Specialty Cut Flower Production and Marketing - UC Agriculture and ...

Mark Cain (left) of Dripping Springs Garden presents bouquets to Carol Eichelbergerand Jean Mills of Coker, Alabama, at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market.Related ATTRAPublicationsAgricultural BusinessPlanning Templates andResourcesCommunity SupportedAgriculture (CSA)Direct MarketingEntertainment Farmingand Agri-TourismFarmers’ MarketsFarmscaping to EnhanceBiological ControlFlame Weeding forVegetable CropsMarket Gardening: AStart-Up GuideOverview of Cover Cropsand Green ManuresPrinciples of SustainableWeed ManagementRoot Zone Heating forGreenhouse CropsSeason Extension Techniquesfor Market GardenersSelling to RestaurantsWoody Ornamentals forCut Flower GrowersPhoto by Janet Bachmannseeds, plugs, or bulbs. They include woodyplants from which fl owers, stems, fruits, orfoliage are harvested. They can be grownin the field, in unheated hoophouses, and inheated greenhouses. By producing unusual,high quality fl owers, using proper postharvesthandling techniques, and by providingexcellent service, growers can continue toexpand markets for specialty cuts.If you are considering specialty cut fl owersas a farm enterprise, you should do asmuch research as possible before puttingone plant in the ground. The most valuableinformation comes from other growers.Other sources that you can rely on includethe Association of Specialty Cut FlowerGrowers, Cooperative Extension, suppliers,and ATTRA.What Should I Grow?A tremendous number of choices are available.How can you choose, given such a vastarray? Consider the following.• Ease of cultivation. This may beespecially important if you are abeginner. Sunfl owers and zinniasare examples of easy-to-cultivatefl owers. They can be direct seeded,and they emerge and grow quickly.• Ease of handling. Sunfl owers canagain be used as an example. Theyhave strong stems and are easy tocut and transport without bruisingor shattering the fl owers.• Color. What is popular at your market?Does it combine well with othercolors you have chosen? Whites andpinks are popular spring weddingcolors; oranges and coppers may bemore popular in the fall.• Fragrance. Fragrance sells—to mostpeople. Customers at the Fayetteville,Arkansas, Farmers’ Marketbegin asking for extremely fragranttuberoses two months before theyare available—but some growerscannot stand to bring even a bucketfulto market in a closed van.• Old favorites. Think of customerswho see a bunch of sweet peasand buy them because they arereminded of their grandmother’sfl ower garden. Zinnias can again beused as an example.• New introductions. New cultivarshelp you stay competitive in a competitivemarket. Membership inthe Association of Specialty CutFlower Growers (ASCFG) is oneway to keep up to date on newones. The ASCFG in cooperationwith seed companies sponsors trialsof new varieties every year.Results of the trials are reported inthe winter issue of The Cut FlowerQuarterly. Rudbeckia Prairie Sun,Dianthus Neon Duo, and countlessnew sunfl owers are among theexciting introductions trialed byASCFG volunteers.• Vase life. Will the cuts last a week?Or longer?• Stem length. Florists love longstems. But there are exceptions,such as lily-of-the-valley and grapehyacinth, that are naturally shortstemmed.• Local growing conditions. Accept thefact that some plants are not welladapted to your climate. Ask localExtension agents, garden clubs, andPage 2 ATTRA Specialty Cut Flower Production and Marketing