Harvesting Cut Flowers & Making Wrapped Bouquets for the Farmer's Market

[@kuchdilsecreationsbysonali9605]

Love your style and think ur bouquets should be 20 &15 cause they’re huge and soooo beautiful

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks! They will be this year

[@person3952]

Beautiful bouquets! Nice colour combinations, interesting and harmonious. So is this video. Thanks for sharing.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks Stefanie!

[@FourJaysFour]

The snapdragons are so cheerful

[@notalkjustnails6101]

Beautiful bouquets! Congratulations on your successes and stunning flowers!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!

[@kmarshall53]

Those are gorgeous bouquets for $15! I love all the variety of snapdragons. 💗

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@MEM911-me]

Awe! This makes me so hopeful! Love it! Ty!

[@SunshineFlora]

😊

[@lynnemalone284]

OMG just found you! You are so talented!! My first year with a flower stand in my front yard. Learning so much from you! Thank you!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you Lynne!!! 🌻🌻

[@rebeccathomas9804]

Oh my goodness it’s all so beautiful! I’m so happy for you! I remember you saying several months ago that this was your first big year to grow flowers. I’ve watched you work your tail off with everything. A million little seedlings, then building the greenhouse and pergola and now it’s finally paying off. Gorgeous! I tried, but didn’t have as much luck. It started with rabbits, deer, birds, chipmunks and every creature on Gods green earth. Then my job sent me OOT for a month. Whatever neglect didn’t kill, Mother Nature has taken care of with rain. We don’t get rain in the summer down here! SO much rain....every. single. day. For WEEKS! There’s always next year. I’ll start over in September with Fall planting. For now I’m just enjoying others gardens. I’m so proud for you! I can’t wait to see your dahlias and Fall bouquets! Thanks for sharing your journey! Sending love and best wishes from Alabama 💚

[@clairegill7891]

I feel your pain about the rabbits and deer 🦌😅 I’ve ended up spending a small fortune on an electric fence cuz they were eating everything! Including the ‘deer friendly’ plants 😳🤨 xx

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you so much!!! And yes - there is always next year. Keep going!!!!

[@tabeagrabowska2915]

I love your bouquets!! Especially they have such a colour harmony!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! I’ll have another new video tomorrow!!

[@meirosetiger]

The wild flower filler is so beautiful too!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!!! I love it!

[@EVAGirlGamer]

@@SunshineFlora Do you know what it is called?

[@georgepatterson4707]

such beautiful bouquets., I'm so glad I found your site.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks George!

[@mygardeninbloom]

I have a dear friend that lives in Spirit Lake. Hoping to go visit in the early fall. I just subscribed to your channel. Very informatiinal. Sounds like you grow some of the same flowers that we do here in Oregon. Enjoy your evening, Laurie 🌸

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! Spirit Lake is about an hour and a half from me - I have both friends and family that teach there!

[@lavinapoppleton1396]

Lovely bouquets! Love your relaxed style and commentary, it’s like I am sitting in your kitchen and watching you while we sit and visit. Definitely subscribed!

[@plantsim]

i agree with your comment so much i am just going to comment here underneath. New favorite flower farming channel!

[@SunshineFlora]

Oh thank you!

[@backyardblossomsbyrachael]

You have a beautiful garden and your bouquets are so pretty! I just started growing flowers this year. I’ve always had a veggie garden but, now I’m almost in love with the flowers more than the veggies!

[@SunshineFlora]

Same here!!! Im a little more Obsessed with my flowers this year....but still loving the veggies. Especially the new varieties I am growing!

[@bloom4mewithjo]

Same here!!! We started our market garden with veggies in Feb 2020 and this year decided to grow some flowers 💐 in a little more flowers

[@bloom4mewithjo]

Sorry hadn’t finished... so started growing, now filled nearly all my veg beds with flowers!!! Absolutely in love with growing flowers and selling at markets!! Not sure what I’m going to do when season ends!!! Any ideas??? X love from uk x

[@SunshineFlora]

@@bloom4mewithjo awesome!!!! I will also be sad when frost hits. But will start planning for next season!!!

[@coolazulrosa]

Absolutely Beautiful!!!❤ you have a great eye for color!🌸

[@riverunner9978]

You’ve done a beautiful job . I’m excited to see this years 2022! 🌻🐝☀️🌸

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!

[@jeannet9592]

I love that you are doing this on a relatively small scale, and doing it well! You're snaps are beautiful. I am ramping up my snapdragon sowing for next year (starting them in a few days). I am a first year cut flower farm too. Thanks for sharing.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! Snaps are one of my favs!

[@adunn5173]

Gorgeous

[@phyllisjshilling]

❤ so happy I found you...your fantastic...from Michigan 🌞

[@SunshineFlora]

😊😊😊

[@peterwhite9261]

Beautiful bouquets.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!!

[@Treardet]

this was great! I'm adding calendula, cosmos, cornflowers, etc to my garden(mostly vegetables) this year. Hopefully I'll make some bouquets for my mom

[@pamelakilgus9309]

Your bouquets 💐 were beautiful 😍 congratulations 🎉 on your successful markets 🥳🥳🥳

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!!

[@Juli28809]

Thank you for sharing. Those flowers are beautiful!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! 🌻

[@clairegill7891]

Your flowers are beautiful 😍 thank you for sharing. I’ve started a cut flower garden for myself not to sell but would eventually like to sell them on a small scale so all this info really helps. I’ve made so many mistakes already but I guess that’s how we learn 🙂🌸

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes - I have learned for my mistakes this year. I’m already looking to next year! I have learned that starting on a small scale to sell is perfect - I can grow from here!

[@rhondabaroli2683]

I love flower s

[@greenlightgod4619]

I love your colorful bouquet’s I’m starting my first as well and i will be starting small as well

[@SunshineFlora]

start small and you can always get bigger!

[@ktMysticalRose]

Gorgeous!💐

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@phaedragardeness]

Just found you guys! Hello from an Aussie flower farm! I’m also a photographer (just over 10 years). Looking forward to catching up on your videos. We have videos too if you are interested in flowers farming on the other side of the globe 💛

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! I will check out your videos!

[@itsbloomingflowers]

Love it what it’s the the wild spiky flower?

[@flowersbychallais]

I’m so glad I found your channel….just started my cut flower garden and have loads of snaps!! I never thought of bundling them ☺️☺️

[@SunshineFlora]

My bundles of snaps sell very well at the market!!! I do multi colored bouquets, and other that are just pinks/purples.

[@thelittlelearningfarm622]

This was an amazing video. I have wanted to do this for a very long time but had to idea how to get started. Thank you.

[@SunshineFlora]

You are very welcome!

[@jebrassecretgardenanddlys1650]

So beautiful

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!

[@OfftoShambala]

Gorgeous!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!!

[@sheilaanderson912]

Congratulations on your markets! I just LOVE snapdragons. Your bouquets were beautiful :)

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!!!

[@aseasonalabode]

Super helpful video!

[@Vimpertusher]

Beautiful bouquets! Thank you for the video!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!

[@jayssands4903]

I love it. :)

[@jumptobefree]

Congratulations on a successful market week! Your flowers look great!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!!!

[@socutebracelets]

Congratulations! Your bouquets are so beautiful. That filler was really lovely! I need to start combing the ditches. 😂

[@SunshineFlora]

Yep! Wildflowers are great!

[@gildamolinar5155]

Beautiful bouquets 😍

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!!

[@sarahfox3312]

Just stumbled on this channel. What a great find. Lovely video and very inspiring

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!

[@gardeneroncarriagehill]

So beautiful! I can see why you’re doing so well!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!!

[@scottanthony6269]

Your bouquets are so beautiful I would buy your whole stall

[@SunshineFlora]

@@scottanthony6269 Thanks!!

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

Saw you doing the wiggle test 🤣 thanks for sharing, looking great 😁 Love Snaps,so cute 😉

[@SunshineFlora]

Yep! Gotta do the wiggle test! Ha!

[@michelleodell1236]

Beautiful bouquets! I'm so happy you're markets are going well. I harvested my very first zinnia! I've never grown them before. I direct seeded them and they're doing great. So easy to grow.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! And yay for your zinnias! They are my favorite / mine are just starting to bloom. I’m thinking of seeding more 😃

[@gardengirl7446]

SO happy for you! All your dreaming, planning and work is paying off! Are those buckets from johnnys the $8 ones? Your display is GORGEOUS! Can't wait for the next episode! ❤ Linda in CANADA 🇨🇦

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks Linda! Yes those are from Johnny’s. They were a set of 10 buckets for $11. Super cheap!! And really nice. Mine are the large size I think?

[@jacintabyline]

Congratulations from New Zealand! You did a fantastic job! The bouquets are beautiful and I loved seeing how you put them together. I have just managed to cut myself a little bouquet from my winter garden (which now has a surprising amount of color). Early daffodils, freesias, and scarlet primulas (primroses). I have been wondering - are freesias widely grown in the US? They are my favorite flower (the smell is divine) and none of the flower farmers I follow have ever mentioned them. But thanks very much for all your helpful advice. You are definitely on my 'must watch' list! :)

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you for the wonderful comments!!! Freesia does not grow wild in my area but not sure about other parts of the US. Thanks for watching!!

[@jacintabyline]

@@SunshineFlora - Though there are the odd wild freesias growing here - we buy freesia bulbs to plant in autumn. They're very popular with gardeners here in NZ - and in Australia too (where I lived for some years). Florists can't get enough of them. In fact there is a flower farm not too far from me that totally grows freesias on acres undercover. They grow them year round mainly for export to overseas markets.

[@sharonjennings1282]

I live in a very small town in Illinois next to the quad cities. My snaps didnt really fully develop and still not sure why. My zinnias all.came in and were gorfeous and with all of the weird weather they got some leaf spot and I just planted new ones from seed😢. Your flowers are just beautiful!

[@SunshineFlora]

Hi Sharon - so sorry about your snaps! I’ve been to the quad cities numerous times - very nice area! I also just planted some more zinnias from seed!

[@darja25]

Beautiful work!! ❤ What is your opinion on boiling stems in hot water for longer storage?

[@SunshineFlora]

That is not something I have tried - I have been told it works well for hydrangeas

[@ameliazeeeeee]

Love the white and orange color scheme! What size do you cut the Kraft paper down to?

[@SunshineFlora]

18x18” on my large bouquets. 15x15” on my small. And thanks!

[@elizabethhatcher2074]

So pretty! What is the name of the wildflower filler you use?

[@SunshineFlora]

I’m not sure of the name. Sorry!

[@krisinoregon6806]

I love your $15 recipies

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!!

[@helenmccracken929]

That's a lot of beauty to give away for $15, flowers cost a lot more than that where I am in North Carolina

[@SunshineFlora]

My bouquets will go up in prices once I have sunflowers and dahlias included. Those bouquets don’t have those big focal flowers 🌻🌻

[@jessicaadams7238]

I have just discovered your channel ans am loving it so much as a new small flower farmer with a just a roadside stand at our driveway! Your arrangemts are just gorgeous and your so nice and make great videos, thank you!!! I've been taking notes while I watch! When you sell wrapped bouquets at the farmers markets, do offer plastic bags ir anything for bouquets or are they just in buckets of water and they take them with stems exposed? Does that seem to be the norm? Just a logistical question as I learn and make plans!!! Thanks so much!!!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you / so glad you are enjoying yhe channel! I bring plastic sandwich bags with me to the market that I put on the bottom of the bouquets when they are sold.

[@jessicaadams7238]

@@SunshineFlora Oh ok! Good and easy idea! Thanks for taking the time to read and reply! Have a wonderful weekend!!!

[@SunshineFlora]

@@jessicaadams7238 you too!

[@sharonjennings1282]

Watching this video over again and I was wondering what size rubber bands you get?

[@SunshineFlora]

Good question! I just purchased them at my local dollar general and it was the only ones they carried

[@newjerseygarden]

Hi Christina, I love watching this video, such beautiful bouquets. When you store your snapdragons and sunflowers in the fridge, do you use water? Thanks.

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes

[@user-xf5ef9ct5x]

Thank you so much for sharing your flowers. Might I ask how much you pay to enter farmer's market? Our local farmers markets requires an annual commitment and quite a large fee. Hence, only the larger farm teams are able to be profitable. I'd be interested to hear if this is common or smaller markets perhaps may not charge...?

[@SunshineFlora]

The markets I do are both difference but both are under $100 for the season. I did not do June so it is lower because of that

[@FengballFengball]

We sell about 100-120 $15 and $25 bouquets per day at our farmers market. We bring dozens of buckets of flowers and arrange them on the spot by hand to customers' specific orders. Try to find a large farmers market with a lot of traffic. It's worth it to drive an hour or more to destinations where there's more buyers. Have fun!

[@SunshineFlora]

Wow that sounds amazing! I’m in such a rural area but do have a city market about an hour away

[@ErikaB88]

What is your foraged filler? It is so whimsical & delicate!!!!

[@SunshineFlora]

I’m not exactly sure but it blooms early July here!

[@barbaravermeer3976]

Nice to find someone in my area, where do you sell your flowers? I live in Rock co. Iowa

[@SunshineFlora]

At my local farmer’s market and by special order

[@christiensgarden3325]

What is the big echinacea flower orange which is in the black bucket!! I NEED to have that flower in my life!!

[@SunshineFlora]

The orange one is a cantaloupe echinacea - love them!

[@lesliem3]

I would LOVE to know what that filler is. It is amazing!!

[@SunshineFlora]

It’s actually a wildflower In the area. I used it my first season of cut flowers

[@Littlebitesofjoy]

When starting out as a flower farmer, how important is it to have a cooler? I'm just starting out, planning for 2022 to be my first year, and using it as a test year to see how I can do on a small scale, just from our garden. We don't have a cooler yet, is that a deal breaker? Thanks for your channel, I love it! Especially this video, the bouquets are so gorgeous!

[@SunshineFlora]

I do not currently have one but I do have a small fridge that I couldn’t have lived without this year! I used it for snaps and dahlias when I was doing markets. Will need to purchase something bigger for this next year tho!

[@Littlebitesofjoy]

@@SunshineFlora good to know, thank you! how big is your current one?

[@SunshineFlora]

@@Littlebitesofjoy it’s just a little fridge that fits under a counter - holds a bucket at a time

[@Littlebitesofjoy]

@@SunshineFlora Thank you!

[@oviliatam7540]

謝謝~♡♡♡

[@connielynn7236]

Beautiful bouquets! I will be starting my flower farm next year once we move to our new property. There’s not a lot of videos out there on preparing for markets, so I really appreciate you sharing your experiences. Question…do you use the same size craft paper for your smaller $10 bouquets? They seem a little smaller so I wasn’t sure. Also, you say you are doing some events. Are you doing arrangements or just just the bouquets? Would love to see what you’re putting together for the events. Your videos are very helpful. Keep them coming😊

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! I use 18x18 for large market bouquets, 15x15 for small ones. I’m doing just market bouquets for the markets, but I’ve made arrangements for a few small events. Nothing over the top yet!

[@johnjarvis5809]

I love your bouquets; what is the filler in your 15.00 bouquets

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! It’s a wildflower that grows here in Iowa - not sure what it is called

[@victoriaschwaegler8751]

The filler could quite possibly be “White Sweet Clover”. It grows on our back country roads in NH to about 4-6’ tall and has a long taproot. It lasts a long time as a cut flower.

[@faithfamilyhomestead]

Your bouquets are beautiful 😍... How do you know how many stems to put in?

[@SunshineFlora]

I price it out per stem in my head to get to around $15. In the $10 snapdragon bouquets, I do 8 stems usually

[@faithfamilyhomestead]

Thank you!

[@davidsparace6105]

Thanks for this video this was super helpful. I am really interested in using foraged materials for filler. What was the name of the flowers you foraged? Do you have any suggestions/ resources on foraging for fillers or additional ingredients?

[@SunshineFlora]

I’m not sure what it’s called! I didn’t use it this year because I grew more filler and the one I foraged dropped petals easy. But it looks pretty! Queen Anne’s lace is an easy one to forage

[@jessicahull6780]

I just love that filler! Do you know the name of it?

[@SunshineFlora]

I do not! But love it too

[@stacyk.3402]

Do you add anything to the water to keep flowers fresh longer or special treatment for any of them

[@SunshineFlora]

Nope! I tell my customers to change the water every other day. Trimming the bottom of the stems can also help rehydrate

[@kenanddianejacobs6889]

Hello - fellow Iowan here. What’s the name of your filler? And is your Queen Anne’s lace wild? Just found you. Very interesting

[@SunshineFlora]

Hello! Yes the filler and Queen Anne’s lace are both wild - harvested from my parents acreage. I am not sure the name of the filler

[@jennypatterson6660]

I am getting ready to start planting, it's still to cold here in NW MN (zone 3b) And I just came across your videos. I am wondering what you are using for fillers? I have a lot of my flowers already started under lights but realized I don't have fillers!

[@SunshineFlora]

This particular video was foraged fillers but I grow cress, buplerum, and this year I’m going to try a few others for the first time including minionette and honeywort

[@odarisbrunk414]

What size buckets do you use from Johnny's?

[@SunshineFlora]

10L. I have both the regular and wide

[@amandacook8298]

How do you bunch all those snaps together like that? Do they get bruised? I'm always so scared I'm going to bruise them and cause brown marks & it takes me forever to make bouquets! 😫

[@SunshineFlora]

I try to not squeeze them in so tight so they don’t get smashed. I usually only put 3-4 bouquets per bucket

[@zenrockgardens]

What temperature do you keep your fridge at for flowers?

[@SunshineFlora]

38-40

[@kimiwaffles]

when you store snaps in the fridge do you keep them in water? i’ll need a big fridge!

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes I do! And I also need a bigger fridge!

[@onetwocue]

Moved to Iowa City from Seattle and curious about what can grow in Iowa.

[@SunshineFlora]

Welcome to Iowa!!!

[@shannongoshen8982]

Beautiful! Do you find that the paper gets ruined in the buckets before the market due the water? Or is it better to wrap them at the market?

[@SunshineFlora]

I wrapped them just a few hours before the market so it was always fine. I have wrapped bouquets the days before the market and they were fine too. Typically the water isn’t up as high as the paper line on the bouquets so there isn’t much that gets wet

[@donnamontgomery5565]

Beautiful bouquets! Do you have an opinion on using Crowning Glory and also do you use bleach in the water. Im on the same scale floral farm you have. What fun it is.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! I have never tried adding bleach to my water as of yet

[@sharonjennings1282]

I was watching this video and was just thinking back to a video I saw of yours the other day. Did you find that selling the smaller bouquets at a lower price point hurt the sales of your larger ones? I know that you sold out which is fantastic by the way but did the smaller ones go first? I want to put them out but I’m afraid that people will grab the less expensive ones and leave the other ones there

[@SunshineFlora]

I still sell a lot of the larger ones but I sell to additional people with the smaller ones

[@hey_court12]

hi! really enjoying your videos! Do you happen to know the name of the peachy-orange Echinacea you put in the second $15 bouquet? is it cantaloupe? It's super dreamy!!! THANK YOU!

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes that’s what it is! It’s a pretty one!

[@rebeccs8955]

how many pcs. of your $10 snapdragon bouquet?

[@experimentingme7669]

How do you make the calendulas last in a bouquet? Mine look like a disaster the day after I cut them and start to make seeds.

[@SunshineFlora]

I only use the kind that grow taller end have really thick stems. I thick the one I use is ivory princess? Next year I am planting more rudbeckia and way less calendula

[@Siri.USA.Garden]

May I know brown paper where did you purchase?

[@SunshineFlora]

I ordered an 18 inch roll from Amazon and cut to size

[@Siri.USA.Garden]

@@SunshineFlora I purchased one which is very thin and it observed water . I appreciate if you can send me amazon link for brown paper which you are using now.

[@SunshineFlora]

@@Siri.USA.Garden Hopefully this link works Brown Kraft Paper Roll - 18" x... www.amazon.com/dp/B082KHMC2Z?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[@Siri.USA.Garden]

@@SunshineFlora thanks a lot

[@SunshineFlora]

@@Siri.USA.Garden you’re welcome!

[@adunn5173]

Do you refrigerate your flowers

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes

[@martiee6882]

Have you sold to florist? If so how did you decide to price? I am doing lots of research and thought I would ask you too.

[@SunshineFlora]

I have not done that yet, but may in the future!

[@CottageGardensonForest]

What is that filler you referred to as wildflower? Everything looked beautiful. Thanks

[@SunshineFlora]

I’m not sure what it is called

[@brandikellum8727]

What type of filler do you use?

[@SunshineFlora]

The one in that video was one I mainly foraged. I show others in my more recent videos

[@louiseking]

What’s the filler!

[@SunshineFlora]

It’s a wild flower that grows in my area in the early summer

[@louiseking]

@@SunshineFlora ok thanks loving the bouquets

[@foustfamilyfarm]

What is the filler?

[@SunshineFlora]

It is a wildflower that grows in my area that I get from my parents acreage.. Not sure what it is called!

[@BernadetteOuellette]

What is your filler?

[@SunshineFlora]

It is a wildflower that grows here

[@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178]

You have beautiful flowers! However your pricing is way too low.🌻

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you for watching Donna!

[@hopemorrison2367]

To me the paper takes away the beauty of the flowers

[@hopemorrison2367]

You don't have a lot of stock I can't see how that is worth your time when you have to pay the market and buy gas

[@jeanrae2171]

Redundant.

[@hopemorrison2367]

Isn't that a waste of time going to market with 9 bouquets

[@SunshineFlora]

Nope. Not in my first year as a flower farmer. I had 9 mixed bouquets. I also had snapdragon bunches in addition. I am starting small this year and learning and doubling my growing for next year!