This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. Guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: ⁠Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More⁠.

Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Here, he answers questions about peonies, snapdragons, lilies, stock, and so much more.

Other topics include dried flowers, tulips, how long it takes to grow seedlings, fertilizing in the field, cosmos, when and where to pinch plants, treatments for aphids and thrips, viburnum, orlaya, grow lights, dahlia tubers, fertilizers, poppies, RootShield, calla lilies, and celosia.

Mentions

Dave's Online Course: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More!⁠

Lisa's Books: Cool Flowers, The Cut Flower Handbook

Ball Seed's Cut Flowers Info Hub

⁠⁠⁠The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

⁠Discover all of our online courses!⁠

⁠⁠Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠

⁠⁠Sign up to receive our Farm News emails!⁠⁠

The⁠ ⁠Field and Garden Podcast⁠⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of⁠ ⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠⁠, owner of⁠ ⁠The Gardener’s Workshop,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Flower Farming School Online,⁠⁠ and the publisher of⁠ ⁠Farmer-Florist School Online⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠Florist School Online.⁠⁠ Watch⁠ ⁠Lisa’s Story⁠⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

Don’t allow these things to hold you back from pursuing your flower farming business dreams. No acreage, tractor, or greenhouse? No problem. I didn’t have any of those during the first decade of my flower farm.

Originally aired 9/27/22

Mentions

Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG)

Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop

Shop the TGW Online Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Field and Garden Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, owner of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Gardener’s Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flower Farming School Online,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the publisher of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Farmer-Florist School Online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Florist School Online.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lisa’s Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

This episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram. Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC hosted this one. Daniel is a 7th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of most of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses. Here, he answers questions on topics such as high tunnel growing, lisianthus, tips for new cut flower growers, hydroponic tulips, and so many more!

Other topics covered: microclimate trial & error, selling to florists, ranunculus, tuberose, aphids, deer fence, roses, dahlias, sunflower successions

Mentions

⁠Petalpickers.com⁠: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber and fall bulb sales

Follow on Instagram: ⁠Petal Pickers⁠, ⁠Cuts of Color⁠, ⁠Scratch House⁠, ⁠The Gardener's Workshop⁠

Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG)

Lisianthus plugs: Ball Colorlink, Farmer Bailey, Leo Berbee

Online Courses from The Gardener's Workshop

⁠Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!⁠

⁠Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!⁠

The ⁠Field and Garden Podcast⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of ⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠, owner of ⁠The Gardener’s Workshop,⁠ ⁠Flower Farming School Online,⁠ and the publisher of ⁠Farmer-Florist School Online⁠ and ⁠Florist School Online.⁠ Watch ⁠Lisa’s Story⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

Join Rhonda Graves and Lisa for another episode of Bug Talk! Today, they expand into the broader topic of restoring the natural order on your farm or in your garden: the benefits, the methods, and the rewards. They share all of their favorite resources for learning more about what YOU can do to improve the natural conditions in your space.

Recommended Reading

Vegetables Love Flowers

Bringing Nature Home 

Good Garden Bugs 

The Life Cycle of Butterflies 

The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs 

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden

Good Bug Bad Bug

Other Resources

Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)

Start A New Habitat: Homegrown National Park

Identify Bugs: iNaturalist phone app

Identify Birds by their call: Merlin phone app

Other Bug Talk Podcast Episodes:

Japanese Beetles

Bug Talk with Nancy Lawson, The Humane Gardener

What Happens to Bugs in Winter?

Native Bees with Dr. Barb Abraham

Bug Talk with Author Jessica Walliser

Bug Talk: Ants on Peonies

Bug Talk: They All Have A Purpose

Bug Talk with Lisa & Rhonda

Shop the TGW Online Store⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Field and Garden Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, owner of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Gardener’s Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flower Farming School Online,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the publisher of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Farmer-Florist School Online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Florist School Online.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lisa’s Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

We are so hard on ourselves when we hit a wall or fail. I’ve found that the reality so often for me is that my expectations weren’t based on any facts or experiences, just hopes, and dreams. No wonder it didn’t work out!

Stepping back and rethinking the process can change it all.
Hopes + Dreams + Experience + Knowledge = a smoother and straighter road to success.

I hope this episode meets you where you are, encourages you, lets you know you are not alone, and sows the seeds of hope that there is another way.

I hope you enjoy this episode. ~Lisa Z.

Mentions
Request the webinar: What It Takes To Be A Flower Farmer
Sunny Meadows Flower Farm: Instagram Website
Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More with Lisa Mason Ziegler
Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More with Dave Dowling

Shop the TGW Online Store⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Field and Garden Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, owner of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Gardener’s Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flower Farming School Online,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the publisher of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Farmer-Florist School Online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Florist School Online.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lisa’s Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. Guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, who is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More.

Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! Here, he answers questions about dahlias, hydrangeas, tulips, lisianthus, and so much more!

Other topics include pest management, crop rotation, organic vs. conventional fertilizers, seedling care, zinnias, sunflowers, celosia, and gladiolus.

Mentions

Other Ask A Flower Farmer podcast episodes featuring Dave Dowling: #269, #266, #247, #244

Dave's Online Course: ⁠⁠⁠Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More!

Ball/Colorlink: Wholesale Plant, Bulb, & Seed Supplier⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram⁠⁠

Discover all of our online courses!

⁠Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!⁠

⁠Sign up to receive our Farm News emails!⁠

The ⁠Field and Garden Podcast⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of ⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠, owner of ⁠The Gardener’s Workshop,⁠ ⁠Flower Farming School Online,⁠ and the publisher of ⁠Farmer-Florist School Online⁠ and ⁠Florist School Online.⁠ Watch ⁠Lisa’s Story⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

Lisa was recently featured on Growing For Market podcast, joining host Andrew Mefferd to discuss concepts from her new book, The Cut Flower Handbook. Topics covered include:

• The current US market demand for cut flowers

• Cool vs. warm season flower crops

• Professionalism in flower farming

• Succession planting concept for continuous blooms

Podcast excerpts are published with permission. 

Mentions

Lisa's Book: ⁠The Cut Flower Handbook⁠

Full original Growing For Market episode #55 podcast ⁠Available Here⁠

Book: ⁠⁠The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski⁠⁠

Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG)

The Slow Flowers Society

Discover our online courses!

⁠Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!⁠

⁠Sign up to receive our Farm News emails!⁠

The ⁠Field and Garden Podcast⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of ⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠, owner of ⁠The Gardener’s Workshop,⁠ ⁠Flower Farming School Online,⁠ and the publisher of ⁠Farmer-Florist School Online⁠ and ⁠Florist School Online.⁠ Watch ⁠Lisa’s Story⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

After almost a year in development, we're so excited to tell you about our new online community! 

Membership Features: 

• Monthly live Q&As with Lisa Z!
• Exclusive training sessions 
• Expert guidance from Lisa
• Commiserate with your flower-loving peers
• Interactive challenges keep you inspired to succeed
• Private club platform - no tracking or advertising
• Access anytime from your phone, tablet, or computer

Who Is This Online Club For? 

• Aspiring Flower Farmers
• Established Flower Farmers
• Passionate Flower Gardeners

Mentions

⁠More about The Gardener's Workshop Club⁠

⁠⁠⁠Shop the TGW Online Store⁠⁠⁠ for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Field and Garden Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, owner of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Gardener’s Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flower Farming School Online,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the publisher of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Farmer-Florist School Online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Florist School Online.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lisa’s Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

Lisa was recently featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp'l to discuss the foundational concepts from her new book, The Cut Flower Handbook. Topics covered include:

• The soil blocking method of seed starting
• Cool vs. warm season flower crops
• Natural weed & pest prevention
• Succession planting concept for continuous blooms

Podcast excerpts are published with permission.

Mentions

Full The joegardener® Show Episode #351 Podcast & Blog Post ⁠Available Here⁠

Lisa's Book: ⁠The Cut Flower Handbook⁠

Book: ⁠⁠The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski⁠⁠

Products: ⁠Soil Blocking Tool⁠, ⁠Biodegradable Mulch Film⁠, ⁠Flower Support Netting⁠

⁠Soil Blocking Mix Recipe & Instructions⁠

⁠Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!⁠

⁠Sign up to receive our Farm News emails!⁠

The ⁠Field and Garden Podcast⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of ⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠, owner of ⁠The Gardener’s Workshop,⁠ ⁠Flower Farming School Online,⁠ and the publisher of ⁠Farmer-Florist School Online⁠ and ⁠Florist School Online.⁠ Watch ⁠Lisa’s Story⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

Starting and being in business is overwhelming! Yep, it's true. And the overwhelm doesn't just stop one day, you have to take control and make it happen. Only you can make that choice.

Add to that the stress of flower farming, and it becomes clear why so many new growers never leave the starting gate. In this episode, I'm sharing one of the keys to getting started and staying in business as a flower farmer. Allow yourself the fair opportunity to learn how, I highly recommend it!

(Encore presentation, originally aired March 2021)

Mentions

Learn about our Online Courses

⁠⁠Shop the TGW Online Store⁠⁠ for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Field and Garden Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, owner of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Gardener’s Workshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flower Farming School Online,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the publisher of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Farmer-Florist School Online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Florist School Online.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lisa’s Story⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!

In September '22 Lisa was featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp’l to discuss the Cool Flowers concept and how she got started growing this fantastic group of spring stunners! They covered topics such as:

• How to determine which Cool Flowers you can grow in your region
• When and how to start your Cool Flowers from seed
• The special care requirements of flowers planted in the fall and in very early spring
• What you should do to prepare in the fall even if you don’t plant until very early spring

Mentions

Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers

The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski

The New Organic Grower by Eloit Coleman

Bio360 Biodegradable Mulch Film

Row Cover Hoop Kit

Cool-Season Hardy Annual Seeds

Full The joegardener® Show Episode #274 Podcast & Blog Post Available Here

Request Lisa’s Free Resource: Cool Flowers Planting Guide

Joe’s Book, The Vegetable Gardening Book

Joe’s online course, Organic Vegetable Gardening

Watch Growing a Greener World and connect with Joe: Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter

The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!