This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, 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!

Topics Covered

• Watering Tips for Sunflowers & Lilies
• Growing Limelight Hydrangeas
• Tips for Fall Planting Campanula
• Dealing with Leaf Hoppers
• Storing Dahlia Bulbs Over Winter
• Managing Vole Damage
• Best Flowers to Plant in Tropical Areas
• Harvesting Tips for Astilbe
• Growing Lisianthus & Snapdragons
• Preventing Botrytis on Peonies
• Pre-sprouting Techniques for Ranunculus
• Propagation Methods for Peonies
• Managing White Flies
• Harvesting Tips for Various Flowers

Episode originally aired 6/26/24 on Instagram. Join Lisa and her guest hosts Wednesdays at 12:30PM Eastern time to get your cut flower growing questions answered by the experts!

Mentions

Dave on social: Facebook, Instagram

Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More!

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!

Lisa shares her 2025 plan to downsize her growing space and encourages those with smaller spaces to optimize their production in the following areas: bed spacing and maintenance, soil health, weed prevention, intensive planting techniques, and succession planting.

Mentions

Podcast: Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne

Free Phone App: The Gardener's Workshop Live Shop

Lennie's Online Course: Profitable Flower Farming

Products: Bio360, Flower Support Netting

Irrigation Suppliers: Berry Hill, Dripworks

Lisa's Book: ⁠⁠The Cut Flower Handbook⁠

Lisa's Online Course, ⁠⁠Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 lays the groundwork for you to succeed out of the gate, rather than suffering through failures to find your way to a great cut flower garden. Whether you're new to the cutting garden concept or you've been unsuccessful starting one in the past, listen in for the three key factors that will lead you down the path to gorgeous cut flowers!

Mentions

Lisa's Book: ⁠The Cut Flower Handbook

Lisa's Online Course, ⁠Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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!

Discover essential insights into the world of flower farming, where passion meets perseverance! This episode dives deep into the heart of flower farming, unraveling the layers of determination, business acumen, and preparation needed to thrive.

From the first-hand experience of someone who started their journey 25+ years ago, learn about the highs and lows of stepping into the unknown, the resilience required to overcome the myriad challenges, and the critical importance of a strong business foundation to sustain your passion for flower farming.

Embark on your path to becoming a successful flower farmer today by understanding the importance of preparation and equipping yourself with the tools needed for a flourishing future in flower farming.

Mentions

Book: ⁠The Flower Farmer by Lynn Byczynski⁠

Lisa's Online Course, ⁠Flower Farming School Online: Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing, and More!⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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!

Today's episode features our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was hosted by Lisa Mason Ziegler, a flower farmer with over 25 years of experience, author, online instructor, founder of The Gardener's Workshop, and self-proclaimed "head bottle washer." During this session in early May, she fielded questions on the following topics...

Topics: buckwheat cover crop, weed suppression & prevention, harvesting strawflowers, how to store seeds, recommended soil for raised beds, perennials for shade gardens, fertilizing cool flowers in the spring, succession planting, protecting plants from squirrels and rabbits, scouting for pest and disease damage, Sweet William varieties & successions, early and late-season sunflowers

Lisa hosts these live Q&As on Instagram every Wednesday at 12:30 pm Eastern time, and we occasionally have guest hosts on as well - we invite you to check it out!

Mentions

Lisa's Online Community: ⁠The Gardener's Workshop Club⁠

Our Live Shopping Phone App: ⁠Download Link⁠

Lisa's Book: ⁠The Cut Flower Handbook⁠

Online Course: ⁠Cool Flowers From Seed To Harvest⁠

Products: ⁠Stand-Up Hoe⁠, ⁠Neptune's Harvest⁠

Catch "Ask A Flower Farmer" live on our ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠!

⁠⁠⁠⁠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!

Today's episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one featured guest host Lennie Larkin, author of Flower Farming for Profit and owner of B-Side Farm in Oregon. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener's Workshop. In this Q&A Lennie fielded questions about bouquet pricing, floral design, how to research your local market, and more.

Topics: Tiered pricing for bouquets, principles of floral design, flower markups, researching your market to develop your business model, building bouquets efficiently

Mentions

Lennie's Instagram: ⁠flowerfarming.forprofit⁠, ⁠B-Side Farm⁠

Online course: ⁠Profitable Flower Farming⁠

⁠The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠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 this episode, Lisa visits Emma Mobley's flower farm in Suffolk, VA. Emma shares her journey of transitioning to flower farming and discusses her new business model, focusing on spring and fall blooms. Listen as she reveals her selling strategies, challenges, and what the future holds for End of Nowhere Flower Farm.

Note: video version of this podcast available on our YouTube channel

Mentions

Website: ⁠⁠End of Nowhere Flower Farm⁠

Find Emma on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

⁠⁠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!

Today's episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, normally called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one, however, we called Ask a Florist, and it featured guest hostess Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is a floral designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers. She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener's Workshop. In this Q&A Ellen fielded questions about floral design, the different flowers she uses throughout the year, and some great business questions too.

Other topics mentioned: floral design for beginners, long-lasting flowers, arranging in mason jars, what Ellen designs with during the winter months, foam-free floral mechanics, the first steps toward selling your flowers, how to get the best vase life from your flowers, how to sell to a florist for the first time, flower cart sales, flower pricing for florists, buying bulk flowers, using social media as a tool to tell your story, spring focal flowers, price undercutting.

Mentions

⁠⁠Ellen's newsletter signup⁠⁠

⁠⁠Ellen's YouTube Channel⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠Ellen Frost Flowers⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠Local Color Flowers⁠⁠

Ellen's courses:

On-Demand Mini-Workshop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Preparing to Sell to Florists⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Florist School Online: Growing Your Business with Local Flower Sourcing⁠⁠

Field & Garden Podcast #130: Local Color Flowers – ⁠A Design Studio's Year Month-by-Month with Ellen Frost⁠

Seed Talk Podcast #52 – ⁠Zinnia Challenges with Florist Ellen Frost⁠

⁠⁠The Gardener's Workshop on Instagram⁠⁠

⁠⁠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!

I had a wonderful time visiting Torrie Anderson's place, The Flower Farm at Youngs Mill, back in June. Located just a couple of miles from my farm here in Virginia, Torrie is one of my dedicated students who has truly embraced the lessons and made remarkable progress! Now in her third year of flower farming with her husband and four children, join me to learn about Torrie's journey and hear her plans for the future.

Mentions

Website: ⁠The Flower Farm at Youngs Mill⁠

Find Torrie on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Facebook⁠

⁠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!

This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, 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 snapdragons, baptisia, ranunculus, peonies, larkspur, lisianthus, and so much more.

Other topics include the updated USDA hardiness zone map, managing thrips and aphids, powdery mildew, fertilizing and pinching techniques, his all-time favorite perennials to grow for cut flowers, and making a profit from flower farming.

Mentions

USDA Hardiness Zone Map - updated Nov 2023

Bulb Supplier: Ball/Colorlink, or Call for Account Setup: 800-686-7380

Dave on social: Facebook, Instagram

Dave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More!

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!