Cut Flowers 101 - Oregon Small Farms

Cut Flowers 101 Nora Lindsey Learning Garden Coordinator Portland Community College, Rock Creek Why Grow Flowers? *  Flowers are spirit food! *  Don’t need huge amount of land *  Opportunity to diversify skill set *  Growing perennials, bulbs, corms *  Arranging flowers *  Attract beneficial insects *  Increase biodiversity of your farm or land *  Improve the local market *  Low investment if you already have a farm operation Why are Local Flowers Important? *  80% of flowers sold in USA are grown in South America, the Netherlands, and Israel *  Huge carbon footprint *  Pesticide and fungicide use *  Fair labor *  Sustainable growth practices *  Support local economy *  Superior freshness, vase life, and smell Considerations -­‐ Before you Begin *  What is your intention *  Fun or profit? *  Farmer/Florist *  What is the local market missing/need more of? *  Who else is growing flowers in the area -­‐ is there room for specialty crops (roses, dahlias, etc.) or better to do general *  Who might buy your flowers? *  Soil health and equipment Planning Your Year *  Think beyond summer: *  Spring and winter flowers *  Hoophouse production *  Wreaths *  Big flower holidays -­‐ Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, Easter, Passover, School Graduation What to grow? *  Keep it simple! *  Start with spring-­‐seeded annuals – there are plenty to choose from and good to learn on *  Later, you can add in bulbs, fall seeded crops, and perennials *  Added Value Products? *  Garlic Braids *  Wreaths *  Edible flower mixes? What to Grow? *  What is easy *  To grow, to prep, to transport *  Smell – some flowers smell great, some smell terrible, some don’t smell at all *  Color –Mixes vs. single color *  Are you selling mixed bouquets, planning for a single wedding, growing one huge patch of purple zinnias for New Seasons? *  Climate and local conditions *  Height – generally, the longer stem the better *  Vase life – generally, 6 day minimum – do trials with wild cuts to learn and compare *  What are the hottest new varieties – Instagram, blogs, etc. *  What is your market Crop Planning GH Start Date Date Seeded Crop Variety Days to Germ TP Date In-­‐Row Space Rows
/Bed Bed Ft Row Ft #TPs Days to Mature Approx Harvest Date 6-­‐Mar Snapdragon 1 Rocket Mix 7 to 14 1-­‐May 6-­‐12” 3 20 60 120 120 6-­‐Jul 9-­‐Mar Eucalyptus 1 Silver Drop 14-­‐21 18-­‐May 12” 2 20 40 40 120-­‐150 15-­‐Jul 11-­‐Mar Statice 1 Pacific Mix 5-­‐14 18-­‐May 12” 3 8.5 27 27 110-­‐120 11-­‐Jul 11-­‐Mar Statice 1 Sunset Mix 5-­‐14 18-­‐May 12” 3 8.5 27 27 110-­‐120 11-­‐Jul 21-­‐Mar QAL 1 Black Knight 7-­‐14 21-­‐Jun 9-­‐12” 3 15 45 60 100-­‐110 1-­‐Jul 23-­‐Mar Rudbeckia Goldilocks 8-­‐14 18-­‐May 12-­‐18” 2 30 60 60 100-­‐120 23-­‐Jul 23-­‐Mar Salvia 1 Gruppenblau 12-­‐18 18-­‐May 12-­‐18” 2 20 40 40 120 23-­‐Jul 23-­‐Mar Snapdragon 2 Rocket Mix 7-­‐14 18-­‐May 6-­‐12” 3 10 30 60 120 27-­‐Jul 23-­‐Mar Verbena Bonariensis 14-­‐28 1-­‐Jun 18-­‐24” 2 20 40 27 90 23-­‐Jun Planting Flowers *  Buying plugs vs. Starting your own *  Buy good seed, or test your saved seed *  Direct Seed vs. Transplant *  Make sure you know germination needs *  Light *  Temperature *  Spacing *  Netting *  Pests Growing Flowers *  Build your soil! *  Soil test in the fall *  Cover crop *  Low-­‐No Till – double digging, broadforking *  Add compost, mulch *  Weeding *  Insect and disease management *  Cultural, Physical, Biological and Chemical controls *  Pinching (soft vs. hard vs. no pinch) *  Deadheading High Tunnels *  Unheated hoophouse, passive solar hoophouse, cold frame – all the same thing *  Season Extension *  Protection from elements *  Stem Length *  Crops that are not generally able to be grown in your zone *  Intensive Production Harvesting Flowers THINK LIKE A FLOWER Pollination -­‐> Seed Production *  Clean buckets and shears *  Dirty containers or water = plugged stems = no water to flower *  Sterilize with bleach or hydrogen peroxide *  Harvest in morning or evening *  Morning = look freshest *  Evening = last longer in vase *  Harvest at correct stage of development *  Rule of thumb = just after blossom opens fully and before you can see pollen *  Exceptions to the rule Harvest and Handling *  Stripping lower leaves *  Care for your hands *  Get them in to water ASAP *  Cool the flowers down *  Condition before arranging *  Transport: wind protection and Air Conditioning *  Drive carefully Markets *  U-­‐Pick *  Farm Stand -­‐ roadside, honor system *  Farmer’s Market *  CSA *  Direct to Florist *  Restaurants/Hotels/Offices *  Grocery Stores/Co-­‐Ops *  Special Events/Weddings *  Edible flowers *  Wholesale Marketing *  Website *  Photos *  Education *  Targeted Outreach *  Sample Product *  Certifications *  American Grown *  Salmon Safe *  Organic Pricing *  Only way to price is based on local markets *  Boston terminal market provides weekly prices, but they can be up to 4x Portland prices *  Availability from California and Canada squeezes Portland prices further down *  Seattle wholesale market -­‐ weekly price list you can get in email *  Seattle -­‐ higher prices than Portland *  Seasonal availability chart *  Talk to other flower growers – facebook, etc. *  Portland Flower Market *  Base price on production costs, market costs, or hybrid of both Pricing *  Direct to Florists *  Talk to them about what products they are interested in buying *  Are they willing to pay premium for local? *  Grocery store *  Can assume grocer paid 50% or retail to grower or less for bouquet – *  Look at what they are selling retail bouquets for and half it – decide if it is worth it for you and your own business model *  Standardize your bouquets, factor in wrapping, stickers with logo, etc. *  Farmers Market *  Standard price at PNW markets is impossibly low for many farmers *  Need to distinguish product – value add in some way *  Weddings and Events *  SO many variables – what level of service, what kind of flowers, consultations, etc. *  Sunny Meadows Flower Farm sample contract *  Boyd Family Farm sample contract YOU *  HAVE FUN – take time to appreciate the flowers, practice arranging, take pictures, smell them *  Take care of your body – stretch, massage, lift from your legs, squat instead of bend *  Use appropriate and sharp tools *  Make sure your work spaces if you arrange flowers are ergonomically friendly to your body *  Protect yourself from the sun Where to get Seed * 
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Johnny’s (also netting, tools) Territorial Geo seed Gloeckner-­‐ bulbs and seeds Pinetree Botanical Interest Renee’s Swallowtail Gardens Harris Save your own/seed swap! Local seed companies/garden centers *  Naomi’s Organic Farm Supply *  Concentrates *  OBC Northwest *  Dripworks *  Swan Island Dahlias *  Freys Dahlias *  Dan’s Dahlias Tools and Supplies * 
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Irrigation (drip) Netting (hortonova) Floating row cover Hoes (wheel, hula, collinear) Stakes (T-­‐Posts, rebar) Support hoops (buy pre-­‐
made or make with 1/2” pipe or #9 wire) Buckets Clippers Flower Preservative/Food Cooler? Packing Shed http://www.americannettings.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2013/11/
Flower-­‐Support-­‐Netting-­‐e1435769887392.jpg Online Resources *  ASCFG -­‐ Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers -­‐ ascfg.org *  “Specialty Cut Flowers: A Commercial Grower’s Guide” from Kansas State University Extension *  “Pacific Northwest Cut Flower Growers” Facebook group *  “Flower Farmers” Facebook group *  Slowflowers.com + Podcast with Debra Prinzing *  floretflowers.com *  lovenfreshflowers.com *  Instagram – design inspiration Books *  The Flower Farmer -­‐ Lynn Bycyzynski *  Cool Flowers – Lisa Mason Ziegler *  The Market Gardener -­‐ Jean-­‐Martin Fortier *  Specialty Cut Flowers (2nd edition) -­‐ Allan Armitage and Judy Lauchsman *  Woody Cut Stems for Growers and Florists *  Slow Flowers -­‐ Debra Prinzing *  Local Flowers -­‐ Frank and Pamela Arnosky *  Flower Confidential -­‐ Amy Stewart Thank you! Questions? Nora Lindsey nora.lindsey@pcc.edu 971.722.7655 OR 317.408.3430