10 Things I Learned in my First Year Flower Farming, Growing Cut Flowers

[@ishficici999]

EXCELLENT TIP to pinch the snap dragons! Love that one!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@suzannemoak6394]

This is my first year growing cut flowers. It hasn’t been great, coming across your channel has me excited to keep trying and do more research. Thank you for all your great info.

[@SunshineFlora]

You can do it!

[@danyacornett3274]

Excellent video for someone like me who has gardened for decades, but I’m a novice flower farmer 😊

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@doesntmatter3909]

This video helped a lot!! I knew there was stuff I wasn’t even thinking about

[@joannadeoliveira619]

Beautiful, helpful, practical and so pleasant to listen video. Thank you so much for sharing 😊. For the beginner like I am it’s a little treasure

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you!

[@joshuaw2902]

Fantastic!

[@cheriejohnson9445]

Great video! Thank you 😊

[@NaturallyBrittany]

Cress was an amazing filler for me last year. You do want to succession plant, but it is so nice to just plant those directly in the garden a few weeks before last frost and know they would do their thing on their own. 💁🏼‍♀️

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@kelleyspiller5330]

Thanks for sharing! A lot of good take away from your experience. As it was my first year selling, I also quickly realized the importance of fillers and growing more than you think you need. Sunflower Steve says “if you’re not composting some flowers, you’re not growing enough.” Now, if only I had more growing space! 😉

[@SunshineFlora]

That’s a good quote and so true!!! 🌻🌻

[@wildbirdfarm]

Great tips! My “cheater” filler is cosmo foliage!

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes that’s a great one!

[@tinaholbrook9719]

I use that too! I love it!

[@gbltheolechurch5acrehomestead]

We are in Zone 5A as well…Gander Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada! Beautiful set up! GBL-The Ole Church 5 Acre Homestead!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! Will check out your channel!

[@arlenebrant5785]

This is really valuable information. Thanks for putting this video together!

[@SunshineFlora]

You are very welcome!

[@jennifermitchell2493]

Such great lessons, thank you for sharing!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad you like them!

[@richbishop7896]

You should grow peonies and lilies, liatris for earlier spring bloom. The leaves of peonies can be used for filler too. I know the peonies need more space but I think they are well worth it.

[@SunshineFlora]

If I had more space I would definitely grow peonies! Hopefully in the future! I have one peony at home and use it every year.

[@michelleodell1236]

Thank you for sharing this. It's so helpful to know what didn't work as well as what did work.

[@SunshineFlora]

You are very welcome!

[@karenlopez5441]

Thank you for sharing your tips! You always have such a well though out video topic and are very organized in your context delivery which is helpful to us viewers, especially if we want to take notes. I was interested in what you said about the different price points at the market. Very good advice!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!!!

[@TheTreble2clef]

Thank you. Good information and a good inspiration.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@michaelomahony9801]

Thanks for the info 👍

[@SunshineFlora]

You’re welcome!

[@MyPlantWorld]

Useful tips thanks for sharing

[@SunshineFlora]

You’re welcome!

[@christiensgarden3325]

Thank you for all the great information.. starting my own flower farm this year..

[@SunshineFlora]

Have a great year!

[@backyardgardenhighlights]

Great video and very informative! Thanks for sharing your learning experience and I'm pretty sure it will help lots of new flower farmers!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@rushellrousseau9197]

Incredibly helpful! I'm starting a cut flower garden this year here in France but I will pretty much give everything away. Next year when my work and family visa is sorted out I'll be able to sell them! (getting married to my French sweetheart)

[@SunshineFlora]

Congrats to you & best of luck!

[@jenamann3484]

Very well organized and presented! Great video and Buena suerte para 2022!!!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you Jen!

[@ElderandOakFarm]

Great video & tips! I made sure to grow an equal amount of focal flowers, filler flowers, medium size flowers, spikes, & fillers & foliage b/c that's the one thing I saw EVERYONE saying- "You'll never have enough filler, grow a lot of filler!" 😂 My biggest mistake was treating it as a "pretty" flower bed & not a farm! I didn't want to use landscape fabric because of the aesthetics but I soon learned, since I built my beds "no-dig style" I need landscape fabric! Well technically, if I would have put a good 6" layer of compost on the entire area, I don't think the weeds would have been so bad, but I didn't because of the unevenness of the property, & not wanting to purchase more compost... But this year I will be using it.. I spent at least 20 hours a week hand-weeding last year! (Including my landscaped beds also) One thing I would have clarified though, is that there are branching varieties of sunflowers & single stem varieties of sunflowers...

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes to grow more filler!!! Haha

[@theboojiefarmer]

Love this, thank you ☺️ The garden journal/notes is what is killing me right now. I have notes in three places, and I need to consolidate 🙄😂

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes! You will love it!

[@sheelaghomalley3292]

Great video thank you. It mirrors my first year flower farming and we seem to have learnt some of the same lessons. Thank you for the really comprehensive and organised synopsis. From Top of the Hill Flower Farm in Ireland 🇮🇪

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you so much! Happy growing!

[@VanessaLong]

This is great advice. Thank you for sharing what you've learned.

[@SunshineFlora]

Thank you! And you’re welcome!

[@LaFarmhouse]

lové {i’m in wisconsin 5b} thank you

[@SunshineFlora]

Hello from Iowa!

[@SuperBlakes2]

Thanks that was really helpful 😊

[@SunshineFlora]

You’re welcome!

[@LifeatSycamoreRidge]

Hello fellow Iowan! New subscriber and hopefully new flower farmer :)

[@SunshineFlora]

Hello! Hope you have a great season! Where in Iowa are you?

[@LifeatSycamoreRidge]

@@SunshineFlora we are located in southwest Iowa!

[@DanikaBasista]

Really great insight! I’m not growing for cutting, but it’s nice to learn about anyways

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!

[@Undine532]

thanks for sharing it is very helpful, best of luck this year

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@alissaeyre8302]

Lots of great advice!

[@SunshineFlora]

Thanks!!

[@RowCoFarms]

Thanks so much! I’m going into my first year of flower farming so this was really helpful! Especially the part about making the bouquets stand out from each other at different price points.

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad it helped! I realized right away that just having different sizes didn’t work. The straight snap bouquets worked so much better!

[@oviliatam7540]

謝謝~♡♡♡♡♡

[@janarenaeberghoefer4344]

Also, what type of custom order did you receive and fulfill? Mixed bouquets or full arrange,Mets or bridal bouquets or buckets of flowers…..

[@SunshineFlora]

Mixed bouquets and vase arrangements

[@msmaddox2918]

I had the same issue with pincushion flowers! Thought it was just me!

[@SunshineFlora]

Nope! Definitely need to watch what kinds to plant

[@Midwestmama612]

Great video! Have you considered growing a perennial bed for your cut flowers (Peonies, Lily, Hydrangea, Bee Balm, Salvia, Veronicas, Poppies, Daffodils, etc.) And perennial fillers (Ninebark, Forsythia, Sedum, Spirea, Feverfew, etc)? Thinking those options might be helpful to remove some flowers you need to grow each season qnd cut down annual costs. Happy New Year from your neighbor in MN 👋🏼❄!

[@SunshineFlora]

Happy New Year! I would definitely do that if I had more space. Hopefully in the future!!!

[@lorrainecourtney4589]

Was thinking the same 😁

[@amm1201]

Great video! I am so glad I found your channel. Just curious how do you change the pricing when you offer mixed market bouquets for coffee shops and boutiques to resell? Furthermore, how do you get paid for the ones sold? Are they purchasing them outright? or do they pay you next time you drop off?

[@SunshineFlora]

They pay me ahead of time for all the bouquets. That works best. Then I dont' have to go back for any. When I worked with the bakery, I charged her $12, she sold them for $20

[@katieblackmarketmarvel]

Ahhhh I'm so scared I'm pinching too much! Help! Instagram pictures this year when you nip please!!!

[@SunshineFlora]

I’ll ptobably do a video and Instagram post!

[@pixiepetalsflowerfarm]

I had zero fillers with my tulips last year. What are you planning to pair with them for this coming Spring? I did plant daffodils this year so that I can at least offer a mixed bouquet if I don't have enough early spring fillers.

[@SunshineFlora]

I think I’m going to do just straight tulip bouquets this year. But all other seasons will have fillers

[@1958constance]

Great information. Can you advise where to purchase the netting you used to stabilize your snapdragons please? I look forward to watching the upcoming year. Your so talented.

[@SunshineFlora]

Last year I got it off Amazon. The link is in my video description.

[@andrea26831]

Hi! Great video! When succession planting sunflowers…are you planting the next succession in the same bed and the previous ones?

[@SunshineFlora]

Yes - just next to the previous planting. This year I planted my very first planting of sunflowers in my pumpkin bed - they got tall before the pumpkins took over - it was a great first planting without taking up my bed space.

[@andrea26831]

@@SunshineFlora thank you! Love your channel

[@alisonburgess345]

Would you ever try a quantity discount for bouquets at the markets? eg. 10 each or 3 for 25?? Excellent, helpful video - thanks!

[@SunshineFlora]

Probably not at a farmers market because I usually sell out so why offer a discount? But, at a larger market event or even a special sale where I had preorders…..that would be a good idea!

[@andreap22]

Thank you for sharing your helpful experiences. It was so interesting. Could you write down, which fillers you grow? I couldn't understand it in the video, especially I'm interested in the flower in minute 6:11. It looks so interesting. Thanks a lot Andrea from Germany

[@SunshineFlora]

Glad you enjoyed the video! I will be growing cress, basil and a few others for filler. Once I have the exact varieties set I will be doing a video on all the varieties I have - it should be in a couple weeks!

[@andreap22]

@@SunshineFlora Thanks so much. What is the name of the flower in min. 6:11?

[@SunshineFlora]

@@andreap22 the filler at 6:11 is a wildflower - not sure of the name. Sorry!

[@jakelewis36]

What garden journal do you recommend! :)

[@SunshineFlora]

I just use a plain notebook and jot down notes everytime I start seeds, plant or start harvesting a certain flower

[@lovelyrainflowerfarm]

Just for clarification: the sunflowers 🌻 grown by flower farmers are typically single stemmed - meaning you get only 1 flower per plant. These tend to be pollenless and have long stems for bouquets. But for the home gardener, to whom this many not matter as much, there are many branching varieties that one can grow.

[@SunshineFlora]

Correct - I grow the ProCut variety, which is a single stem. 😊🌻

[@janarenaeberghoefer4344]

Hello! Thanks for sharing this! Can you specifically tell me what type of pincushion flowers did not work well for market bouquets for you? I was planning to grow them,have limited space, so am now wondering if that is a mistake.

[@SunshineFlora]

I did not grow the correct mind. The stems were really flimsy. Try the fama series - I’ve been told they work great!

[@mmladyg]

I am wondering the same thing. I grew Black Knight and was pleased with first blooms. Didn't pinch in time so the rest were a little wimpy.

[@SunshineFlora]

@@mmladyg I think mine were also the black knight. Very wimpy stems!

[@mmladyg]

@@SunshineFlora Thank you :) Will be listening for what you prefer instead.

[@andreap22]

Have you been successful with your winterseeding last year? Andrea

[@SunshineFlora]

Kind of….definitely not as successful as normal seed starting