Flower Farming 101 Fall – Wed., Aug 9th, 6-8:30 pm

A hands-on workshop where we’ll share what we’ve learned through the years about growing “cool flowers” for next spring and planning for next season. Our unheated hoop house is gearing down and getting ready to be fall planted. We’ll share what we will be transplanting this fall and when to start seeds, how to buy plugs, and how to prepare your beds now. We’ll also cover the basics of flower farming that we covered in our spring course but with an eye toward fall. Some of the topics include:

• seed starting – soil blocks vs trays vs transplants vs direct seeding
• bed preparation – soil prep and no till practices
• composting and fertilizing – compost tea
• Advantages of different plug tray sizes
• planting efficiencies – laying landscape fabric, popping holes, drip tape, labeling, planting
• support netting – when to use and how to attach
• books and tools – we’ll share some we find helpful
• Social media groups that help flower farmers
• resources – we’ll have lists of where we buy what
• dahlias – overview of growing from tubers and a look at overwintered beds
• warm season crops – brief discussion of when to start seeds
• Q & A