Top 5 Flowers We Refuse to Grow On Our Farm

Some flowers are just not worth it to grow - they are not profitable, hard to manage, and customers don’t want them. Check out our list and how we decided #flowerfarming #flowerfarm #farming
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[@DudeLetsGrow]

🛑Um, first of all, none of us could ever be mad at you! 🥰 I am a hobby flower grower dreaming of becoming a flower farmer, and I'm exploring all my options, learning, and wanting to get it as right as I can from the start. I find your videos and advice absolutely invaluable and appreciate your honesty and expertise. Congratulations on Baby #5, and I hope you both are getting some sleep. 🥰 (We have 4 of our own, so I know how hard it can be to fit in some sleep). 🙃

[@hbucell]

As a home gardener I love your videos and enjoy dreaming of what it would be like to go into business. I have a zillion varieties and plants happening, it’s a good reminder to pare it back to make things easier on myself, even if I don’t scale up.

[@sarahsbloomsnz]

Really needed to hear this, especially the end. Thanks 🛑

[@shellysgarden5744]

🛑 totally agree and have also stopped growing many you mentioned in this video. Glad you shared this information!

[@abundantbloomsflowerfarm]

🛑 Such great assessments. I think most people really don’t take all considerations into mind when growing dahlias. I’m in the north and they are so much labor and risk and but pressure even here. I think if you do grow them you have to be super specific on varieties that will produce good for cut flowers. I totally agree on the roses and lilies too. I have a lot of people ask me for lilies…I just don’t want to deal with another bulb, and crates…all the things. Also, I’m just waiting for next year when you add zinnias to this list 😂. Me too…I’ve considered cutting that for so many years…but then my numbers show that they are actually profitable….so I grow some….but man they have some issues too!

[@Marina.mimi133]

There are some lily colours that you won’t find at grocery stores. Here in Alberta, lily beetle is the main problem 🤬. I am going into my second year selling bouquets and your take on profit is challenging me on how to look at it. Thank you. I so appreciate you “tuff” way at looking at the side of flower farmer business!

[@denisekelley2292]

🛑 Very good points to consider. I am blessed to live in a warmer northern climate, so I can grow lots of flowers with little bug and disease pressure. I don't have to succession plant very many things (just one and done flowers). I am also for now growing for me and my neighbors only and can grow all the things and figure out what I like the most. I will have a small flower farm in a year or two and will have to condense my plant list. Growing fewer flowers and growing the best quality is super important, thanks for the reminder. I am having fun now; I do have a list of what I won't be growing to sell, some of them are on your list too.

[@CZDrea]

🛑 I’m in a northern climate and definitely grow all the things. I’ll never focus on the efficiency like you do because it just doesn’t bring me joy. I need to grow the things I love otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it!

[@jenintexas]

🛑 I constantly need this reminder as a new grower. I have sunk costs in overbuying seed varieties and overwhelm on how to really curate my crop plan but I think after this season I will have much more clarity and know what my customers want so that I can get fine tune my grow list and be more profitable. Thank you, Alex.

[@sherrybranan2290]

🛑 thank you for all your great videos. I’m from Georgia, loved the snow we just got. Your over view video was great!

[@amysurburg1781]

🛑 I am currently working on cutting from my list. This was a great video!

[@chermarie332]

🛑Thank you! I love your videos. I have lots of seeds already, and am sorting my last year's seeds from my garden to share with friends. I'm in western Wisconsin along the river, zone 4B

[@tinalee7650]

I totally agree with your assessment - we too are going into yr 4 - we sell roadside but I also do small events and vases as requested through FB.. I have cut out most of the Dahlias and Lillies to a very small amount that I have left over from buying them in years past and have moved them to the back of the field where I would not plant anything else anyway and leave them on their own for the most part. Never would I plant roses except for my one David Austin climber around my patio, it's stunning but I never cut from it. If I need roses for an event I purchase them from my wholeseller! I do love my Peonies and have purchased a few more as my customers LOVE them and clamor for them every Spring. But again, they are not in one of the beds I use for mass production - they are in a sweet bed my husband made me in the front yard and I only sell them in vases that are requested - same with the Dahlias and Lillies and Hydrangea's - these more expensive flowers are only used when I can charge for them accordingly - never in roadside arrangements!! Sounds like we have the same outlook with 3 seasons behind us!!

[@eyrerosecottage1970]

Very good information. We all need to really think about why we're growing some flowers. I have roses, peonies, panicle hydrangeas, and lots of perennials. However, when I was selling bouquets, I depended on the basic flowers grown from seed, like snapdragons. The people I sold to didn't really know what the flower names were, and they mostly appreciated how "beautiful" the bouquets looked. Thanks again, Alex!🛑

[@moniquedozer3796]

🛑 Thanks for the video, Alex!!

[@margiepaskert3289]

100% agree on the dahlias. I came to the same conclusions a couple of years ago, and never looked back.

[@leskemp33]

🛑 you guys always give the most practical advice. It’s awesome.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Hooray!

[@nicoleporter4052]

🛑 I enjoy all of your content!! Thank you for sharing!! Super helpful!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

You’re welcome!

[@suelibey5142]

I've "ed" all of the same except I'm still growing some perennials. We'll see how it goes this year. Maybe they'll get cut next year.

[@MelanieBerhtold]

🛑Thank you! Never mad at you. Great way to determine flower needs.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

😊

[@Marina.mimi133]

Do you have a video on all the annuals you grow?

[@CoramDeoFarm]

I do from last year but need to make a new one. I’ll do that soon

[@summerskyegardens]

Great video and totally agree with these as someone that also grows in a hot climate in south Texas. I love roses in my garden at home but definitely not for sale. Dalias hard pass. I do grow lots of filler but I sell to florists. I have grown lilies (in crates and in ground - asiatics which don't smell and come in bright colors) and they do wonderful but no one wanted to buy them so I nixed them.

[@christineh948]

🛑… thank you for your videos. We thoroughly enjoy them!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Thanks!

[@madonnaschmid7707]

I dug up all my Dahlias this past fall and gave them all away! I grew them for years and it was so labor intensive for such a short vaselife. I am excited not having all that extra work this year...zone 9b

[@susanbutler3429]

🛑 I’m only 2nd year so still trialing several varieties. I agree with all on your list except I’ll be growing more filler with hopes to sell to florists. We will see!🤞🏻Thanks for all your videos, I’ve learned a ton!! 😊

[@CoramDeoFarm]

You’re welcome!

[@cearabennett8723]

🛑 Thanks for all the great info! ☺️

[@FaeHavenFlowers]

🛑 thanks for your advice and spending the time to make this video. 😊

[@CoramDeoFarm]

You're welcome! I hope it's helpful.

[@Jessie_D_83]

🛑 This was the reality check I needed! This will be my first year starting to sell retail and last year was my trial year on what grew best. My sunflowers, zinnias and celosia did amazing whereas I tried dahlias and they all rotted. I live in hot and humid Florida, so of course I should have known better. I’m going to try and be a little more ruthless and if I don’t like them I’ll pull them and put more sunflowers in. Thank you again for the great info!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Glad it helped!

[@jolenebartholomew4819]

STOP SIGN? on my computer? cant find it! But thank you for this. I needed it.

[@LisaGuigar]

🛑 Hey Alex... Great video. I understand why in OK you wouldn't grow some of those varieties. I cut back a bit for year 2... it's hard to do. Im starting Dahlia seeds just for fun. I wish you a Happy Healthy 2025 !

[@tamarabell7399]

🛑I refuse to grow any on your list except for the dahlia. While they are not as profitable and absolutely take more work than any of the others I have grown, they literally give me so much joy. I know from a financial standpoint that if I were being wise they would go away and I'd only grow a few for myself but my entire family really really really enjoyed the beautiful row of dahlias last year. So....I don't rely on them for a bouquet....I guess they are a hobby that makes their way into bouquets....because I'm growing in East TN with minimal spray, raising 5 kids and homeschooling. There is only so much time to dedicate in the week to them.

[@screwtape6954]

🛑 great info. Im looking at my selections. Only can grow so much. But for me. No tulips but daffofils yes. And yes to lillies. Dahhlias yes but im more northern. Plus i sell the bulbs

[@ashreyhomestead1180]

🛑 We need a video of the top 5 annuals that you Would grow that are profitable, for first year flower farmers getting started. $$$$

[@CoramDeoFarm]

That’s a great idea!

[@AliciaDavis-l5c]

Oh love this!

[@MoanaSitake]

🛑

[@monicamaria2966]

🛑 I knew you were gonna say dahlias….makes total sense why you would cut them out! I’m the opposite, I have tons of room for them, if I don’t feel like digging they can overwinter in the ground, I can monetize every phase of the dahlias almost year round (tubers, cuttings, blooms, and seeds). It also feeds my propagation addiction in the winter 😂. I’ll never do roses, I do have them, but they’re for me to cut for my house.

[@heatherjolly8389]

I knew you were going to say Dahlias first ha ha. You've said in other videos it's not the right fit for your environment: weather and sales.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

You know us too well! 😂

[@rbrown2746]

Lily beetle is issue here so I don't grow them either 🛑

[@cynthiagustafson2541]

🛑 very practical advice.

[@victoriaisham8902]

🛑 Thank you! Great advice!

[@sarasimpkins822]

.🛑🛑Seriously, your videos are invaluable. Thank you so much.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

So glad you’re finding them helpful!

[@PhilipDay-i9g]

The Bloomin' Idiot flower farm. Southeast Kansas. Working to 🛑and condense my crop list!!! Thank you!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Thanks Philip!

[@jolenemiller622]

🛑 I grow for fun, and as a community garden fundraiser, so profitability isn't much of a consideration. But this was good for me to consider, as my time is still valuable.

[@tinaworley2366]

🛑 Thanks, I needed this! I love my dahlias but they take up too much room in my garden! I'm in 7a in VA and most of your issues growing I have here too. So, what flowers are your go to for growing? Thank you!

[@CoramDeoFarm]

I will make a “yes” list video 😊

[@cbak1819]

Very helpful as always. Have you read on no dig dahlia's, Jenny Love? She lives in the east, is it Philadelphia? I bought a 5 pack of dahlia two years ago for $15 I have thrown dozens away due to space restraints. This fall no dig dahlia's are on the list. I'm a micro mini suburban grower.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Weed pressure is too high for us

[@caroll1987]

🛑. Great advice. Thank you

[@Theflouredgardener]

🛑. Completely rethinking my crop list now and coming up with lots and lots of questions for the January Q&A! 😊

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Yessss!

[@sydneyproctor4514]

🛑 crop planning is like a kid in a candy store

[@gardingyrl3501]

🛑 I agree with you on not growing Dahlia's and lilies they are just too much time and I would rather spend time on my strawberries or something else

[@EvelynM-vlogs]

I can really imagine how poorly dahlias do for you, since in my - completely different and minimal bug- climate they do so well in. My number one won't grow is zinnias. They seem like such a waste of space since they bloom at the same time as the dahlias. Strangely, I sell single stems of dinnerplate dahlias all the time, but three sunflowers never sell for me, and yes, I have tried. Oh, and START haha.

[@janepeters5732]

I personally love dahlias but understand totally why they are not profitable. I home garden and organza bag most of my dahlia blooms…..very laborious! Leave the roses to the floral farmers that do a lot of wedding work like Georgie Newbery😊 I love perennial baby’s breath or perennial sea lavender I do love certain fillers….lots of perennials. I would only grow Itoh peonies much nicer blooms and bloom over a longer period.

[@susanbigknife]

🛑 thanks for another helpful video. I am starting a flower farm/nursery near you in Langley OK. I have a super secret business plan that won't compete with you. Happy New Year- wishing you great success and I hope to meet you at a ladies homesteaders meetup sometime.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

That would be great!

[@theresaburg5881]

I think deciding what YOU grow is a business decision. 🛑 For me, I have a backyard garden, mostly in containers, and I buy what I think is pretty. I love dahlias, but overwintering them for me is mostly hit and miss (with most of the times it being a miss).

[@juliematthews5107]

I totally need to STOP looking at seed catalogues.

[@CoramDeoFarm]

Haha

[@genevievelalonde9325]

I can't hate you for sharing your experience and your reasoning. However, for those of us without tractors annuals are an awful lot more work than perennials. I have slashed zinnias, sunflowers and snapdragons. As for dahlias, this year I got my clumps for $1.25 each. At that price I just won't dig them out.

[@OregonShearwater]

🛑 great video! Lots to chew on…

[@citymousestudio]

Dahlias are so overrated as a cut flower crop - at least for every day style bouquets. We are in Australia right now and there is a major emphasis in the market on long life flowers. Ha typing as I am listening. Agree! 🛑

[@CoramDeoFarm]

How fun!!

[@teresasuderman2199]

Stop. I don't know how to put up an emoji on my computer. We don't hate you

[@SumnersIrisGarden-Homestead]

🛑 always go info

[@cbak1819]

No hate here 🚫

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