10 Things I Learned in my 2nd Year Flower Farming : Sunshine & Flora

In this video I share 10 important lessons that I learned in my 2nd year flower farming! I share the experiences & what I learned from those lessons! And how I will do things differently this year!
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Sunshine & Flora, Locally Grown Fresh Cut Flowers
Zone 5A, Northwest Iowa
PO Box 146
Holstein, Iowa 51025

[@irenetorres8073]

So exciting! I am on 5th year growing from seed, but first year as business. I also make salves and soaps. I love the flowers and natural products but I’m nervous! My friends and family laugh and say your prescribing medicine but your afraid to sell stuff 🤦🏻‍♀️. I am a nurse practitioner and work 2 days a week. Then grow on our farm 11 acres and raise and raise animals. I forage make medicinal stuff, sourdough, can, ferment and dehydrate. I grew Lisianthus and dahlias for fun and now I’m stressed because I’m counting on them. Thanks for all you do.

[@jennifermitchell2493]

Always learn something from you. I don’t think anyone will laugh, because experienced growers have also made the same learnings and growing in their first years, for sure they did. Plus, it’s really valuable to learn from someone growing, like many of us, in a small space where a succession failure or a “basil blunder” is pretty noticeable. I took notes 👍👏

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!!!

[@lisalott7646]

Following your channel is like going to the best flower school! You are so clear, concise and easy to follow. You must come from a line of very good teachers lol! I really appreciate your sharing all the really useful information.

[@SunshineFlora]

Oh my gosh - thanks!

[@Alchemyforall]

Thankyou. I'm still in my first year, at a new property (steep learning curve re climate and huge effort preparing beds), on my journey of growing cut flowers for sale. So, heaps of research - which led me to you. You've simplified a few things for me. Love your clear explanations.

[@SunshineFlora]

Best of luck!

[@lindaschaefer2252]

I love your “classes.” I learn so much from you. I don’t sell my flowers, but I take them to the elderly and dress the altars at church with them. I have gardened for 50 years, but only vegetables and fruits until three years ago, when I started watching the UTube videos about raising flowers. I had never heard of Lisianthus or Ranunculus, you name it. Now I’m in my second year of starting these wonderful creations but cussing when they don’t germinate. Last year, I was also foraging for filler plants, and have upped my game in that area. I had fungus gnats also, but this year have been spraying before they show up! My food garden is organic, but I’m not afraid to use something stronger in the flower garden. Keep it up Christina! 🥰

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you for watching Linda! So lovely of you to share your flowers with others!

[@homestatzfarmher8919]

I so appreciate you sharing this information! It is truly helpful for those of us who are new to flower farming and have no idea what we are doing! 😂 I’m starting year 2 and have learned SO MUCH from your videos! Thank you Christina 💐💐💐

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad it was helpful!

[@krystal6629]

Always love watching your videos, you inspire me and I love learning from you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences!!

[@SunshineFlora]

So nice of you!

[@rosemacdougall2967]

Thank you! Great tips. :) I am growing in a zone 5a in Cape Breton, NS.

[@annelefevre9457]

Great video. It got me excited to plant , even though Ii just live in an apartment!!! I can just see a small cut flower garden right around my apartment! I love flowers, and your video’s always make me excited……especially when the flowers are growing. Thanks so much!

[@SunshineFlora]

Go for it!

[@marlenesflowerfarm]

Thank you for sharing what you've learned! I love your channel more than Netflix :) I look forward to learning more with you and wish you the best this season!

[@SunshineFlora]

Better than Netflix?!?! Ha! That made my day! 😊

[@lindafraser1396]

I really appreciate you taking the time to share. I’m starting my 2nd year and your clear and concise information is invaluable. 💐

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad it was helpful!

[@vivherman2296]

I'm so looking forward to watching your hoop house...excited for you! I've been into this for about 10 yrs. almost 11. I love to watch you and others because one never stops learning!! I only have one market; used to do two a wk. Getting older and would love to have a pop up stand to leave bouq. in..and do my market. NO one will laugh...we all had to start somewhere. I see how organized you and alot of other farmers are and I love that! I've always been a little scattered in all things!! I've always done a 6/8 dollar bouq. We are so rural here ...I know I should charge more. Just can't seem to do it..afraid they won't sell. And yes..I learned to grow more than you need the hard way, too.! I think you're doing great!!!!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!!!

[@appleeaters2083]

Thanks for the great video. Definitely helpful info for the person who gardens but is not (yet!) flower farming.

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad it was helpful!

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thank you Christina. You shared a lot of valuable knowledge with us and I’m sure no one would laugh at you, everyone learns by mistakes and if your not learning something everyday your probably taking a dirt nap. Even I learn something everyday and one would think at my age I might know it all. Hahaha. Jokes aside, I just want to thank you for sharing your gardening journey. ❄️💚🙃

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you so much!

[@adriennezimny3207]

This was a super helpful video!!!! Thank you for sharing your insights and successes. You are crushing it!

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thewhiledco]

Heaps of fabulous insider insight! Thank you for taking the time to help us learn more! Also, the height-based planting is something I learned the hard way last year as well. 🥴😍

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad it was helpful!

[@leighrockey3473]

I love your channel!! I'm doing pretty much the same thing on the same scale but started a year after you. It has given me so many helpful tips, and I love how organized it is in general so, Thank you. 🙂

[@SunshineFlora]

I'm so glad! 😊😊

[@annierodenberg2327]

Thanks for sharing your journey with growing flowers. I love it!

[@SunshineFlora]

You are so welcome!

[@beckyeldridge7032]

Thanks for the huge helpful hints! You're a great source of information...even for this "wanna be" flower farmer. Hope you have a bountiful season!

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

I always wondered why anyone would like the smell of basil in a bouquet, so I am in total agreement with you on that one.

[@SunshineFlora]

👍👍

[@amysurburg1781]

This is a great video! I am right there with you and starting my 3rd year. Thanks for good information.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you & hope you have a great season!

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

Agree with the 5 dollar option, that wouldn't make me think twice, great option. Also snaps for $10, awesome 😉 Nobody is laughing, great tips 😁

[@serenababy6358]

This info was really helpful! How do you keep it all organized?? 😅 I don't know how you do it all including photography and having a family too! I garden for fun & to make bouqs for family, friends and neighbors but it would be the next challenge to try the farmers market in Western CO. The more I learn about gardening, the more I learn the importance of organizing my tasks/time or it gets to be overwhelming! This year I started a spreadsheet and I have tabs for different pieces of info (indoor seed starting timetables, direct sow timetables, growing notes etc.). I bought a photo organizer to protect the seeds; I'm working on organizing everything in the case so it aligns with seed starting, cold stratification, direct sow, sucession, and what likes to be planted together. I STILL feel disorganized and I need to figure out how to commit a garden plan to paper next and follow through lol. Thanks again for sharing the info!

[@SunshineFlora]

You can do it! This year I made a list by date of what seeds need to be started when. Then on that date I just started them all. Made it easy and simple

[@jeannet9592]

Thank you for sharing.

[@GosiaGW]

Thanks for sharing!

[@lsquared6975]

Great info! Thanks for sharing!

[@alisonburgess345]

Sometimes seedlings will fail even after they've been planted out so I always hold a few in reserve for a week or so in case any do die. This has just happened to me with ageratum. A couple of seedlings that LOOKED vigorous have died, so I can replace em ! Great video - jeepers my mistakes would be movie length - you've done well 😂

[@SunshineFlora]

So true! You can never have too many seedlings!

[@ggraham8751]

Christina, thank you so much for sharing your flower journey. The pictures of your flowers were just gorgeous!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you so much!

[@destinyreinhart]

Thanks for sharing your journey with us.

[@SunshineFlora]

Of course!!

[@dksgardenoasis]

Thanks for sharing. I've been vegetable gardening for a few years but this year I'm growing a cut garden so your tips were beneficial to me as a 1st cut flower farmer. Thank you!

[@SunshineFlora]

Enjoy your garden!

[@shereeeischen1646]

Love hearing about your journey. I hope to learn alot from you. Thanks

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks for watching!

[@gardeninggrandma5247]

I am a new subscriber, and you are amazing!! You have such a well-thought-out plan of how to approach flower farming as a business. I really enjoyed seeing pictures of your booth. I can't believe you grew all of those flowers in the small area that you have!! You must plan out very carefully where to put your plants. Well done! Looking forward to more videos.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks and welcome!!! 🌻🌻

[@patriciakennedy7452]

This was a great help Thanks !

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad it helped!

[@sarac.5750]

Ciao Cristina! informazioni molto utili! grazie! Io vivo nell'entroterra della toscana, nella provincia di Firenze e quì fa molto caldo, la mia zona sarebbe come un 9/a. mi piace molto il tuo canale!🥰

[@SunshineFlora]

Hello!!! Tuscany is on my bucket list to visit someday!! I’ve only been to Venice in Italy but would love to see the rest of the country. Happy gardening!!!

[@rosebud447]

Great video!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@Flowerladymi]

Zone 5A grower in a rural community in Michigan here. Love your content & I can so relate to everything you learned last year!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Love it!!

[@Flowerladymi]

With your wrapped bouquets- did you do anything for a water source? I do all my bouquets in jars, but I really want to start adding wrapped bouquets this year. Rural area and I just worry about the flowers being out of water for too long for their commute home!

[@SunshineFlora]

@@Flowerladymi at the market I put them in black buckets that I get from Johnnys. Then when someone purchased them, I put a plastic baggy on the bottom for them to transport home. When I’m driving bouquets anywhere I always have them in the buckets. Just a little water tho so it doesn’t soak up in the paper! 😊😊

[@Heirloom_Leaves_and_Seeds]

I look forward to your videos & they have been very helpful. 🌸 This will be my first official year as a cut flower farmer. Would love to hear more about how you got started selling to a florist & at the bakery and your setup and process. Everything is so lovely & you are doing a wonderful job. 🌱

[@SunshineFlora]

I will make sure to include those in my videos! I did a florist video last year, so look for that, too

[@CoosaFlowerFarm]

Starting my first year 😊 i know i can grow flowers and give them away but nervous about selling 😅

[@SunshineFlora]

You can do it!

[@marthaduffy8386]

Thank you for the great info. I hope you'll talk again about growing bupleurum this year. I tried starting inside as you did with no luck but think maybe direct sowing would work better for me. Also I had the same experience you did with basil wilting. I had better luck with cardinal and cinnamon not wilting but had to let plants mature more like the mahogany splendor. Can't wait to see how you utilize your high tunnel. That is on my list for a near future project so excited for you.

[@SunshineFlora]

Will definitely share my seed starting and growing or buplerum

[@reneeschroeder5583]

Found a place that has landscape fabric with holes already in it!! Thanks

[@debsmith8102]

All that basil could have been sold to restaurants……just a thought. I’m thinking pesto! Yum

[@rebeccarose8017]

I just found you last week. You are sooo inspiring and i’m ready to jump in and try this! I’ve learned so much from you and was wondering if you recommend the floret online course? Or if you’ve considered giving online courses?

[@SunshineFlora]

I’m not to a point yet at all where I would do an online course but I do recommend floret!!!!

[@LilChefKimi]

💜

[@juliepuhr9806]

Do you have a video showing the layout of your plants? A diagram?

[@SunshineFlora]

I posted a garden plan video last year and gave one for this year coming out soon!

[@wandabarlow4432]

How do you determine what to charge florists? Does your florist usually use the type of flowers you sell? Thanks for your response ☺️

[@SunshineFlora]

Google the Boston Ornamental Terminal - it is updated each day (I think) on the wholesale flower pricing for current flowers that are being sold. I go off that usually. Flowers sell in bunches of 10 or 5 - most are 10. The florist I sold to last year used all the flowers I grew. This year I am also growing tulips, ranunculus and stock to sell her

[@caseycampbell8508]

Question- how did you present to the bakery to offer your flowers , they buy them From you then they sell to public at a mark up , or them selling them for you at your price point ??. Thank you

[@caseycampbell8508]

Sorry, I should have been patient and watched the whole video , you answered my question later in the video ! 😊

[@rachelletaylor4215]

I thought it was a great video. I know you mentioned that bupleurum is a one and done crop but is craspedia ( yellow ball) also a one and done?

[@SunshineFlora]

Not sure on that!

[@SunshineFlora]

Buplerum will give you a second harvest if you have a long enough season

[@ProudCanadian-vv6bk]

How did you arrange the custom orders? Do you leave a percentage of flowers uncut?

[@SunshineFlora]

I’m not sure I know what you mean?

[@ProudCanadian-vv6bk]

@SunshineFlora if I can explain it properly- sorry. I cut my flowers for market and florists. If I were to take custom orders, should I leave some flowers uncut in case orders come in. In order to have flowers available. People may get discouraged if they want an order, but I used all the blooms at markets and florists? Do you leave some in your garden in case?

[@SunshineFlora]

@@ProudCanadian-vv6bk gotcha! I would make sure you plant enough so you always have extra in the garden just in case. That’s what I try to do