods for Peonies Managing White Flies Harvesting Tips for Various FlowersEpisode originally aired 6/26/24 on Instagram. Join Lisa and her guest hosts Wednesdays at 12:30PM Eastern time to get your cut flower growing questions answered by the experts!
Mentions
Dave on social: Facebook, Instagram
Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More!
Discover our online courses!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our Farm News emails!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Missing episodes?
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Whether you're new or improving your farm, these insights can help. The journey can be tough, but with commitment and adaptability, the rewards are worth it. Take the time to learn and experiment—your efforts will pay off.
1. Find Your Markets
Understanding your market is the first step to successful crop planning. Consider factors like demand and pricing, which can change quickly, making thorough analysis vital.
Identify Your Customers: Know your target audience, whether florists, event planners, or supermarkets. Understand Their Needs: What flowers do your customers want? This informs your growing decisions. Plan for Timelines: Different markets have varying timelines; florists may need early week deliveries, while farmer’s markets may focus on weekends.2. Grow Diverse & Complementary Crops
Diversity is essential in flower farming, as variety enhances beauty and increases resilience against pests & diseases.
Seasonality: Educate your customers about seasonal flowers, like tulips in spring. Mix Early, Mid, and Late Season Flowers: Keep offerings fresh year-round by offering complementary flowers. Plan for Customer Demand: Grow flowers that excite customers at different times, such as Iceland poppies early and zinnias later.3. Build Soil Health and Pest Resistance
Healthy soil is vital for plant growth. Regular soil testing helps you make informed decisions about amendments. Adding organic matter improves soil structure, enhancing water retention and aeration. Monitoring moisture levels is crucial, as both overwatering and drought harm plants. Thus, maintaining soil health requires ongoing attention.
Use Compost: Add compost regularly to enrich soil. Practice Crop Rotation: This maintains soil fertility and reduces disease. Encourage Beneficial Insects: Create habitats for beneficial bugs to control pests naturally.4. Implement Succession Planting
Succession planting is essential for a steady supply of flowers and requires careful planning. Timing significantly affects yield, so growers should consider factors like climate and plant variety.
Plan Multiple Plantings: Plant the same crops at different times for continuous harvest. Focus on Consistency: Customers value being able to purchase their favorite flowers regularly.5. Assess Available Resources
Take the time to thoroughly assess your situation, as hasty decisions can lead to unforeseen consequences. Preparation is key, but avoid overthinking; find a balance that suits you.
Know Your Space: Understand your land and what you can manage. Utilize What You Have: Use existing tools and resources. Consider Renting Equipment: If you need tools, consider renting when starting out.Crop planning is about the bigger picture. Challenges may arise, but this strategy sets your flower farm up for success!
Mentions
Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Hey, friends! It's Lisa Mason Ziegler, and today we're diving into the topic of time management in flower farming. Let’s explore how to make the most of your time while building your flower business.
Key Points to Consider
Everyone Has the Same 24 Hours: Remember, everyone has the same amount of time each day. It's all about how you choose to spend it. Effective Time Management is Essential: Flower farming involves juggling many tasks like planting, harvesting, and marketing. You need to manage your time well to succeed. Control Your Spending: When starting a business, avoid overspending on seeds and plants. Make sure you’re making more money than you spend! Harvesting is Key: The timing of your harvest is crucial. You must deliver flowers at the right stage for sale. Marketing and Business Tasks: Dedicate time to market your flowers and handle business tasks, so you’re not overwhelmed.Managing Your Time Wisely
Be Realistic: Only take on tasks you can manage well while you learn about flower farming. Structure Your Days: Create a daily schedule that prioritizes important tasks. For example, designate specific days for harvesting and selling. Create Systems: Develop systems for how you do things on your farm. This will help streamline processes and make it easier to train employees in the future. Delegate Tasks: Learn to let go of some responsibilities. It's important for growth! Network and Learn: Make time to network with other flower farmers and continue learning. Attend conferences and take courses to improve your skills.Efficiency in Flower Farming
Garden Layout: Organize your garden layout to improve efficiency. This can save you time during harvesting and other tasks. Plan Ahead: Keep track of when to order seeds and supplies. Planning helps avoid last-minute stress. Flexibility is Key: Be prepared to adjust your plans based on weather and market conditions. Flexibility can help you handle unexpected changes.Final Thoughts
Time management is crucial for success in flower farming. It's not about working every waking hour; it's about working smart. Remember, successful flower farmers manage their time effectively. So, take control of your time, and watch your flower business thrive!
Until next time, friends! Ciao!
Mentions
Michelle at Roots Cut Flower Farm
Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Sales & Pricing in Your First Season of Flower Farming
Welcome to flower farming! If you're new to this industry, knowing about sales and pricing is crucial. This podcast covers strategies for your first season, including pricing transparency and customer loyalty.
The Importance of Pricing Transparency
Pricing transparency is key for your flower farming business. It's about being clear with customers and aligning with industry standards. Asking customers what they would pay can harm your reputation.
Instead, set your prices based on research of reputable flower farmers and your costs. This creates a strong foundation for your pricing strategy.
Remember, pricing can differ by location and market. A $25 bouquet may seem small in one area and substantial in another, so adjust based on local conditions and product quality.
Understanding Seasonality
It's important to educate customers about flower seasonality. Many may not know when certain blooms are available, leading to unrealistic requests, like brides wanting out-of-season flowers.
Share your knowledge of seasonal blooms. For example, if peonies will be available next week, let customers know in advance to create anticipation and strengthen your connection.
No Bartering, Please
Bartering can undermine your professionalism. Haggling might imply you're not serious. Set clear prices and stick to them; customers should either buy at the price or not.
Sticking to your prices builds trust and respect for your brand. It's better to reward loyal customers than negotiate with others.
Rewarding Loyal Customers
A rewards system for loyal customers can increase sales. Consider subscriptions for regular deliveries, providing steady income and fresh flowers for your best customers.
Also, offer bulk discounts for larger orders, defining what qualifies as "bulk." For instance, a dozen bunches may qualify, but smaller amounts do not.
Waiving delivery fees for larger orders can encourage bigger purchases and foster loyalty.
Keeping It Simple
As a new flower farmer, it might be tempting to offer many bouquet sizes, but this complicates things. Focus on one standard-sized bouquet that competes with supermarkets.
Simplifying your offerings makes production easier and boosts profitability, allowing you to prioritize quality.
Not Everyone Is Your Customer
Understand that not all customers are a good fit. Some may expect more than you can provide or be difficult to please. Letting go of these customers helps you focus on those who appreciate your work.
If a customer frequently complains or makes unreasonable demands, consider referring them elsewhere. Your time is valuable, and focusing on the right customers will yield better results.
Building a Loyalty Program
A loyalty program can encourage repeat business. Implement a punch card system for a free bouquet after a set number of purchases to reward loyalty easily.
Show appreciation to regulars with special offers or freebies to retain customers and encourage referrals.
Conclusion
As you navigate your first season, remember that learning and adapting are vital. Stay connected with industry professionals and adjust your strategies as necessary. With dedication, you can create a successful flower farming business.
For more resources, please visit our website.
Mentions
Lisa's Online Course: Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Marketing in Your First Season as a Flower Farmer
Hello, friends! Welcome back to another episode of Field & Garden, where I help anyone, anywhere, learn how to grow cut flowers. Today, I'm excited to share some valuable tips on marketing and selling flowers, especially in your first season. This is such an important topic, and I hope to inspire you to take action!
Getting Ready for Your First Season
Let’s dive into how to market your flowers before you even have them! This is crucial because the best time to start marketing is before you have buckets of flowers waiting for customers. In fact, you want to have people excited and ready to buy your flowers even before they bloom!
Facing the Challenges of Marketing
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the business side of flower farming, especially marketing. It can seem daunting, but facing these challenges will get easier over time. Don't give up after one or two attempts; persistence is key! Remember, marketing is simply about educating people about what you do and how they can buy from you.
Top Ten Marketing Tips for Flower Farmers
Here are ten points to help you market your flowers effectively:
Highlight Local Flowers: Always include your location in your posts. People want to know where they can buy your flowers, so make it clear. Showcase Seasonal Varieties: Talk about unique flowers that are only available locally. Highlight their beauty and why they are special. Emphasize Sustainable Practices: Share your commitment to sustainable farming methods. Educating customers about your practices can attract environmentally conscious buyers. Promote Artisan Bouquets: Your bouquets will be different from what people see in stores. Whether you make them or allow customers to create their own, this is a unique selling point. Variety and Diversity: Offer a wide range of flowers. Consistent quality is what keeps customers coming back, not just new trends. Personalized Service: Build relationships with customers through excellent service. Good customer care can lead to repeat business. Farm-to-Table Experience: Consider inviting customers to your farm for tours or events. This helps them connect with your flowers in a meaningful way. Specialty Cuts and Unique Blooms: Highlight the nostalgia of garden flowers. These are often the flowers that remind people of their childhood. Offer Workshops: You don't have to be an expert to host workshops. Start by inviting people to cut their own flowers and create bouquets. Community Involvement: Share your connections with local businesses. This reinforces the importance of supporting local economies.Building Anticipation
Remember, the goal is to create excitement around your flowers before they are ready to sell. By using these marketing strategies, you can warm up your audience and have them clamoring for your flowers when they are available!
Until next time, happy flower farming!
Lisa Z.
Mentions
Lisa's Online Course, Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!
Jennie Love's Online Course: Making Workshops Work for You
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Lisa shares her 2025 plan to downsize her growing space and encourages those with smaller spaces to optimize their production in the following areas: bed spacing and maintenance, soil health, weed prevention, intensive planting techniques, and succession planting.
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Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne
Free Phone App: The Gardener's Workshop Live Shop
Lennie's Online Course: Profitable Flower Farming
Products: Bio360, Flower Support Netting
Irrigation Suppliers: Berry Hill, Dripworks
Lisa's Book: The Cut Flower Handbook
Lisa's Online Course, Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Lisa lays the groundwork for you to succeed out of the gate, rather than suffering through failures to find your way to a great cut flower garden. Whether you're new to the cutting garden concept or you've been unsuccessful starting one in the past, listen in for the three key factors that will lead you down the path to gorgeous cut flowers!
Mentions
Lisa's Book: The Cut Flower Handbook
Lisa's Online Course, Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Discover essential insights into the world of flower farming, where passion meets perseverance! This episode dives deep into the heart of flower farming, unraveling the layers of determination, business acumen, and preparation needed to thrive.
From the first-hand experience of someone who started their journey 25+ years ago, learn about the highs and lows of stepping into the unknown, the resilience required to overcome the myriad challenges, and the critical importance of a strong business foundation to sustain your passion for flower farming.
Embark on your path to becoming a successful flower farmer today by understanding the importance of preparation and equipping yourself with the tools needed for a flourishing future in flower farming.
Mentions
Book: The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski
Lisa's Online Course, Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Today’s episode features our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was hosted by Lisa Mason Ziegler, a flower farmer with over 25 years of experience, author, online instructor, founder of The Gardener's Workshop, and self-proclaimed "head bottle washer." During this session in early May, she fielded questions on the following topics...
Topics: buckwheat cover crop, weed suppression & prevention, harvesting strawflowers, how to store seeds, recommended soil for raised beds, perennials for shade gardens, fertilizing cool flowers in the spring, succession planting, protecting plants from squirrels and rabbits, scouting for pest and disease damage, Sweet William varieties & successions, early and late-season sunflowers
Lisa hosts these live Q&As on Instagram every Wednesday at 12:30 pm Eastern time, and we occasionally have guest hosts on as well - we invite you to check it out!
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Lisa's Online Community: The Gardener's Workshop Club
Our Live Shopping Phone App: Download Link
Lisa's Book: The Cut Flower Handbook
Online Course: Cool Flowers From Seed To Harvest
Products: Stand-Up Hoe, Neptune's Harvest
Catch "Ask A Flower Farmer" live on our Instagram!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one featured guest host Lennie Larkin, author of Flower Farming for Profit and owner of B-Side Farm in Oregon. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Lennie fielded questions about bouquet pricing, floral design, how to research your local market, and more.
Topics: Tiered pricing for bouquets, principles of floral design, flower markups, researching your market to develop your business model, building bouquets efficiently
Mentions
Lennie’s Instagram: flowerfarming.forprofit, B-Side Farm
Online course: Profitable Flower Farming
The Gardener’s Workshop on Instagram
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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In this episode, Lisa visits Emma Mobley's flower farm in Suffolk, VA. Emma shares her journey of transitioning to flower farming and discusses her new business model, focusing on spring and fall blooms. Listen as she reveals her selling strategies, challenges, and what the future holds for End of Nowhere Flower Farm.
Note: video version of this podcast available on our YouTube channel
Mentions
Website: End of Nowhere Flower Farm
Find Emma on Instagram or Facebook
Discover our online courses!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our Farm News emails!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, normally called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one, however, we called Ask a Florist, and it featured guest hostess Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is a floral designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Ellen fielded questions about floral design, the different flowers she uses throughout the year, and some great business questions too.
Other topics mentioned: floral design for beginners, long-lasting flowers, arranging in mason jars, what Ellen designs with during the winter months, foam-free floral mechanics, the first steps toward selling your flowers, how to get the best vase life from your flowers, how to sell to a florist for the first time, flower cart sales, flower pricing for florists, buying bulk flowers, using social media as a tool to tell your story, spring focal flowers, price undercutting.
Mentions
Ellen’s newsletter signup
Ellen’s YouTube Channel
Instagram: Ellen Frost Flowers
Instagram: Local Color Flowers
Ellen's courses:
On-Demand Mini-Workshop: Preparing to Sell to Florists
Florist School Online: Growing Your Business with Local Flower Sourcing
Field & Garden Podcast #130: Local Color Flowers – A Design Studio’s Year Month-by-Month with Ellen Frost
Seed Talk Podcast #52 – Zinnia Challenges with Florist Ellen Frost
The Gardener’s Workshop on Instagram
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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I had a wonderful time visiting Torrie Anderson's place, The Flower Farm at Youngs Mill, back in June. Located just a couple of miles from my farm here in Virginia, Torrie is one of my dedicated students who has truly embraced the lessons and made remarkable progress! Now in her third year of flower farming with her husband and four children, join me to learn about Torrie's journey and hear her plans for the future.
Mentions
Website: The Flower Farm at Youngs Mill
Find Torrie on Instagram or Facebook
Discover our online courses!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our Farm News emails!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More.
Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Here, he answers questions about snapdragons, baptisia, ranunculus, peonies, larkspur, lisianthus, and so much more.
Other topics include the updated USDA hardiness zone map, managing thrips and aphids, powdery mildew, fertilizing and pinching techniques, his all-time favorite perennials to grow for cut flowers, and making a profit from flower farming.
Mentions
USDA Hardiness Zone Map - updated Nov 2023
Bulb Supplier: Ball/Colorlink, or Call for Account Setup: 800-686-7380
Dave on social: Facebook, Instagram
Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More!
Discover our online courses!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our Farm News emails!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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These are the top 5 mistakes I see folks making related to Cool Flowers, don't be one of them!
1. Not knowing your first & last frost dates, along with your lowest expected winter temperature
2. Not preparing your garden beds ahead of time
3. Not knowing how each seed prefers to be started (indoors or outside, direct sow vs transplants)
4. Not providing the right environmental conditions seed sprouting and optimal seedling growth (light, temperature, air, and water)
5. Failing to realize that you do NOT have to start all seeds yourself (plugs are an option!)
Avoid these common mistakes to save time, money, and most importantly, your sanity!
Mentions
Silage Tarp
Plug Suppliers: Farmer Bailey, Ball Hort/Colorlink
Cool Flower Seeds from The Gardener's Workshop
Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers
Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest
TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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If you are a Southerner or a Northerner you may think the Cool Flower concept doesn't work for you, but nothing could be further from the truth! When you find your planting time sweet spot you will be the envy of all your grower friends, and your customers will think you are nothing short of a miracle worker!
As a Southerner, I spent years at the farmers market watching customers love on my sweet peas and tell me why they can't be grown here - Ha!
Meanwhile I hear from my northern flower farming friends that they have become driven to find ways to get this plant family in the ground earlier and earlier each year to reap the benefits!
Cool Flowers are for everyone. Myth busted, truth unveiled!
Enjoy this week's episode for my best Cool Flower tips and recommendations for Southerners and Northerners.
Mentions
Request the FREE webinar: 3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers
Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers
Request the Cool Flowers video book study
Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest
Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook
TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Stepping away and looking at the big picture, it is easy to see why and how we have been skipping over spring crops. Some of us go to extremes to get warm plants blooming sooner than they should be and others are still planting this family way too late to reap the rewards that well-established plants give. Warm-season plants are familiar, which makes them seem easier to grow.
I want to fast forward to where this journey of embracing seasonality with cool-season hardy annuals can lead.
This is a trend that I have seen over and over, and I think it is so smart.
My first experience with flower farmers making a clear decision to move away from offering summer crops and focusing on spring and or fall crops was with good friends Megan and Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm in North Carolina. I met them before their babies came, and I watched as they started a family, lived the homesteading life, and grew cut flowers as a piece of their family life, not allowing it to consume them. They developed their model as an early to late spring offering flower farm.
Now we're seeing more and more flower farmers realizing they can maintain control as they grow their businesses, molding them into a more manageable part of their life.
I had the honor of visiting one of my student's farms a couple of years ago. She came to the rescue of furnishing some flower crops for a photo shoot for my newest book, The Cut Flower Handbook.I knew I wanted to revisit her farm with the team to learn and film about how she got into flower farming and where her journey is headed. I was thrilled to hear her story of creating a more manageable flower farming business. Our visit with Emma will be released as a Field & Garden podcast episode later this season.
Mentions
Request the FREE webinar: 3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers
Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers
Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest
Emma Mobley, End of Nowhere Flower Farm
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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Why Grow Annuals?
I stumbled into growing annuals. I initially began planting perennials but I quickly saw the errors of my way-- I was going to run out of space, QUICK!
As my business was gaining more demand than flowers I had-- I became a little crazy figuring out how to make the most of my total property of 1.17 acres that also had my home and outbuildings.
I already had a nice stand of hydrangeas in our landscape and thought-- bingo, use it all. But then I needed a consistent supply-- I didn't see it yet but annual plants were knocking down my door.
Then I got it! To maximize my space and to have a consistent supply I needed annuals.
What I discovered along that journey is that annuals are the perfect fit for the small-space flower farmer.
It's the recommended way all farmers get started to learn how to farm, maintain, seed start, harvest, and find customers:
Low investment, Max production small space, Constant ability to change up-colors & varieties, The annual system has been so misrepresentedA little-known reality of the "Annual Farmer" is that this style of farming can become an asset to your home. I could literally stop farming any day, plant trees or grass, and call it a life well lived.
Mentions
Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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This episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram. Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC hosted this one. Daniel is an 8th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of most of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses. Here, he answers questions on topics such as Mother’s Day flowers and pricing, ordering plugs vs. starting from seed, purchasing and saving ranunculus corms, and so much more!
Other topics covered: hydroponic tulips, when to plant dahlia tubers, tuberose growing tips, peonies for Mother's Day, perennial phlox, starting small with flower farming, ranunculus harvest stage, starting zinnias from seed, shipping flowers, foliage and greens for Mother's Day, sunflower seed starting.
Mentions
Petalpickers.com: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber and fall bulb sales
Follow on Instagram: Petal Pickers, The Gardener's Workshop
Book, The Cut Flower Handbook
Book, Postharvest Handling of Cut Flowers and Greens
High Tunnels from Farmers Friend
Lisianthus plugs: Ball Colorlink, Farmer Bailey, Leo Berbee
Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
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The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
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