What We Wish We Knew Before We Started A Flower Farm: Must-Know Tips | PepperHarrowFarm.com

[@selenanieto8152]

Thank you! I am starting a educational farm with autistic teenagers. We are starting small, but the kids are loving it! I am watching all the videos I can on flower farming to see what to do and what not to do. We have started working with one florist. They are very supportive and love the sporadic flowers. We are able to supply them. Next year I hope to have a little more consistency but we are just starting out. Nice to see the progression of you farm. Makes me feel better about year 2! Ugh!

[@onetwocue]

I didn't try to get into flower farming I wanted to do something for my pollinator friends and from there and folks driving by I would go through and deadhead and just tossing them into the lawn and then mowing over them. People would stop by and asked about my flowers that I was just tossing and mowing over. All my flowers are still pollinator friendly except for my dahlias.

[@vickiwaugh6370]

As you rebuild consider adding a tiny home with AC or tiny cabin to rent out for a night similar to your glamping tent.

[@stephanieraphael8338]

When we first started a seasoned farmer gave us that same advice as your second point. We also thought we could do everything ourselves right out-the-gate. He recommended we focus on one area of production first and try to master that as best as possible before piling on anything else. That single piece of advice was so invaluable, shortening our stay as hobby farmers and into profitability much sooner. Just found your channel and it's so nice to see a husband and wife team sharing their experience together. Being successful business partners and maintaining a healthy marriage is a feat all in itself! It's nice to see other couples really farming together. Thank you so much for sharing your content!

[@PepperHarrow]

Thanks for your kind comment!

[@cindyjohnson2300]

Sorry for your loss on your farm this weekend. Prayers for you 🙏

[@cathymccall9199]

Jen and Adam... you are in the very top ten when it comes to advice and teaching. Thank you for always being so generous with the information. I learn something new every time I watch, even in how great the dynamic is in your relationship to one another.

[@obelus5985]

Thank you for sharing your hard won wisdom. It never occurred to me to farm flowers. We grow them because they're beautiful but this takes it to the next level.

[@kawerkamp]

Fantastic advice! I would love an episode about your tractor--why you chose the size you did, what attachments have been most useful and how often/what tasks you use it for on your farm.

[@marcusmaynard1526]

Yes this would be awesome for a video.

[@noukouthao9196]

I am a 2nd year flower growing hobbyist. Working f/t with no immediate plan for any dramatic life changes. Agree with taking baby steps and moving slowly. There is enough lessons learned from many growers to adopt a go-at-your-own pace approach. It took me about a year just to focus in on what flowers to grow. Because there are only thousands and thousands to choose from, after all... ah! It's a wonderful life, indeed, this small business of farming flowers, whether to make $1000 or $30k, or lose. Which is the category I am currently in, the 3rd. Keep making content! I have binge watched all of yours, and early enough of a follower that I can keep up! I've been to Madison County and it's GORGEOUS!

[@PepperHarrow]

Thanks!

[@firehorsewoman414]

Just now getting to watch Pepper Harrow videos as a new subscriber. Saw your comment and now 2 years later this would put you into your 4th year - hope this finds you doing well and you are having success. I plan on getting into this, but I am literally only on at the paper planning stage. Edited for typos.

[@ericaaxilrod2591]

Bouquet recipe is brilliant!

[@sardiniangirl1866]

Can you do a list of easy flowers and harder flowers to grow on the description.. Are Dahliashard to grow..

[@helenmcintosh9747]

you look so much younger x

[@sharongeorge4096]

Excellent advice…my “year 1” has been a disaster lol.

[@hebert2361]

Thanks We are first year selling. Last year we grow to learn and wow did we learn hard lessons. Thanks for this video we love to learn from others.

[@adunn5173]

What a great space to do this video!

[@sisterinspeed]

2021 is year 1 for me, thanks for the great advice!

[@PepperHarrow]

You got this!

[@camillewilson642]

Just discovering your you tube channel. Thank you for the beginners info! All of it made perfect sense and I plan to take your learned advice. Looking forward to watching more of PepperHarrow Farm!

[@maryradoy6256]

Thank you for this video. I'm trying to watch as much as possible and this was helpful!

[@astrokimba]

Great videos! Thanks for all the hot tips.

[@asrbaber]

Hi! I recently found Your guys's channel and it is so helpful! Thank you! We are also in Central Iowa and while we are just in the baby stages of thinking about starting a flower farm, suddenly I hear people doing it all around us! I assume if the market is saturated than the business is not as good. I'm wondering how you go about finding out if it seems like a good idea or not. Maybe just jumping in? I would also love to know about how many hours a week it takes you guys to manage the farm. I know you have kiddos, though I don't know how old they are. Sports, school and Church activities and whatnot for our 4 kids keep us busier then I'd prefer. We homeschool and my husband works full-time plus has a small podcast business. Thank you for your help! Can't wait to watch more!.

[@icaniwillgrow]

I know you are having to start over again, but you have the advantage of all these learnings. Mother Nature can be a cruel task master. Good luck from the UK.

[@christiensgarden3325]

Thank you so much for this video I am a farmer but not a cut flower farmer yet...And these tips are essential so excited I found you guys I can’t wait to watch the rest of your videos

[@PepperHarrow]

Thanks!

[@georgepatterson4707]

I loved this. I began a cut flower business on an acre and planted everything, tilled and weeded by hand. With a full time job and then some, I was often dragging.

[@audrasmith3725]

Thank you for the very honest and informative videos. My husband is going to plow me a little flower patch. Only 1,200 square feet. My plan is to grow Zinnias and Sunflowers and a few other easy to grow in Oklahoma flowers. I’m very excited. Small, slow start and I’m okay with that.

[@sardiniangirl1866]

What is a CSA ??. I am a begginer..

[@cynthiafed]

Just came across your channel today. Always wanted to be a flower farmer. Thank you for sharing this helpful video!

[@stephanielovesshane]

Can you recommend a beginner friendly recipe for a market bouquet?

[@nolagirl7082]

CSA’s also take so much time! I watch a lady on KZbin, her KZbin channel is called flower Hill Farm and one year she did CSA’s and she would make videos every month about it. Sometimes it would take her hours and hours to make the CSA bouquets, then you have to deal with the people that come and pick them up! It just seems like a lot! I guess if you truly don’t have the money, it’s always an option but it just seems like it’s a lot more work than it’s actually worth. Great video! Thanks for sharing your tips. And I know this video was made before the tornado, I hope you two are doing OK. Thinking of you and I got lots of inspo from your video about the tornado. We lost half of our home this past summer from the Louisiana hurricane. I’m right outside of New Orleans and it tore us up out here! We were living in a rental for the last eight months and we just finally moved back into our home last month, yay! We were lucky, some of our neighbors still aren’t home yet. I can relate with you guys, losing everything that you’ve worked so hard for is just devastating! But I have to say, I really enjoyed watching your video about the tornado. You both have such grace and humility. And I appreciate your positive outlook about moving forward. You’re right, that’s all you can do is move forward. And how wonderful of you both to look at this new venture as a great opportunity. It’s hard to muster up the strength to say stuff like that when inside, you feel like “why me, why did it have to hit us? Of all the places in the United States for a hurricane/tornado to go, it had to come right here, to our home.” And those feelings are all valid, but at some point you have to move foward and watching you two do that has been wonderful to see🌻🌸

[@PepperHarrow]

What part of Louisiana are you from? I was born in Slidell 🦞

[@nolagirl7082]

@@PepperHarrow Im originally from Tampa, FL, but I have lived in Metairie for about 20 years now. Slidell is right up the road!

[@beautygrowshope]

Lovely to hear the inside view of what/ and why you have picked the path you are on now. Thank-you!

[@PepperHarrow]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@blumerlredpilledgirl8958]

Yes I’ve been low-key gardening, raising chickens, goats. I’m ready to jump in with both feet but I live in the desert so I’m subscribed to many farming and gardening magazines and KZbin videos.

[@sirwill03]

I also have stared gardening in the last few years, also live in a desert it's a bit hard but work your soil plenty of water and try drought tolerant plants

[@williamreeder3660]

Thank yall

[@mrsc2983]

Hey there....I just found your channel.....thank you for your sage advice....I am from the east coast of Australia....this is my first year delving into the beautiful world of flowers....I'm still in the planning stage mostly....looking forward to watching more from you both....🌼🌸

[@millennialpatriot9243]

Thank you so much for your honest video. We’re beginning our first season of our flower farm, and this advice was greatly appreciated!

[@PepperHarrow]

Wishing you the best success and happy growing!

[@lanas8014]

This is my first year planting flowers for a farm gate stand. Thanks for the advise and words of wisdom.

[@kittyadams9028]

Great info! I’m determined to learn as much as I can about this new venture. Appreciate you sharing your wisdom.

[@cindyaho7757]

Great advice, thank you!

[@gardeningmadeeasy5442]

Great video! You have inspired me to start my own cut flower garden. I subscribed!

[@PepperHarrow]

Love it! Happy growing!

[@luistessaable]

Hello 👋 i just watched your video like and subscribe...thank you for the good tips.looking forward for the next video.

[@franksummerlin3422]

I'm just diving into market gardening. Thank you.

[@Irishjay-gu5pb]

Great advice!!! Thank you, I'll definitely be back to watch more! :)

[@PepperHarrow]

Thanks!

[@vinvin1715]

Excellent content on your videos. Slow and steady progress. Much like your videos. Good honest advice no fluff. Look forward to seeing more consistent videos.

[@PepperHarrow]

Thanks! ✨

[@ElderandOakFarm]

Great advice!

[@fitfoodiefarmer]

Love watching y’all’s channel, always great advice! I’ve been considering upgrading our old tractors and equipment to something new that doesn’t need constant fixing. We use larger tractors, but for my flowers I’m thinking a mid size model. What size/model do y’all have for your farm or do you suggest?

[@AromaDelightBeautyCareProducts]

Hi guys! It's so good to see you again! You guys have amazing content! I will stop by again! ML!

[@PepperHarrow]

We’ll have to get up to the market and see you!

[@AromaDelightBeautyCareProducts]

@@PepperHarrow That would be awesome! I hope things will be better by the summer! ❤️

[@hungsblomsterhus399]

Thanks for sharing.

[@soulflowergardens]

I enjoyed this episode and I just followed you. Where do you buy your landscape fabric that help with weed pressure? Thanks!

[@nataliajuarez5708]

Thank you for sharing

[@ElderandOakFarm]

Totally agree with the CSA thing. I'm not going to do one this year. I'm doing a cutflower garden this year- I've been growing for over 15 years- but this year I'm growing a ton of NEW TO ME things- & I'm not sure what is going to he successful!

[@PepperHarrow]

We only finally started a CSA last year. Only took us 9 years 😂

[@ianxtreem]

Excellent advice, thank you!

[@tinaharris7382]

Thank y’all for sharing your experiences together and simple advice 🌻💖 I subscribed!💖

[@whereswildo21]

what was a CSA again, sorry missed it?

[@PepperHarrow]

Community supported agriculture

[@zoeingram]

How many acres do you use for your flowers?

[@PepperHarrow]

8.5

[@MallouMakeup]

Great video! What zone are you growing in and do you grow perennials? If you do, I would love a video sharing your favorite, most used perennials for bouquets. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and have a great day!

[@PepperHarrow]

We do grow perennials. That’s a great idea! We’ll work on it.

[@PepperHarrow]

Zone 5

[@lyndseygarcia88]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I'm in Texas, and we're looking to start our farm this year. I was looking through your list of supplies to find landscape fabric. We're planning 3 foot in width beds. Do you cut the DeWitt 6 x 300 feet in half length wise, or do you use the entire 6 feet? Thanks again!

[@windsorandwillow]

Great info!

[@Daffodils2Daisies]

Thank you for this! I have a dream of starting a flower farm but we live in the city of Milwaukee...so I need to buy a farm first lol!

[@PepperHarrow]

You can do it!

[@colleensarrazin5787]

Do you fertilize regularly and what did you-use

[@AKgirl95]

What kind of landscape fabric do you recomend.

[@PepperHarrow]

There’s a link in the description 👍

[@rebeccabarnett1231]

Thanks for the advice.

[@amoore0713]

Where do you buy your landscape fabric? Do you have a place you love? Great advice. Thanks!

[@PepperHarrow]

We shop around online for the best price. Farmtek is a good start

[@kellyharbal1556]

What do you grow for bouquet fillers, greenery?

[@jeremydwells]

Great vid. I tried a 1/2 acre by myself for a couple of years and I can say, the landscape fabric is a biggie! I decided to skip it and save the money and I paid for it in time. By mid-summer I was spending most of my time every week pulling weeds, which meant neglecting all of the other aspects of flower farming.

[@sardiniangirl1866]

Do you have to spray the flowers for insects/ bugs ??

[@cristyelzinga5880]

Do you have a video or a good resource from somewhere else on Succession Planting? It's the one thing I am struggling to wrap my head around how to accomplish in a small space. Thank you for this video!

[@PepperHarrow]

We’re working on that video right now 👍

[@markhinds3820]

My biggest problem I encountered were 4 legged,living very close to stone park we have beards of deer . They wiped out entire crops of many .flowers and herbs. Installing different fencing became nestling impossible.we learned quickly fencing does not stop them. We have our sibling in central iowa and they as well deal with herds of deer any advise helps we have been fighting over 30 years this problem thanks and congratulations

[@PepperHarrow]

They’re always a challenge. Our dogs are doing a pretty good job. Luckily they don’t like deer.

[@squarefootshannon3399]

I have all of those easy flowers on my list - but I’m also going to try lisi! Hopefully it won’t crush my spirit lol

[@PepperHarrow]

They can be a challenge but worth it!

[@squarefootshannon3399]

@@PepperHarrow any tips?

[@PepperHarrow]

@@squarefootshannon3399 We start seeds in December with very moist soil, bottom watered, and a heat mat. You might be able to start them now and get a later bloom. 👍

[@rachelle3445]

Thank you kindly for your vidoe. I appreciate all that you have shared. I have subscribed Few questions: Where did you recommend purchasing seeds, interested in Zinnias, and Sunflowers for the 1st year. I would like to start dahlias, 2nd or 3rd year, can you recommend a supplier for them as well? Zones 5b and 6A

[@younglee3285]

Thank you for your video. Wondering how you deal with pest pressures, specifically Japanese beetles on zinnias and dahlias

[@cecilleflowerfarm]

Milky spores and silage tarp!

[@jocelynlagville-graham4920]

I am similar to you in thinking I want to do many things- flowers, veggies, chickens, pork, bees, ETc. How did you decide which to focus on? What factors made did you decide to do away with the other activities.

[@beetkvass1730]

Do you use the weed fabric on bulbs or corms like lilies and gladiolus? I know people plant procut sunflowers like 6 inches apart too. So do you do 6 in apart holes in the fabric? I am just curious about how the weed fabric is used on a practical level. I have some but just directed seeded things recently in some short rows across one of my beds and I'm not sure how to even use weed fabric with that. Thanks!

[@PepperHarrow]

No bulbs in fabric and as well as no sunflowers in fabric

[@beetkvass1730]

@@PepperHarrow thank you!

[@allenbeachy3511]

Thanks for the great tips! I subscribed 😀 Anne

[@PepperHarrow]

Thanks!

[@fitflowers8669]

Thank you!!

[@ermiller2004]

The content you guys are sharing is quality - thank you! I saw a lavender field in several of your videos. Can you share how you started that? Did you order lavender plants, grow form cuttings or seed, etc? Thanks in advance!

[@PepperHarrow]

We purchased plants to start our field. 💜

[@EsthersGardeningAdventures]

Great tips, thanks!

[@PepperHarrow]

No problem!

[@pamsmedley3589]

Excellent points made. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@bethkaufman2654]

Please tell me what CSA is please. Thank you

[@PepperHarrow]

Community Supported Agriculture- Customers prepay for a share of what you grow throughout the season.

[@bethkaufman2654]

@@PepperHarrow thank you! Much appreciated!

[@liliiasokotun3974]

Hi there! Thank you for this video, a lot of great advice! Thinking to start a flower growing business next year. When you say, go small, what exactly do you mean? An acre? Two acres? Or 1/4 of an acre?

[@courtneyruddock6167]

What is the minimum amount of acreage you recommend for new farms?

[@PepperHarrow]

Lots of people are converting their suburban yards to produce flowers or veggies but growing at scale though, a minimum of 5 acres is great.

[@judyb.5573]

Thanks for all the great information! When you first started, did you hand water or lay drip irrigation? What gauge/weight of fabric are you using?

[@PepperHarrow]

We overhead watered. We used drip for a while but have since stop using it. It was too much of a pain to deal with at the end of the season. We use Dewitt sunbelt fabric 3.2 oz

[@jocelynlagville-graham4920]

I also have multiple and varied interests, as you stated thinking you wanted to “do it all”. What factors led you to dispense with the other activities you had mentioned like bees vegetables chickens animals livestock etc.

[@PepperHarrow]

Time and space ultimately led to us giving up many of these activities. Also, we realized we could support other area farmers by giving them our business for the things we were letting go of.

[@pjjeffery4164]

What kind of landscape fabric do you use and where did you purchase it from?

[@PepperHarrow]

We use sunbelt fabric. You can get it online at Greenhouse Megastore or Farmtek.

[@nataliedonaldson776]

Dewitt is also good. Amazon has it. Do not bother with the 3 foot rolls. You want at least 4 feet wide.

[@PepperHarrow]

Agree. We use 6’ rolls 👍

[@jeannet9592]

Great information and insight! Thank you!

[@lourdesreveles3067]

Gracias chicos, a partir de este día soy de ustedes, excelentes tips. Estoy buscando información porque quiero empezar a plantar flores, principalmente para mi, y por fortuna creo que voy en buen camino para no tener que desesperarme, quiero ir paso a paso sin correr. Así que también, les agradezco que su canal tiene la configuración para poder seleccionar nuestro idioma en los subtítulos. Les deseo mucho éxito en todo lo que emprendan.

[@pollowangfanbase]

Hey,i'm from 🇱🇰 .thank you for every advice.do you have ranunculus ?

[@sharongeorge4096]

For secession planting, do you remove the previous crop and replace with new plants or do the new plants go elsewhere? I’ve always been confused by this. (I understand the why but not the how)

[@PepperHarrow]

We replace old with new plants. There’s a video we did called flipping a row mid season or something like that where we show the process.

[@nancyschippel7109]

Thank you for this video! Great points!

[@CoconutWaterfalls]

try direct seeding zinnias in the later part of the season. you'll have much better success than transplants.

[@ashleym4061]

Thanks for all the videos! We're going to be starting a small flower farm in Nebraska (also zone 5b) and everything is so helpful. :) What do you all do for organic pest control? Thanks!!

[@tammiloving1729]

Thank you for this! Relating to the KISS method, which flowers are the easiest to grow? You mentioned marigolds and zinnias, which others do you recommend? thank you!

[@PepperHarrow]

Sunflowers, cosmos, celosia, gomphrena are all easy ones.

[@rebeccapem5550]

Excellent advice. This is our first year garlic and flower farming. We are trying to decide on a new or used tractor. What about all the implements? Did you add those to the loan? Did you guys obtain any grants to get started or was everything out of pocket?

[@PepperHarrow]

When we bought the tractor we added a 3 point tiller to the loan too. We didn’t obtain any grants. It was all out of pocket

[@miriamjones797]

Hello I have a question? What size of tractor? I don’t need one right now because I’m starting small but just to know for future.

[@PepperHarrow]

We have a 30 horsepower Kubota. Perfect for our small farm

[@ME-eo9ul]

When you said that summer flowers don’t necessarily want/need to go in a cooler, why is that? If I harvest flowers early in the week for a Saturday farmers market (as a primarily veg farmer), is it best to store them in the cooler during the week, or just in a cool room? I’m slowly wading into adding flowers to the farm and think your channel is a great educational tool. Thanks!

[@PepperHarrow]

A lot of flowers like zinnias crash in colder temps. We keep the cooler about 55 for the summer

[@ME-eo9ul]

Thank you for that feedback. Sounds like zinnias and other flowers are the “tomatoes” of the flower world where cooler temps mean reduced quality (and flavor). Thanks!

[@letsgrowlv]

Very humble very informative so much meat in the content, I am blessed with both of you. Can I ask if you can give me an idea of spacing sunflowers, zinnia, etc between rows and across rows because it is kind of confusing for me as a newbee grower if I have 3 by 30ft for example Thank you in advance

[@PepperHarrow]

We will do a video on this Sonia.

[@jeaninewalters9209]

Do you start everything from seeds in the garden or do you have a greenhouse ?

[@PepperHarrow]

We have a greenhouse

[@toddpetro5477]

Can I plant FLOWER BULBS MECHANICALLY??

[@PepperHarrow]

Yes! Mechanize where you can. We’re working towards it, but are only doing dahlias semi-mechanized at this point.

[@jingerlamanna3779]

If we’re building boxes for gardening, do we still need to put something down for the weeds?

[@PepperHarrow]

We have a couple of raised beds for strawberries. We laid cardboard in the bottom and put the soil on top of that. But no weed barrier.

[@stephaniewarren9285]

What type of landscape fabric, where did you get it and what is your template trick if you don’t mind me asking?

[@stephanieraphael8338]

We use Sunbelt and made a template by drilling holes in plywood. Highly recommend burning your holes somewhere flat rather than in situ if using a torch connected to propane tank because that tank is heavy to lug around and the holes won't burn as evenly. You can also use handheld canister torch for smaller scale production. There are fabrics sold that come with holes at a premium.

[@PepperHarrow]

What Stephanie said. 👍 We still have our cardboard template I made when we first started. 😂 The holes are lined with HVAC foil tape to keep the cardboard from burning. I also use an acetylene torch with a hose.

[@stephaniewarren9285]

@@PepperHarrow perfect! TY 💚

[@lizzymonahan1893]

💕🌸💕

[@jss3018]

Thanks!

[@LC-py6fi]

Thanks for sharing