TIPS for Starting a FLOWER FARM in 2023 | PepperHarrow

[@cherylwhitesell4103]

I'm in my 3rd year growing cut flowers. I had a greenhouse business for 13 years but cut flowers are different to learn! And I'm glad I tried it first before I sell them because the first year the flowers were not sturdy and string or big enough for market. We had a lot of weather and critter issues. So I was glad I wasn't committed to a buyer yet. Love to learn all I can from you flower farmers! Thanks

[@Floraltherapyfe]

Thank you for this! I love how you remind everyone that simply enjoying the fruits, or flowers, of your labor is a farming win by itself!! I’m starting a very low key backyard flower biz with my daughter. I’m thankful to have other income to support my hobby so I’m not as stressed about being as profitable as possible, but I think it’s still important to be okay with the flowers living out their life on the plant!

[@janetgordon2484]

Thank you for being so free in sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@gardensecret4220]

I am growing in a private allotment in the UK. I had available land to grow alonside a farmer, but once I added all the costs, it was very expensive in which I was unable to meet. So, I decided to go a different route. I found a private allotment that charges us very cheap to rent. It was once cultivated about 30 years ago, but the farmer passed away, and no one took over. I only have experience in growing flowers in my small terrace house, so growing at a bigger scale can be scary. This way, I can grow little by little until I am fully confident I have good quality plants to sell in my local area

[@nr3567]

I grew flowers in an allotment in the UK for 2 years before moving on to bigger land. Best decision ever! Like you mentioned, the startup cost for a flower farm was just ridiculous! I also wasn’t sure if there was a demand for British flowers around our area. In year 1 I wasn’t happy with the quality of my flowers, kept comparing them to the ones at the flower wholesalers, I took loads of notes in year 1 and did lots of research and reading. Year 2 was incredible, I used everything I learnt in the previous year and the quality of the flowers were as good as the wholesalers. So I started selling a few bouquets, there were so much demand for the flowers, I sold every single stem and at one point I even had a waiting list. It became clear that I needed to really go for it and expand. So now in year 3 I am expanding to 2acres and actually looking forward to it and not really dreading investing so much money into the farm. So trust your instincts always! I am a firm believer of thinking big starting small.

[@gardensecret4220]

@nr that is so good to know. Thank you for sharing your story 😊

[@marcuslarson5313]

This is all such great advice! Thank you for sharing your experience. I love the idea of over growing the inexpensive things like zinnias and sunflowers. It provides a little insurance if other things fail.

[@alineaix]

Thanks for making this video! really insightful! I'm starting my 2nd year as a flower farmer and one point I notice could be relevant to add is what kind of products you will sell. Bouquets, single stems, jars, bunches... In my 1st year, I experienced getting over excited with so many flowers to make bouquets, which did not necessarily make them profitable, for example. I believe this goes into the "business plan" chapter, and that, alongside which sales channels one decides to pursue, will steer which flowers to grow and what could be a potential first investment required.

[@PepperHarrow]

Great feedback for an addition.

[@firehorsewoman414]

I would like to buy your book, but didn’t see it linked. Just trying avoid Amazon and put my $$ directly in your pocket if possible. Also, I am basically binge watching watching your channel as I am a new-ish subscriber. You two are like the Bob Ross of cut flower farming. Listening to you is so calming and inspiring. I am in the very initial steps of planning my business and just trying to soak up as much as I can. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your farm is just lovely.

[@chrisa6682]

Great content as usual...thank you. 1st year flower farmer here but I have grown veggies and personal flowers from seed for many years. I am selling at the end of my country driveway. I planted Darwin tulips last fall and paired them with crabapple blossoms. I sold 1 bouquet..lol. I also started an extra 100 tomato and pepper plants to sell as starts. I sold 7. I tried selling peonies, baptisia and siberian iris with no luck. I'm now waiting on snaps, zinnias, sunflowers, glads, dahlias and fillers, hopefully by July. I am in a more northern climate so things are a little later. Also, being a veggie grower and rotating crops I have random potatoes growing with my snaps instead of weeds😅

[@benitawarkentin8269]

Love this video, great info! Second year lavender farmer and boy has it been a learning curve. We planted 1200 lavender our first year and this past winter killed 500! We are opening this July to the public for the first time and I’m terrified, but jumping in with both feet and one eye open! 😂

[@anniefrankenstein1989]

great tips thank you !!! (local VT farmers won't share cost but to signed up pre existing customers !! I did great with sliding scale offerings last summer (my first season with a stand-so much opportunity in town by me that I am going to seize this season, so SO sooo excited !!!)

[@Growing_Z_Farm]

As usual I love the video! I am just starting year 1. Im all about slow and low! I have a 5 year plan. My 1st year is planned, and if I still love what I'm doing at the end of the season, then I'll grow again next year. If I still love growing flowers for sale, I will grow the space. If I'm NOT enjoying the selling part, then I'll just grow and give away. 🙂🩷🩷

[@firehorsewoman414]

I too am just starting - only at the phase of putting plan to paper. I hope you do well with the selling part, but if you do end up just giving them away, consider any long-term care places. The residents would be so grateful. A co-worker of mine collects flowers from weddings afterwards since they usually just end up in the trash and redistributes them to the VA hospital. They are so happy to have them, no one is worried if they are not perfect or don’t have a 10-day vase life. Just a thought.

[@lisabadger3399]

Hi there! Thanks for the tips. My husband and I are starting the flower farm journey this year in central Arkansas. I'm bingeing on all your videos and especially appreciate your generosity in sharing your experience, successes, as well as things that didn't work out so well. We will start slow, but we do have big dreams too. Thank you!

[@janinawaz4596]

I dream of a place with a bit of watery area where I could grow rushes, iris, and water lilies. Especially nymphaea for their fragrance . Thank you for so generously sharing practical and valuable advice!

[@ahavarichardson5426]

TFS your experience! I have been learning and finding what grows best in our area!! I'm learning towards more perennials and in the near future to have a farm and flower stand !! Living with only very sandy soil, it's taking time on a budget to build the soil!!! Building beds and to start clearing land for more growing space is coming!!!! I never thought that I would love growing because my Mother called me a black thumb not brown cause I killed everything!! When she passed away,she gave me her green thumb!!! I joked that she could throw plants out in the yard and they grew!! Later, a neighbor asked how I grew some type of algae and I said "I just throw them to the place I want them to naturalize, she said, I somehow believe that!!! True statement!!

[@katerineaubry3454]

Good to see you back!

[@angelinakardakova]

This is golden, thank you!

[@xaviermayne5212]

Thank you. You guys are an inspiration. ❤

[@TheBguenth]

I have just found your page. I live in a garden home but with an acreage of land that I could start a flower "farm". I have gardened for a while and really want to grow zinnias but have never really been able to get them to thrive even when others say they are easy to grow. I need specific tips to grow zinnias. I am in central Alabama! Thank you and love this page!

[@tracycrider7778]

Direct sow once weather warms up ❤

[@evanorsdel]

Loved your video! Thx for making my workout educational ;) cheers!

[@sarahanson9032]

It's been in my mind starting flower farm.I came across your vlog ..thank you for your insights!

[@xaviermayne5212]

I’m planning on starting a flower farm. How are deer with your farm?

[@chastaelaine76]

I just got your book out from the library!

[@melissagoodwin2602]

Well spoken, put together video

[@ThriveGarden]

Awesome!

[@marthaduffy8386]

I'm so glad to see a video from you. Great information. I'm still hoping you are going to have the beautiful celosia seed you talked a while back about that you were going to have. I think it's called Chester Copperpot? I keep checking to see if its in your shop on line. I'm headed back to see the 2 videos in the links you mentioned. Thanks

[@PepperHarrow]

They are on sale at 7pm cst this evening!

[@ComptonBloomsFarmerFlorist]

This is great thank you!

[@rosemacdougall2967]

Good to see you both!!

[@christinast6346]

Excellent information!

[@PepperHarrow]

💗💗💗

[@thistledewfarm238]

Great video, thank you!

[@bertharios7413]

Another great video ! Thanks again .I can't wait for spring .

[@jolavoie5rn]

Thanks for your video! You mention you worked full time while starting your flower farm in the early years. Out of curiosity, what did you both do for work prior? Were you already in the farming/agricultural industry?

[@summerskyegardens]

Glad to see y'all back on here! Do you have a video where you show a full tour of your farm setup? I've seen parts where you show the flowers but can't remember seeing the whole infrastructure. Would also maybe love a video with tips when looking for a property!

[@PlantRelated]

this was so good, thank you!

[@sislertx]

Oh to be young again knowing what i know now...pushing 80..and now on small.city lot...with florists pounding my door wanting my flowers...i mostly just put free ones on porches of people i think need a pick me up...

[@carlac4407]

How sweet and kind of you

[@largefamilyruralliving7434]

Thanks so much!

[@anniathome]

I realize you just posted this. But it would be lovely if your video was captioned.

[@tiffanytimares8239]

What great information! I am using the no till/silage/ weed mat process. I have a question! Can I leave the weed mat down over winter? I’m in central ca zone 9b.

[@karenm5681]

It’s better for your soil if you don’t have it down year-round.

[@Pink_berry_farms]

👍

[@gratefulgardens8398]

You could grow some crawfish in the wet spots.😂

[@karenmalone5983]

Do you remember what seeds you bought your first year?

[@PepperHarrow]

Zinnias, Cosmos, Celosia, Sunflowers were starters for us.