Never be without a vase full of flowers after listening to this episode of the Good Growing podcast. This week Ken and Chris chat with Chris Lueking, Illinois Extension horticulture educator, and owner of her own successful cut flower farm. Chris describes how she got started, things to consider when growing cut flowers, her top five go-to cut flowers, and more!

Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/lYpBehI4Tqg

0:26 - Hey Ken

3:20 - Introducing Chris Lueking!

4:20 - How did Chris get started in farming cut flowers?

6:45 - Talking the EQIP loan to get farm resources and conservation planning through NRCS

9:32 - What equipment or special considerations do we need when starting a cut flower farm?

15:17 - What cut flowers does Chris grow outside and what does she grow in the high tunnel?

16:14 - How late can you produce cut flowers? All the way into the winter?

17:25 - What are Chris' 5 favorite cut flowers?

17:55 - Zinnia

19:03 - Sunflowers

20:05 - Cosmos

20:50 - Gomphrena

21:30 - Celosia

22:35 - How does Chris start her seeds for cut flowers?

24:07 - Tips on how to handle pests and spraying pesticides in cut flowers production

28:19 - What's happening right now in the cut flower garden? (March 22, 2023)

31:19 - What foliage plants does Chris grow?

33:32 - Growing eucalyptus in Illinois

37:31 - Experimenting with weird stuff like tea, cotton, and tobacco

38:58 - Is Chris trying anything new for 2023?

Contact us!

Chris Enroth: [email protected]

Ken Johnson: [email protected]

Check out the Good Growing Blog: htps://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing

Subscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe

Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

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