Answering Lisianthus Questions with Lisa Mason Ziegler

Did you know that lisianthus is a cool-season hardy annual? Also called a Cool Flower 🤭.
She is a stand-alone in the Cool Flower lineup because she blooms in summer, unlike the rest of the CF that typically bloom in spring.
For my first 10 years of farming, I planted and treated lisianthus like a warm-season tender annual and they did ok. Some years they weren’t very tall, they just kind of survived instead of thriving.
And THEN I learned while drinking a cup of coffee in a hallway at a cut flower conference in Oklahoma that lisianthus survives winter in many zones. That meant I could fall and very early spring plant: I was blown away and thrilled.
Rabbit hole: when you plant a plant in its preferred conditions they are literally almost self-sufficient. I knew this tidbit from my Cool Flowers experiences. To think that this flower that I had been fretting over for years with puny results was now moving to the Cool Flowers group I couldn’t wait for the results! And she did not disappoint.
This changed my lisianthus life. Planting to allow the plants to become established during cool weather and build such great roots sent them to producing more stems and sometimes twice as tall! Plus their disease resistance also ramped up.
Lizzie now thrives instead of just surviving!
Lisianthus are quite winter hardy- it’s not the cold that takes them out, it’s the wet feet that sends them to their end.
Fall planting brought blooms one-to-two weeks earlier than my very early spring plantings.
Planting at these times also allowed me to plant 285 size plants directly in the field.
How’s your Lizzie love coming?
My Facebook post above generated so many questions across our social media platforms I thought a video was a great way to answer the questions.
Lisa Mason Ziegler
TheGardenersWorkshop.com
1-757-877-7159
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[@BeckerFamilyFarm]

“Do you know how many different ways you can kill a seedling in 12-16 weeks?” 😂 So true but so funny!

[@lisafeck1537]

Yes. And a very well stated, memorable point. I have never grown lisianthus. I'm thinking of starting a flower farm, I hear so much about them, seems there is quite a market for them. They are so fussy, I am wondering if I should steel myself against falling in love with them.

[@dawnmitzner5222]

Love your book! And so appreciate all the information that you share with us regularly. Thank you, Lisa!

[@user-23188]

You are so nice to do this for us. Thank you and wish me luck 🌱🌱 ☘️☘️

[@jenniferfahnestock450]

Thank you so much for this information!

[@rechelleday408]

You’re amazing!!!!

[@dc0145a]

Very, very much beginner flower grower here in NH.... so much good information from Lisa

[@oldmanfigs]

I’m so glad I subscribed.

[@joannewilliams5589]

Just got your book on my kindle. Loving it. Jo from England. Xxx

[@rachelle3445]

Thank you

[@martiee6882]

loved your book

[@Mary.inthegarden]

I just started your book!! ❤️

[@eflores4449]

Ha! I hear a mama wren singing behind you. ♥️

[@FLlife]

I’m in Florida 9b - started lisianthus by seed in January and they peaked at the end of May but are still hanging in there in July. They are definitely slow starters!

[@cynthiaponce4519]

I'm in Texas 9b - stated Jan 31st and had blooms beginning of June.

[@lisafeck1537]

Are you both flower farming, or gardeners?

[@FLlife]

I’m a gardener. I’m kind of surprised that I still have them going strong now. We’ve had a lot of rain here there.

[@dvssayer5621]

i wish i could find pictures of them in the garden, like your garden, or somebodies.. i just planted the ones called "first love" because it was all i could find. so i know that they take weeks to come up, but i heard as soon as they are transplanted out into the ground they take off real nice. im a new gardener tho as far as seed starting, and now vegitables. im in washington state.

[@kimcarlsen4391]

So excited can't wait until Friday

[@sangeetaaich01]

I have registered for the class too,But have not received any information about time etc, Have you?

[@petalandposeboudoir]

Same!

[@abbyvanhoose3997]

Hello,I 've been watching and reading about Lisianthus ,seedlings,I 'll take your advice and find some plugs,may try seeds for fun.I got interested in them for cut flowers in the house.I heard the saying pretty is as pretty does?It gets so hot here in Springfield, Ohio zone 6a don't think I don't want to get overwhelmed with these.I am going to give it a try.I'll be purchasing your book,very interesting. Thank you for your video~Abby in Ohio

[@KyLinda]

I love you.

[@kdcm6690]

In the UK it's almost impossible to get Eustoma plugs, so I have to grow my own. I sow indoors in November and by second week January I have nearly 100% Echo Lavender germinated, and 0% Rosanne Brown. The Pinks and Yellows and Apricots all have less than 50% germination, so they're all very variable. The easiest to grow seem to be the Echo range.

[@leslienichols5268]

I refer to the book all the time! especially pg 138.

[@lilacDaisy111]

Yikes. I just came home with 60 lisi seedlings, and there's 5 days of spring left. I just assumed the nursery would sell them at the right stage to plant. Oh dear!

[@SortofaLab]

Hello, great video, thanks for sharing! Where can I buy the book?

[@bellarosa009]

Very interesting!! I wonder if you can wintersow lisianthus? I'll have to try that in mid-Feb. I'm in zone 5b.

[@hvnbndmatron4672]

I tried last year. Wasted two packets. Nothing. Nothing at all. Doesn’t do winter sowing in milk jugs for me. Zone 6b

[@alihuebner9086]

I'm on the idaho/washington border on the snake river. Zone 7b. every once in awhile I'll have to order plugs because mine didn't over winter. Just a home grower here running a farm stand from my house so not massive production or anything. What this lady says is true and correct. I see in the comments people are being fussy. Life is too short for that. Every garden and gardener is different, there are no absolutes and no promises when nature and humans collide. Lizzies are the difficult hormonal teenager of the flower world. If you can't roll with the punches I'd suggest they're not your cup of tea. Focus on what you are comfortable with and if you want to grow lizzies....? Just know going in...they do what they want when they want and try to do your best. God Bless.

[@Roadsidemagician]

I’m in the Tri-Cities this will be my first fall trying Lisianthus fingers crossed 🤞🏾

[@dzdffxddvbaiden225]

Thank you! Can they be grown in trays in a hoop house for overwinter?

[@lisafeck1537]

You've got to listen to the entire talk. She answers your question.

[@dvssayer5621]

how do you keep rabbits from eating your flowers!!! every year i buy candy tuff forgetting, apparently that rabbits eat them right down to nothing!

[@nikkichevere]

so if its hardy in my zone or cooler zones i can fall plant correct? cuz she actually said if its hardy in my zone or warmer but did she mean cooler zones

[@TheGardenersWorkshop]

If it hardy in say zone 7 that means it is hardy for all zones south of that zone including 7, 8, 9, and 10. Sorry for confusion-- it is a confusing subject !

[@martiee6882]

I am growing them in 4a dry cool North Dakota weather. I would love to hear from someone in this zone and what type of Lizzies do the best in the fields!

[@BD-dr1hw]

I'm in west-central MN (also 4a). Lissies do not do well in the field here - they tend to be really short (< 16"). All of mine are in high tunnels or a greenhouse.

[@jenniferbinder8663]

“You’re gonna what?!” I know that we ask a lot of questions over and over, but planting things so early when friends and neighbors think we’re out of our minds and keep asking, “you’re gonna what?!” does not inspire a lot of confidence. I am not saying I don’t believe you, but it’s terrifying to put babies outside when you have to bundle up in hats and coats to plant them under a glorified paper towel.

[@NatalyaBerezneva]

Well , go back and read the book. So if you want to sell books- you sell books, if you want to put a content on KZbin to bring help people and share your experience, you do so, pushing your book and courses …. Also, Looking at your farm tours- I don’t see that you are growing vegetables with your flowers as you wrote in your books.

[@lisafeck1537]

She could sit down on camera and read her book out loud to you, is that what you want? Is there anyone else you have as a resource for the infomation you want? Then go there. Apparently all the answers to our questions are in that book, look for it second hand, pay pennies for it, read it, and please, stop complaining.

[@NatalyaBerezneva]

If people didn’t understand you- it’s not their false, but yours If they are on KZbin- maybe they don’t want to read books

[@lisafeck1537]

If for some reason you have any trouble reading (many mnay people do) you could ask your local library if they can get an audio book for you. I don't know if they can, it is just a possible option if reading is a struggle for you. Really books are such friends, you get to go back to them again and again, to find out the answer for whatever question you have at that moment. You do not have to put all your faith and time in one resource...youtube vidoes, that isn't enough. Putting so much hope, that your question will get answered on a KZbin video is actually foolish. When you add the book to your arsenal of information, you have at least 2, but only if you actually pay attention while watching and listening to the videos, and read to confirm, reinforce, or gain new knowledge. I hope you get the answers to you questions/problems. Ultimately you are responsible for seeking the information you need/want.

[@NatalyaBerezneva]

@@lisafeck1537 if you don’t understand the point that is not address to you, it’s better not to respond with your opinions that I did not ask you about. I love books and have more books than your local library. I have books on gardening and soil from 18 centuries . I don’t have any problem reading, and I read books in 7 languages. And if you can’t read sarcasm , life is bitter for you . You have nothing better to do , but go answering to other people comments on KZbin, you should reed more books on how to mine your own business