Flowers That Don’t Make Us Money - How to Decide What to Grow

[@amberlockhart1386]

As someone who has grown cut flowers for 4 years and also a consumer I think one thing a lot of people lack is the green foliage in bouquets. One thing I grow that is cheap and super easy to grow that provides that is “apple of Peru”. It lasts a long time in the vase, it can be harvested early on and the plant keeps producing all season. Near the end of summer you can save seeds. One plant produces thousands of seeds. It grows very fast (it’s bigger than a splendor hibiscus plant and same concept, one large stalk with tons of long side shoots) produces beautiful pods but you can cut those off if you wish!

[@magdalenaxo1]

Do you start it inside or directly outside?

[@angelabromley3712]

Which zone do you plant in

[@Thewildmanwoods]

I love using seed heads …

[@janepeters5732]

Love Apple of Peru and Mahogany Splendor. I agree people do not use enough foliage. 1 piece of basil doesn’t work for me. Cosmos make great foliage as well if u don’t care for the blooms. Georgie Newbury on utube can teach people a lot on foliage

[@leighannehagan2493]

So love the life you are providing for your lovely family...homeschooling is awesome, and somehow you manage all of it. Glory to God for families (and flower farmers) like you!!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Thank you Leigh Anne 🌷

[@valeriecolvin6977]

Finally!! A sane voice not influenced by the popularity!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Haha that’s me! I am the “no” girl 🙃

[@cynthiamartinez5884]

As a fellow Okie, I can so relate to your disclaimers and explanations on why certain things don't work in an Oklahoma garden. Northerners can not fathom the pest pressure and heat that makes gardening difficult. Also that we go from cold to hot and hot to cold so fast with the changing season that adds another level of difficulty.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Yes exactly!

[@nayohme728]

Lets not forget the WIND 😂 im in north west texas. I feel this soo deeply.

[@teddymercury-wm1qu]

Just a heads up if you were not already aware, there is a type of thrips specific to Glads known as Gladiolus Thrips, and they can come in on the corms in the juvenile stages if your supplier is not careful enough. It may be worth looking into pretreating the corms in some way as a preventative in case the thrips are already present on arrival to you.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

I’ve heard about pre treating but hadn’t gotten around to testing that out. Definitely a consideration if I ever grow them again

[@magdalenaxo1]

Every flower farmer has a different experience with flowers based on their climate and how they sell flowers. Since I do a lot of special events and bridal work as well as dry flower project some of the flowers you mentioned are must grow for me. I think we know what works for us based on the needs of our customers. I would definitely recommend Sweet William to you. Based on watching your videos and the type of bouquets you make, Sweet William would add texture to your bouquets, they last forever and are absolutely beautiful. I am in zone 6a, Bristol, CT. Harsh winter and very humid summers and I directly sow mine in the fall. They bloom early June, have great steam length. This year was my first year growing then and I fell in love with them. 🥰

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Thank you for recommending that! I’ve thought about it before. I have filled up my tunnel for 2024 but I think I may try it in there next fall to overwinter

[@magdalenaxo1]

Sounds like a plan. Looking forward your next video.

[@kit2130]

Yes Sweet William grows on tall, very sturdy stems in a variety of pinks. Very large flower clusters. Regarding dahlia, in KS it has to be dug up every winter then planted again in the spring so it’s not a flower I would grow here.

[@BrendaBrand-kw6ir]

Do the Sweet William need to be the Amazon series or are there others?

[@kit2130]

@@BrendaBrand-kw6ir I’m sorry I don’t remember what type mine was but there is a very low (like a creeping phlox) Sweet William & one that is on tall stems.

[@misfitkrew2144]

I took two seasons off from cosmos but I will be adding them back to the farm this year. As for stock we are in zone 10b HOT & dry. Our stock started blooming in March and has not stopped as well as the bells of Ireland. I don’t know how but they just keep on keeping on. As for dahlias we grow them year around but our focus is living soil. Probably why they do so well. We do not spray anything on our plants. We buy and invite beneficial insects to encourage them to come in and take care of the pests for us. If I have a wedding then I will bag them as well as my ranunculus.

[@jeannet9592]

Thanks for your practical, honest sharing. It is very easy to get caught up in all of the pretty and unusual flowers one can grow. Everyone needs to decide on what’s best for their market and farm.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Agreed!

[@alisonburgess345]

The trick with cosmos is to grow doubles - the fluffiest you can find - which are harder for the bees to pollinate The reason they wilt and flop is they've been pollinated.. 😊

[@MeegAnne]

i thought that you could also pick before they open... i like a single cosmos to break up the fluffiness of all of the double flowers we already grow.

[@Olivia54984]

Although not seen regularly, Gomphrena 'Fireworks' has a different form than the QIS, Las Vegas, Strawberry Fields, etc. It branches, dries well, and has a longer stem length. You might decide it is the Gomphrena you want to grow.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Oh interesting!

[@Bknickels]

Another great video. I dropped strawflowers this year with no regrets. I’m dropping Craspedia and trying to add in a few more perennials next year. I did some dahlias but went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Planting the dahlias mid June seemed to worked better than getting them in earlier than in past years. So excited for your high tunnel!!

[@domisotto6716]

I am on the other end of the growing range, in Zone 3, so to grow dahlias is even more troubles for even less results here. I didn't know dry heat was bad for them, but that makes me even more determined because here we have 2 months of dry heat (with cold nights) so it's like zero favorable conditions for dahlia. I am giving all my tubers to my mom who lives on Vancouver Island where dahlias grow in giant bushy shrubs with tons of stems. Mom, dahlias and me we'll all be happier 😅 Some of the flowers you had troubles with, I grow with a great joy, some I am willing to try again. But the main principle is the same, gotta grow what grows enthusiastically less efforts. There is a lot of flowers to chose from and for best results downsizing the selection is a great idea.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Absolutely!

[@GreenandGrain]

So glad I found Okie flower farm content! 2024 will be my first year selling flowers in rural central OK. Thanks for the great content!

[@Daisymaysvlogs]

the best of luck to you!!

[@AnnCall]

Hi Alex, loved this video and how it makes us think about what flowers I will / will not grow as a profitable flower farmer. As I was listening to you talk about gladiolus issues I had an idea for another video that would be interesting and very useful . . . common issues and how to be prepared ahead of time to deal with them, such as thrips, beetles, powdery mildew, etc. There may be an expert out there whom you could interview. Thanks again for providing such good content!! Ann Call/Montpelier Flower Farm

[@PJGlennon]

Really great insights. All the things you are highlighting are relevant no matter where or what one is growing

[@glendahill8806]

Excellent discussion, like your critical thinking process. I’m just starting out and evaluating the options, so need to ask the tough questions as well.

[@MellowMoonFlowerFarm]

Have you tried growing the QIS Series gomphrena? I find the stems to be much easier to harvest than the other varieties. They're more upright and spread out, allowing you to easily go in with your snips and harvest, as opposed to other varieties that tend to create a bird's nest with their squatty, many-branched growth habit. The stems in the QIS Series are also straighter, and their "knuckles" are a lot smaller, making them easier to work with and incorporate into your bouquets. I did a side-by-side comparison in my fields last year, and it was obvious which plants were superior, especially from an efficiency standpoint. QIS takes the cake. QIS Carmine is a very punchy pink that seemed to coordinate with everything I grew, but all the colors in the series are fantastic. Hope this helps!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

that’s interesting! I don’t think i have tried QIS.

[@summerskyegardens]

If you're looking to get into more dried flowers, I would suggest growing at least a chunk of yarrow and strawflower just for that. I grow mine, along with the gomphrena, JUST for drying, and it makes them worth it.

[@karentorbert]

Totally agree with everyone of those flowers. I've tried them all here in Oklahoma also. I don't sell my flowers but I love making boquets. I'm digging up my dahlia bed, I've tried for years but after this summer and the crazy heat we had, I have given up. Looking forward to what you are going to grow video.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

It’s hard to make that final decision but then so freeing when you don’t have their drama anymore 🙃

[@angelabromley3712]

I heard part shade in afternoon helps

[@donakinnamon6052]

I had 8 dahlia plants last year with the most beautiful flowers until July. Then the grasshoppers swarmed them, they destroyed all my plants. I'm in NE Oklahoma.

[@Liomy2023]

Thanks for sharing your experience!. I am looking forward to your list of things you will be growing.

[@mistygraham6]

Can you do a video on pest control? Your content is golden

[@CoramDeoFarm]

We are planning on doing a video over on patreon all about our pest control methods we use on our farm :)

[@gypsyogrady3308]

Strawflower is amazing, it's unbeatable for dried flowers if you're heading in that direction for dried/crafts.

[@christyleitner5949]

Agree with gladiolus. I grew them in my personal gardens for years. As soon as I planted for production 3 years ago, they had thrips. Couldn't sell one. I planted thousands. 😢 skipped it the second year, then planted my 3rd year in crates and again major thrips and I planted in my new 2 cut flower field in a different town. I'm done! Not planting them my 4th year! I grow thousands of strawflowers. Need to cut when completely open. I put in every market bouquet and farmstand bouquet. Cosmos took me 3 years to figure it out. Only doubles. Last at least 7 days in a vase. Only gomphrena for dried for me. Nigella pods in every bouquet I can put them in and dry the rest. I use them in every dried bouquet I can and sell at a local grocery store. I grow bachelor buttons but now to sell. It's nice to hear about what everyone likes to grow and what works and doesn't for them. I'm 5b southwest of Chicago

[@CoramDeoFarm]

This is super interesting! Thank you for sharing. I could maybe see myself adding a couple of these back in at some point

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

Here, on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, dahlias are easy to grow. I have virtually no pest pressure, water is never an issue and vase life is 5-7 days for dinnerplates and even more for smaller dahlias. They are my number one cash crop. I've also never had an issue with cosmos, they never wilt and have amazing vase life. That said, I say no to zinnias, strawflowers, stock, nigella, marigolds and feverfew. I almost say no to bach buttons BUT the black button ones are so useful for me and people love the colour. They are my early small flower with double click cosmos being my late small flower. Other than dahlias, my focals are sunflowers, peonies, ranunculus, anemones and sweet peas with tulips and dafs only grown and sold in pots. I also grow astilbe, double shasta daisies, russian sage, foxglove and poppies. I think that's it!

[@YanickaQuilt]

It's funny because here in North Shore Montreal, my list is almost the exact opposite lol. But! I am also just a hobbyist and pretty new. Next year I'll try dahlias from seeds and tubers just for fun.

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

@@YanickaQuilt but then, Montreal has a completely different climate than here on the pacific northwest coast. Definitely much colder in the winters, and probably far less rain and I believe a shorter season. Also, you definitely get far more snow in the winter, as we hardly get any.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

It’s interesting how different our farming experiences can be. Dahlias have terrible vase life here but marigolds and zinnias are work horses for me. I grow thousands. Sweet peas don’t stand a chance here 🙃

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

@@CoramDeoFarm I think the difference in vase life is water. When we get up to 30deg celsius (86f), we water three times a day and I don't pick any flowers until a half hour after watering so that they are well hydrated. It's easy for us to water a lot because water has not yet become a major issue. We were unnaturally dry this year and it almost became an issue - almost.

[@irynalange8124]

​@EvelynM-vlogs I am on Vancouver Island and absolutely don't like dahlia! It is so late and blossoming season is so short for her! My first dahlia started blossoming in the middle of August despite I planted it in the end of April and kept under cover for while. Some people wrote that were waiting for 4,5 months for blossom. It's definitely not my flower.

[@dottiesworld979]

Dahlias thrive here in WA, but we have a pretty mild summer, I normally go to the flower farm just to take pictures of them but they're not great as a cut flower

[@davidthedeaf]

What climate zone you in? I am in Vancouver, WA, near the Columbia River and while our winters are mild, boy howdy that 115 degree summer day during Covid was a killer! 😂 Nothing mild about summer in Clark County! I watch these types of videos just trying to figure out what may grow in containers and gardens in full sun or dappled sun that I can harvest all spring, summer, fall to place flowers on my grandparents and mom’s graves. I would like just a few special things that will grow back every year, you know? Hearing how hard something is to grow helps me plan what not to grow and what to buy in a flower shop to add to my home grown gift.

[@dottiesworld979]

I'm near Olympia, we only get a week or 2 of too hot summer, the rest is nice, a bit too gray here for my liking though

[@susiescott661]

I think it is great that you thought through whether or not a flower works for you and your operation. It's smart :)

[@salemthorup9536]

This is the first video of yours I've ever watched. I love cosmos. They are the flower I've picked most in my life. They filled my yard growing up, so they are very sentimental to me. And i even grew up in a much more cosmos friendly climate than you are in. And i can understand why you are ditching this flower. I actually never thought of growing them for cut flowers cause i just noticed all the things you talk about as a child and can't imagine them being a very profitable or worthwhile cut flower for sale.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

I definitely like them as a flower. Just not as profitable as I’d like ☺️

[@leahbender7032]

Your initial "I do not like it" comments reminded me of Green Eggs and Ham, love it haha! I just discovered your channel today and I love it :)

[@CoramDeoFarm]

ha so true!

[@sheelaghomalley5459]

Oh dear. No Dahlias. They are my biggest harvest here in Ireland. Love that you are still putting out videos xx Keep em coming ❤

[@CoramDeoFarm]

So interesting how we are all so different!

[@madonnaschmid7707]

I can't imagine not having Cosmos. When harvested at the right stage, they do really well for me. Filler and greens are a staple for me. It really bulks and colors up the bouquets. Dahlias are on the fence for me also!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

I just can’t justify them from a profitability stand point but I do love them as a flower

[@NicholeElizabeth]

Alex, you’re speaking my language re: dahlias. Even without many bug issues here (Hamilton, ON, CAD), I think you’re right: they are a personal garden flower because that’s the amount of maintenance they require.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

That’s a good way to explain them

[@YanickaQuilt]

As someone that is still just a hobbyist, fell in love with glads, i took growers advice and planted the like tulips and at 20¢ (Canadian) per bulbs it was great. My zinnias were munched badly by Japanese beetles and it took me a bit of time before i knew what they were , now i know how to deal with those for next year. The only flower i won't plant next year are poppies. They were beautiful but would crumble if i just looked at them wrong😂 ❤its been a pleasure to experience this year with you! Learned so much. ❤

[@CoramDeoFarm]

I agree with poppies!

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

I grow poppies only for the green - or dried - pods, and I use a lot of them both early and late in the season when not much is blooming. Like now, right now I mostly have only dahlias still blooming, but I use laurel leaves, dried poppy pods and dried astilbe fronds with them.

[@oceanlistening]

How do you deal with Japanese beetles? I’ve spread milky spore …

[@YanickaQuilt]

@@oceanlistening I just knock them in a bucket of soapy water. They are not fast. I know people who also used shop vac lol

[@LGarbuio09]

I do feel geraniums helped me control Japanese beetles last year combined with the soapy bucket tip. The # I had to tip in my soapy bucket compared to when I didn't have geraniums was very significant. I'll definitely have geraniums this year again for this reason, and this seems to be an easy care flower me!

[@kobedeister5234]

Wonderful how you really way up the necessity of each flower, it makes a lot of sence.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Thank you!

[@nicolefreeman1709]

I've tried growing strawflowers and have struggled. But I found a wholesaler who sells then for $6.50 a bunch. So I know buy in a heap to dry for my wreaths.

[@leahfowler4710]

I am so with you on cosmos! Just doesn’t have a reliable vase life for me. Enjoy following you 🌼

[@CoramDeoFarm]

☺️ thank you!

[@margiepaskert3289]

Thank you for reinforcing my desire to give the ax to dahlias. I agree with everything you say about them. Actually, I agree with almost everything you say in this video, and have already given the ax to cosmos, centaurea, and strawflowers. I absolutely love the "post harvest conditioning drama" statement! 😅

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Ha yes!

[@heatherjolly8389]

I love the ideas behind your thought seems that a lot of them is how laborious it is to harvest but the dahlia concept was so interesting here to me in Western WA. where Dahlias are a THING. They are common and celebrated so it's so interesting to hear that the different areas have different interest and demands.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Yes! We are a world of difference from the PNW 😅☺️

[@carolleimbach6407]

No dahlias, cosmos, stock for me either. Thanks for this talk.❤

[@CoramDeoFarm]

A good pep talk on hard choices!

[@cbak1819]

Agree with cosmos no go. I live in a cooler climate. Good points to consider. I totally agree on not having flowers bouquet look like a wild flower patch.

[@eunicelunsted]

Interesting.. thanks for sharing. I don’t like strawflowers either but loved them for dried flower pumpkin arrangements b which were super popular pre Thanksgiving ( Canada).

[@CoramDeoFarm]

You’re welcome!

[@Joyfulfarmer]

Over here just across the Red River in Texas, I completely understand your pain about dahlias!! Our grasshoppers and cucumber beetles are vicious down here… I don’t mind growing dahlia from seed as an annual, and I’ll test them in the high tunnel this year and will see if my florists will buy them…but I totally feel you!! Not a huge priority for me either.

[@catreeves963]

I’m ditching dahlias too! No regrets 😂 I also grow glads in crates and much prefer it that way-much more control of timing and can reuse the forms over and over

[@PIAMUSA]

They're so pretty. I have lots of Dahlia's too.

[@juliesummerfield9784]

I don't have much luck with stock either so I culled it. I can't stand cosmos, but I still grow them for early green filler & then I rip them out for a later succession of something more valuable once my other fillers qre producing well. My dahlias had me questioning my life choices when bug pressure was at its highest & they were damaging every bloom & I was putting organza bags on, but I ordered beneficial insects and within 2 weeks I didn't have to bag anymore & things became managable on the pest front. I will be more preventative with beneficials this year. I am giving craspedia 1 more try (otherwise I will sub yellow ball type feverfew for that effect). I am culling bright red & school bus yellow zinnias and no more zinnia color mixes either. Also culling nigella (I will allow the volunteers & use pods some). All annual baby's breath also got the axe, it grows short with sticky stems for me. No gomphrena for ne either it was too short to be usable for me. Persian cress was a bust last year too. I am trialing Pepperharrow's penny cress this year & hopeful. I have a small list of varieties I will do small trials for & I have a few on probation (giving them I more year in case they can redeem themselves). We are on the drier/arid side of Oregon (dryland wheat country). I enjoy your content, thank you for all your hard work sharing it!

[@Barby9404]

I would love to see a list of your top flowers for OK heat ! I live in Texas and this is my first year of a cut flower garden. Our climate sounds very similar

[@CoramDeoFarm]

We have a video all about the flowers we DO grow.

[@JSm-e9e]

Thanks!

[@shirleyn4677]

I’ve been playing around with the idea of growing and selling flowers. Which sounds more profitable than veggies. Still like growing veggies though. Most of the KZbinrs have farms in cooler climates so it is refreshing to hear from someone who is my neck of the woods (Midwest region I’m in south central Texas). Our climate is as hot in the summer as yours but winters here in Texas are not as cold or severe. Still long hot summers are challenging and the only way to grow seems to be under shade cloth. That is what I’m trying next season.

[@homesteadinabox553]

So grateful for this video definitely re thinking 2024 season

[@CoramDeoFarm]

You’re welcome!

[@cherigeitz7798]

Love your videos. Thanks for sharing. Totally agree with your choices!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Thank you!

[@kazbee6978]

When it comes down to it you have to do what’s right for you! You have a busy life and you have to make good choices that help make your work life efficient. I’m not a massive fan of sunflowers and would much prefer a dahlia but I’m probably never going to be in Oklahoma buying one of your bouquets😂! You know what your customers like. Keep going!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Haha so true!

[@Car-jy8pw]

Subscribed when you said dahlia. Lol. They are so beautiful, but they don’t work for me AT ALL here in north-east Texas.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Haha you get it

[@mygardeninbloom]

I'm glad to hear you say you don't like straw flowers. I always felt guilty because I don't really like them either. 🙄

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Haha Anti Strawflower Club

[@L_M_V_]

Excellent video! I am looking forward to your list of things you will be growing. We are in south central Oklahoma.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Yay!

[@mhubertcfi]

Good and honest list. My confession is that I also don't like cosmos. Vase life. Just used it for the greenery which I do love so when it goes to flower I leave it for the bees for a while and then rip out 80%

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Ya it’s really not a fav of mine 😅

[@ElderandOakFarm]

Stock- agree. Kind of... We dont have a long enough cool spring either, & theres too many other beautiful spikes like larkspur & snapdragons that are not as picky. However, in my 3rd year, I had a huge thrip infestation on my snaps & wasnt able to use amy of them. So I'm afraid i may have to find another spike & maybe try stock again. Dahlias- definitely agree! Even if they grow great for you, if you're customers arent willing to pay $4+ a stem, its not worth it. Most of the beautiful dahlias only send up about 4 blooms per plant. So if you look at the amount of money you pay for the tuber, & then the number of stems you get, you have to charge a lot. Yarrow- disagree! 😂 thats one of my favorite fillers! Its big for a filler (when comparing to something finicky & small like gomphrena) its super easy to harvest, & its the first filler i have early in the season. It will not be as tall the first year There are a couple others I agree with you on too. Especially the ones that are too time consuming to harvest like bachelors buttons... for such a small ingredient, that only has about a $.40 value, its just not worth it... but I do have to say though, about the fillers & flowers that you said you didnt like just because of them being "too finicky to know when to harvest" Ask yourself the same thing about when do you need to harvest zinnias? When do you need to harvest sunflowers? Those both have a very small harvest time. With zinnias- theres a short window to harvest in which theyre going to either wilt from being harvested too early, or not last as long in the vase from being harvested too early. You lso have to do a wiggle test... (if not you're taking a big chance of your customers getting them home & being very unhappy) & sunflowers- same thing... Just something to think about... if you didnt already know the rules for harvesting those 2 crops, maybe you would consider those to be "too finicky" & those are huge money makers... so maybe if you just do a little research on harvesting some of these other crops at the best time, you would find theyre one of your top 10's.. But I do agree what works for one flower farmer isnt going to work for another... everyone has a different climate, market, etc. I used to follow "floristry rules" & maoe sure that my bouquets had focals, filler, & foliage, but now in my 3rd year, have find that my customers dont really care whether or not bouquets have all of those ingredients... So next year Im growing a lot less foliage & filler. I am still growing some though, because I feel like its good to have some to bridge the gap between focals, & also it helps to prevent the focals from getting smashed & bent up. Which I dont think the customers even realize or care about, but I am ocd & adhd & I always see that in others bouquets & it drives me crazy! 😂

[@citymousestudio]

Stock are my favorite flower to grow. We do have a long cool Spring and tho (no real summer just spring to fall).I agee with you on Yarrow - I use it a little lower in the bouquet to keep the focal flowers separated. Greenery to me is so appealing in a bouquet as its closest to how we see flowers in nature. I find it challenging to find space for it though.

[@kathrynburgess8987]

Cosmos were my most profitable flower I grew this year, if you can believe it. I sold more bunches of them than anything else. They will always be a staple with me. I love Dahlias but had a very hard pest problem with them too, this year. Im ripping a whole bunch out and only keeping a few hardy, prolific ones. Im starting over with glads. Lost my whole crop to thrips, but learned a lot by it. I have to think differently about them, but am going to try again. Best of luck to you.

[@samanthasheppard2209]

I am axing all but a handful of my favorite dahlias. I am in Ohio, but have the exact same pest pressure and irrigation issues. I have to bag every single bloom or I lose them to cucumber beetles, thrips, tarnished plant bugs, and grasshoppers. I am so, so over bagging the blooms. With a full time job, the last thing that I want is to come home and bag flowers only to end up with a short vase life and a flower that people love but don’t want to pay the cost of-my customers love them but I they expect the same pricing on an arrangement of dahlias as they do on zinnias. Between the time in the beds waiting to flower, the bugs, and then digging and storing tubers…it just doesn’t bring me joy. I’m quadrupling zinnias of all sorts this year-at least they are easy and floriferous enough to combat most of the bug damage. I’m trying to convince myself that it really is ok to not grow “all the things”…even if I want to.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

You totally explained all the reasons not to ;) Focus on the joy of making money on all your hard work even if its zinnias, not dahlias

[@GengaKim]

On point!! Great content!!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Thank you!

[@FoxHollowPeonies]

😂😂post-partum harvest issues! Totally true as we kind of do “give birth” to our flower babies after a LOT of labor! 😊

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Hahaha

[@suepercy8390]

It was interesting when you talked about dahlias vs sunflowers. Especially when you talked about prices

[@CoramDeoFarm]

I hope it was helpful! Sunflowers make me waaaaaay more money ;)

[@alliward6040]

I cut dahlias this year too. In my climate, I was only getting blooms for a few weeks to a month for the season and it wasn’t worth it to take up precious real estate. I tried it for a couple years but nope. I’m trying Lisianthus this year instead

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Smart!

[@jeannesmith1761]

Sounds like you thought of good decision decisions of your your flowers it sounds good to me what you're doing I have 30 gardens memorial Park in New Kensington I don't I don't sell or anything I just been doing for 18-20 years so people just come and walk through the gardens and it's just beautiful so yeah good choices there kid I'm in Pennsylvania okay talk to you later

[@ElenaJuarez-n9s]

Does your husband work full time on the farm? Or does he have a full time job outside of the farm?

[@CoramDeoFarm]

He has a full time job elsewhere ☺️

[@drawtacos3578]

I hear what you’re saying about yarrow. I feel the same way about daucus - there’s so much weedy queen annes lace around here that I feel like people would think I’m just putting weeds in my bouquets. I don’t know - maybe I’ll try it one of these days because I think the darker variety is very beautiful - but I’m also nervous about introducing another strain of an already invasive plant … 🤷‍♀️

[@sislertx]

I totally agree on all those..tho i grow stocks for me alone...i. trying godetia this year..idky..except it likes poor soil...we will see.

[@kit2130]

Cosmos isn’t sturdy or long lasting enough, but beautiful in a cottage garden. Gerbera daisies would compare but you may need a longer spring, not sure. Yarrow is stinky to me. I like Shasta daisies as a great perennial. They have long sturdy stems & big flowers with lasting power in a vase. Peonies don’t last long in a vase, to me. Roses & lilies are the way to go also. There are a few thornless roses or they will take more time to harvest, snapping off the thorns. Planting lily bulbs would really add to an impressive bouquet.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Agree all around! Although I can’t bring myself to cut peonies. They are too special. I am considering lilies in crates in the future but not next year

[@kit2130]

@@CoramDeoFarm sounds great! Lilies would add a lot of value and also big space in a bouquet. They have unique scents. You have to cut them just opening due to the pollen. If you cut them when they’re open the pollen may already be falling, unless wind blows it away & the pollen has had time to dry out. Florists clip the stamens because the falling pollen stains the petals (& your fingers/clothes!) but if you cut them just opening that’s best & the stamen adds to the look for the sale. Adding lilies after investing in the bulbs would increase the bouquet prices if you have the market for it. Big fluffy roses next? 😊 Are you doing snapdragons or lupine? Looking forward to your next video on the list you’re using!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

@@kit2130 Roses and Oklahoma do not like each other lol Absolutely growing tons of snapdragons. Love those

[@zaneymay]

What perennials do you grow?

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Only peonies. Nothing else

[@zaneymay]

@@CoramDeoFarm interesting

[@chrisdavies6473]

There's a good book here in the UK called The Cut Flower Source Book by Rebecca Siegfried ,which focuses on Perennials, Shrubs and Trees for personal and commercial cut flowers . It's good!!

[@citymousestudio]

I love that book!@@chrisdavies6473

[@irynalange8124]

​@@CoramDeoFarmThere are so many good perennials that can blossom 1,5 month and can ease your work. I love so much daisies. There are so many new varieties and you can use them in bouquets. I grow 8 different varieties and they make a good display in bouquets. Also Canterbury bells and others bells. Dutch irises and crocosmia as a bulbs flowers. Sedum and autumn asters. You can use them as flowers and greenery. An autumn asters have lots of colors - purple, pink, white. They make a nice bouquets and serve as a good base for flowers.

[@theresaburg5881]

I had to laugh when you said, "I'm growing flowers next year, I didn't axe everything." I was thinking just that when you said it---what's left to grow?

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Haha I know 🙈 I have about 15 varieties I grow across our sales seasons. I will do a video on them :)

[@MeegAnne]

i am 100% onboard for not growing flowers that don't do well in your climate. It's silly to pour resources into a plant that doesn't want to be there when we have so many flowers to choose from that will do well for us.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Exactly right! I see so many growers limping plants along that don’t want to live there lol

[@juha7830]

I agree except yarrow and glads

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Hard choices!

[@citymousestudio]

I am only growing some tried and true vase life - ball dahlias - and thats being in the PNW where dahlias grow like weeds. I don't know why flower farmers are getting caught up in the unicorns wars as the customer doesn't care about the name of the dahlia. If they do, then they are probably growing it themselves and don't need to buy cut. That being said, dahlias are only worth about $1 / $1.50 here on the wholesale market here.

[@ElderandOakFarm]

You're very right. But if theres one thing I've learned, its that there's no need in worrying about competing with those "flower farmers" that are making those type of decisions, because they're usually the sake people that price their product wayyyy too cheap (to the point I know for a fact they're losing a lot of money) & they usually aren't around for more than a year- 2 at most.

[@citymousestudio]

@@ElderandOakFarm Oh for sure! There are no winners in a race to the bottom.

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

I live in the pnw and I sell single dinnerplate dahlias for $4 each or three ball size ones at 3 for $4, and then of course bouquets at $20. Curious, what is a unicorn war?

[@meganwinslow-ks4yy]

Thank you for the info!! I have all similar feelings 😂

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Hehe

[@AlBGood]

What if we want then just for us and to gift? Not trying to make money

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Well that’s just going to be an individual budget decision for a hobby since you’re not trying to pay expenditures back

[@irynalange8124]

Thank you that you said about dahlia! I absolutely don't like this flower! I don't know why people are so obsessed about it?! It is so late, so weak stems, so short stems and uncomfortable to use them in bouquets . The vase life is so short. Every year plant, dig, stake, store somewhere...

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Haha I can’t say I disagree. Maybe if so could grow 10,000 of them I’d change my mind

[@gabrielebruhl1218]

😀

[@Thewildmanwoods]

Funny eh how different areas are …. I love cornflowers , Ammi , grasses , nigela , ….Ecinops …anything that’s wild looking ,with wispy,aerial ,effervescent movement….then you don’t look like all the other florists! The really cool florists are looking more and more wild ….check out paris or London 😂😂Wild flowers or wild looking flowers are so popular here …it’s old fashioned to have just big blousy flowers…. Mixing them is so so beautiful , so you’ve things that pop with big flowers and lots of wilder flowers and foliage in between I was asked to give a bunch of a “wild looking bouquet” to PRINCE CHARLES…🥴😅😅I made a beautiful bunch from my garden and he said ( in fact Camilla and Charlie said ) “ those are the most beautiful bouquet we’ve ever seen…. America always seems to want to do everything larger , costly, show offy , with a huge carbon footprint….so I guess your selection match’s 😂… top dollar…you said it

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Yikes this is a tad insulting to my country. Glad your king is happy with your flowers.

[@davidakerlund6296]

only dahlia growers should be allowed to grow dahlias lol

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Idk what this means but

[@katieintheozarks]

Might be time to put the flower farm to bed until the kids are older so you aren't so stressed out. :(

[@LavenderandLettuce]

I don't see stress in this video at all, just practical and pragmatic advice about running your business with a set criteria, making sound decisions based on your goals, individual growing conditions and what your target customer actually buys. Running a business and having your own cut flower garden with varieties that your personally love are different and I think that's the point she's emphasizing. If you've ever watched any of their other videos, the whole family is involved, including the kids. It's evident from watching them that they love spending time together as family, that they have lots of fun and have found joy in growing and sending their gorgeous market bouquets into their local community.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Hi Katie! I’m sorry if I came across stressed. Making the types of decisions I share in this video is exactly why I’m not stressed. I focus very hard on making decisions that capitalize on my finite time to make us the most money which frees me up for all my other priorities ☺️

[@CoramDeoFarm]

I am so thrilled we come across this way. It’s exactly what we want to convey. Family being #1 ☺️

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

@@CoramDeoFarm you don't come across stressed at all. I do the same pragmatic thinking, it's what stops me from being stressed and makes it easy to drop flowers that are under performing.

[@pacjam418]

I kinda thought the same thing. Though it is impressive the money and traffic they bring in only being open 1 day for a few hours.