Regenerative No-Dig System for Overwintering Dahlias in Zone 6b/7 Initial Planting of Dahlias Prepare new beds for planting using no-till methods such as cardboard and deep mulch and/or cover cropping and tarping. Amend soil according to soil test recommendations. Pay particular attention to pH and mineral content. Dahlias prefer a pH around 6.5; slightly acidic. […]
Overwintering Dahlias in Zone 7/6b Read More »
I originally adopted the no-till approach to farming out of necessity. Well, desperation, really. An intensely rainy spring in 2018 kept me from being able to till the soil as usual and meant the only way to get transplants in the ground was to skip the tilling and try something new. Thus began my foray
No-Till Flower Farming: The First Step to Regenerative Flower Farming Read More »
[et_pb_section bb_built=\”1\”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=\”4_4\”][et_pb_text _builder_version=\”3.18.4\”] Recently I was remembering back to 2009 as I was going into my second growing season as a flower farmer. I just had a tiny community garden plot that year that totaled a grand 1,682 square feet. But from that garden, I managed to grow enough flowers to go to two
Perennial Bulbs: Five Favorites for Cut Flower Production Read More »
No-Till Tulip Planting Tulips have been a mainstay crop at my farm since the very first season. I remember learning about planting them for commercial production at the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers’ conference I attended that fall. My mind was blown that flower farmers planted thousands of bulbs in big trenches at “egg
No-Till Tulip Planting Read More »
[et_pb_section bb_built=\”1\”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=\”4_4\”][et_pb_text _builder_version=\”3.18.4\”] Here in October, we farmers all a little (or a lot) weary as the 2019 growing season winds down. Every year in autumn, I go through quite the range of emotions. So much bittersweet relief, anxiety, anticipation, unease, antsy-ness, appreciation, and much more as the killing frost looms ever closer. My
Putting a Flower Farm to Bed for Winter Read More »
[et_pb_section bb_built=\”1\”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=\”4_4\”][et_pb_text _builder_version=\”3.18.4\”] No-till flower farming is a system of farming that (nearly, if not entirely) eliminates the turning over of the soil, be it with machinery or by hand. There are many reasons that may spur a farmer to decide to go with no-till farming practices. Mine specifically were a notable decrease in
No-Till Flower Farming | Part 1 Read More »
[et_pb_section bb_built=\”1\”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=\”4_4\”][et_pb_text _builder_version=\”3.18.4\”] Has it really been six years since I wrote my original blog post on how to harvest hellebores?? Time flies! Since the season to harvest hellebores is about to be upon us again here in the Northeast, it seems a good time to dust off this old tutorial and make sure
Harvest Hellebores Like a Pro Read More »
[et_pb_section bb_built=\”1\”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=\”4_4\”][et_pb_text _builder_version=\”3.18.4\”] I first wrote a post about tips for growing lisianthus in 2015. That post has since become the most popular one on the blog… actually the top hit for the entire website! And I hear repeatedly from new flower growers about how they’ve found that original post to be so helpful
Updated: Five Tricks for Growing Lisianthus Read More »
[et_pb_section bb_built=\”1\”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=\”4_4\”][et_pb_text _builder_version=\”3.18.4\”] || Sustainable Valentine\’s Day Flowers in Philadelphia || With Valentine\’s Day fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to introduce you to two of my loves, who happen to be lovers themselves. Meet Manos and Mariposa, a pair of box turtles that call our flower farm home. Manos is
What Do Sustainable Valentine\’s Day Flowers and Turtles Have in Common? Read More »
While you need plenty of sunny space to grow many of the better-known flowers for cutting, there are several excellent cut flowers that thrive in the shade. And better yet, there are many shade plants that provide gorgeous foliage for bouquets.
15 Shade-Loving Plants for your Cutting Garden Read More »
