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Ageratum, Agrostemma, Allium, Ammi majus, Apple mint, Bupleurum, Curly willow, Dahlia, Delphinium, Digitalis, Feverfew, Gomphrena, Grasses, Hosta leaves, Hydrangea, Larkspur, Lemon/cinnamon basil, Lenten rose, Lilies, Lily of the Valley, Lisianthus, Mountain mint, Nigella, Penstemon, Peony, Redtwig dogwood, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Snapdragon, Spanish bluebell, Sunflower, Sweet pea, Sweet William, Tulip, Veronica, Yarrow, and Zinnia. Wholesale floristsThe wholesale florists' market is the most demanding as far as grading, uniformity, consistency, and packaging. Wholesale florists assemble and make available high-quality flowers for retail florists. They offer retailers a timely and dependable supply, one stop shopping, large or small quantities, product guarantee, and credit. To sell to wholesale florists, Harrison "Red" Kennicott, of Kennicott Brothers in Chicago, in a presentation at the 2002 ASCFG annual convention and trade show, advised growers:
He recommends the Society of American Florists, the national trade association that represents all participants in the U.S. floral industry, as a source of marketing and best practices information. (Kennicott, 2002) Its 15,000 members include retailers, growers, wholesalers, importers, suppliers, manufactures, educators, and students. Its consumer Web site, www.aboutflowers.com, promotes the use of flowers. You can locate wholesale florists through the Wholesale Florists and Florist Supplier Association. See References for contact information. WeddingsIf you sell flowers at a local farmers' market, sooner or later someone will approach you to do their wedding flowers. Linda Chapman of Harvest Moon Farm in Spencer, Indiana, says wedding work can be profitable, but it is not for everyone who grows flowers. Besides needing aesthetic talents, it takes a certain temperament to work cooperatively with brides, grooms, and often their parents. It also takes a lot of time. Before deciding whether you will do a wedding, talk with the clients. Try to get a vision of what they want. Can you work with them to make their vision a reality, or do you need to send them to a commercial florist or another grower?
Most weddings involve a bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnières, corsages, flower girl flowers, altar arrangements, reception hall arrangements, and flowers for the cake. Other options include garlands, end-of-pew arrangements, and dried flower wreaths made from the wedding flowers after the event. What is their budget? Your price should reflect not only the cost of materials and labor for the finished product but also the time spent in consultation. You need to give your client a price estimate well in advance of the wedding day. Ms. Chapman says pricing is a regional thing. Prices can generally be set higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Her prices reflect the economics of a university town. (Chapman, 2002) Carol Larsen of Sunborn Gardens in Wisconsin says she first got involved with wedding flowers when she worked with another woman who loved to grow flowers but also worked as a florist. "We did some weddings together, and I learned some mechanics from her." Later, Carol also worked for a florist but found she liked growing flowers more than just working with them. She quit her "day job" and began working exclusively with flowers in 2001, and since then she has actively sought wedding and event work. Carol markets through word of mouth, photos on her Web page, www.sunborngardens.com, and at her stand at the farmers' market on Saturdays. In addition to weddings, she has done arrangements for a bat mitzvah, a bar mitzvah, and a funeral. Carol's list of flowers that are excellent for weddings includes the following: Bachelor Buttons, Bells of Ireland, Celosia, Dahlias, Godetia, Larkspur, Lisianthus, Rudbeckia, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragons, and Tulips. She offers this advice:
For a wedding, Carol provides bridal and bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnières, corsages, table arrangements, pew treatments, arbor decorations, and large arrangements for the church. She takes the price of the flowers and multiplies by 2 to 2.5 to achieve a price that reflects the time to meet with the bride, work with the flowers, drive to the wedding and reception sites and set up the flowers (including pinning on corsages and boutonnières), and picking up the vases, etc. after the event. The most frustrating part for her is not getting enough for her work. The most rewarding part is designing with the flowers she loves and having the bride call afterwards to let her know how much everyone enjoyed the flowers.
Contract GrowingIf someone asks you to grow flowers for a wedding or other event, but you are not prepared to do any more than that, you can get someone else to do the arrangements. One fall a young woman who had purchased flowers from me for several years came by the farmers' market to tell me she was getting married the next summer on July 9 and wanted me to grow the flowers for her wedding. She had chosen Stargazer lilies as her main flower and set the July wedding date because that is when Stargazers bloom locally. The only other flowers she wanted were additional Oriental lilies and glads in colors to harmonize with Stargazers. During the winter, I referred her to several Web sites where she could view lilies and glads, asking her to let me know which varieties she liked. I ordered bulbs and planted them on two different dates, hoping that enough would bloom at the right time. Then I started wondering about how the flowers would be delivered to the chapel 50 miles away and who would arrange them. I knew I wouldn't have the time, skills, or vases to do this. I asked my friend whether she had someone to arrange the flowers. She hadn't thought about that yet, but proceeded to find a floral arranger, another young woman I had met at the farmers' market. What a relief. That left me with nothing to do but to keep hoping the flowers would bloom at the right time and deliver them to the farmers' market, where the arranger would pick them up. I expressed my concern about the lilies being in bloom at the right time to the floral arranger. She assured me that she could get them from a wholesaler any time of the year. More relief.
InternetIn the past decade, the Internet has become an important marketing tool. The Internet allows growers to reach customers that they could not have reached in other ways without considerable expense. More than 6 percent of all Internet transactions involve flower sales. (Carter, 2004) Simple e-mail messages can be used to inform and educate customers, let them know what is available and when, and build relationships. E-mail can also be used to take orders. Third-party Web sites, which offer a template for you to use to list your farm and products at no or low cost, are another way to inform and educate. Building your own Web site is a big step, but it may be an excellent way to increase your markets. The Thiessen family farm in Ontario began accepting Internet orders for flowers in 1996. The family has 30 acres of apples and offers wagon rides, a corn maze, and PYO apples. They say, however, the Internet sale of flowers has generated the most profit for the farm and kept it in business. Sales have grown to the point that other growers, one in Connecticut and three in California, have joined the effort as suppliers, with Thiessen supplying about 40 percent. The products can be seen at the Web site www.GrowerFlowers.com. (Carter, 2004) Related Products and Added ValueDepending on your market, you may be able to increase your income with related products.
Production BasicsPlan for Season-Spanning BloomsDo you want year-round flower production? Or frost to frost? Or just one big splash? Planning is important regardless of your choice, and especially critical if you want year-round blooms. Steve and Susan Bender of Homestead Flower Farm near Warrenton, North Carolina, presented their planting and harvest chart at the 2002 Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group conference and trade show. It is presented below as an example. Differences in location and climate, market, and personal choices will result in different schedules.
Consider sequential planting and use of cultivars that have different lengths of time to maturity to get a continuous supply of your most popular cuts. Gladioli, for example, are ready to cut about 80 days from planting. You can make your first planting in mid-spring, and sequential plantings at intervals of a week or a month, ending at least 80 days before the first frost in the fall. Sunflowers, which are usually harvested as one cut stem, also need sequential plantings for a continuous supply. Check the information provided by your seed supplier for length of time needed from planting to harvest; the time varies by cultivar. Soil FertilityIf at all possible, find a location with well-drained, sandy loam soil, high in organic matter, and with a neutral pH. If you don't have perfect soil, you can improve it with cover crops, compost, and mulching with organic matter. Soil preparation is the most important job you will do in the flower garden. Alex and Betsy Hitt of Peregrine Farm in North Carolina have spent more than 10 years developing a system that maintains or improves soil organic matter content by the conscientious use of summer and winter cover crops combined with minimal tillage. Their planting rotation, which includes vegetables, flowers, and cover crops, is presented in the ATTRA publication Market Gardening: A Start-Up Guide. The Hitts use several tools and concepts to make the system work:
Marked improvement of their soils is indicated by higher cation
exchange capacity (CEC), more organic residues, more soil biological
life, easier to prepare and plant-to-seed beds, healthier crops,
and higher yields. Their purchased inputs are stable or reduced,
and net returns are higher. Management inputs are higher, but the
returns to management are also higher. (Hitt,
2005) IrrigationSome flowers in some locations can be grown with the water they
receive from rainfall. Examples are daffodils, butterfly milkweed,
and poke berries. In most situations, however, an irrigation system
is needed to consistently and reliably produce the highest quality
flowers. Drip and micro-sprinkler systems are best. Overhead sprinkler
systems increase the chance of disease and can reduce flower quality,
but they may be less expensive to install. Overhead Plant EstablishmentSome flowers in some geographic areas can be easily started by
direct seeding. Others are more safely started in flats to be transplanted
later. Still others are started with root divisions or bulbs.
Some seeds take a long time to germinate. The Arnoskys have learned to take advantage of different germination requirements and "prime" seed so that plants come up more quickly in the field. (Arnosky, 2004)
Bottom heat is useful for seed that needs heat to germinate. See
the ATTRA publication Root
Zone Heating for Greenhouse Crops for ideas.
The degree of mechanization you use in planting will depend to
a great extent on the size of your operation. You will most likely
want to start small, and the same hand tools you would use for vegetable
gardening will work for planting. If the soil has been freshly tilled,
a hand trowel will work for making holes for transplants or plugs.
They should always be "watered in" to settle the soil around the
roots. If you are using support netting, you can lay it over the
top of the bed before setting transplants. The six-inch square grid
of the netting can be used to space your plants. Weed ManagementWeeds compete with flowers for nutrients, water, and light, and
can harbor insect pests. A heavy stand of weeds in your planting
can severely reduce cut flower quality. Weeding can be one of your
most time consuming operations, especially if you choose not to
use chemical herbicides. If you use support netting, mechanical
weeding is impossible once it is in place.
Insect Pests and Disease ManagementThe best way to prevent insect and disease problems is to select
plants that grow well in your location, and grow them well. Your
next step is to recognize problems caused by insects and diseases.
Some can be tolerated; others will destroy the value of your flowers.
Your local County Extension staff can help identify both insect
pests and diseases and provide information about their biology and
behavior. The more we know about their life cycles, the more likely
we will be able to manage them effectively with non-toxic methods.
The use of these organisms to manage pests is known as biological control. Knowing your natural enemies is equally important to knowing your insect pests. Again, the more we know about life cycle and habitat needs, the more likely we will be able to ensure their existence. Conservation of existing natural enemies is probably the most important biological control practice readily available to growers. Beneficial insects need:
Flowering plants for habitat:
Refer to the ATTRA publication Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control for more information. Chemical control. If you are an organic grower, most chemical controls are not allowed. Microbials, botanicals, and oils, however, are possibilities. Most botanical insecticides, including neem, pyrethrins, ryania, and sabadilla, are permitted in organic production. Those that are considered highly toxic (strychnine and nicotine) are excluded. Botanical insecticides are relatively non-selective and can be "hard" on the natural predators and parasites in the field; therefore, minimal use is advised. Botanicals can also affect other non-target organisms. Rotenone, for example, is highly toxic to fish. Microbial insecticides include Bacillus thurengiensis, Beauveria bassiana, and Nosema locustae. Add Season-Extending High TunnelsMore and more cut flower growers are discovering the advantages
of growing under the protection of unheated high tunnels. These
include earlier and later crops, better quality and stem length,
and production of crops that otherwise could not be grown because
of climate constraints. (Byczynski, 2005) Harvest and PostharvestPostharvest success begins with providing the best growing conditions
possible and harvesting at optimum harvest stage. The optimum harvest
stage varies with individual species and according to your market.
The longest vase life for some flowers will be achieved if they
are cut with color but not yet open. Others are best when cut fully
open. Information on the optimum harvest stage for more than 100
types of flowers is available in Specialty
Cut Flowers: A Commercial Growers Guide from Kansas State
University Extension. See References. Water Flow in StemsWithout water, flowers wilt. When stems are cut, two things happen to restrict water flow:
To reduce the amount of air that gets into the stems, flower stems
should be placed in water as you cut them. Later, recut the stems
underwater, removing about one inch, to remove air bubbles and bacteria.
When cuts are made underwater, a film of water prevents air from
entering the stems in the short time it takes to move them to postharvest
solutions. Some suppliers offer specially designed tools for this
task. See References. (Some recent literature
states that recutting underwater is unnecessary.) Vase Life of FlowersA number of products have been developed to help prolong vase life.
All contain antimicrobials to suppress bacterial growth.
These flowers respond well to slow-release chlorine (not household
bleach) and/or an aluminum sulfate-based commercial hydration solution:
|
"People should do
as much research as possible before putting one plant in the
ground. If I had a nickel for every time someone called me
with a 'I have an acre of _______ that need to be cut: how
do I cut them and where should I sell them and (inevitably)
how much should I charge for them?' message, I'd be a millionaire.
A least a thousandaire." |
Once you have the SWOT analysis, you need to plan for dealing with
the items listed. Each of these plans needs to be discussed so that
you get ideas from everyone involved. When all players have helped
to create a written plan, you can do a better job. By hearing from
everyone on the team, you get a lot of good ideas. You will all
have a better idea of where the operation is going. You will all
feel better about your individual responsibilities for the operation's
success. To aid in this discussion, you might ask these questions:
When you have answers to these questions, you have a foundation for setting goals and objectives of a work plan. Be realistic: don't set yourself up with tasks that you can't possibly accomplish in the time you've allowed.
Growing and marketing specialty cut flowers can be a profitable
and rewarding business. Learn all you can before starting, start
small, and continue to learn and grow. This publication has only
touched on what you need to know to get started. The materials and
organizations listed under
References provide much more information.
Arnosky, Pamela, and Frank Aronsky.
2004. Tricks of the trade for starting flower seed. Growing for
Market. March. p. 19–21.
Arnosky, Pamela, and Frank Arnosky.
1999. Know your costs before you set your prices. Growing for Market.
January. p. 15–17.
Byczynski, Lynn. 2005. In the
hoophouse, cut flowers can be triple cropped for maximum revenue.
Growing for Market. April. p. 16–17.
Byczynski, Lynn. 2002. Plan
the perfect packing shed. Growing for Market. December. p. 1, 4–6.
Byczynski, Lynn. 1997. The
Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling
Cut Flowers. Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction,
VT. 224 p.
Carter, Jeffrey. 2004. Internet
flower sales give Ontario farm lease on life. Fruit Growers News.
May. p. 21—22.
Chapman, Linda. 2002. Wedding
flowers: Profitable headaches. Growing for Market. January. p. 17–21.
DeVault, Melanie. 2004. A flowering
of questions: Pricing flowers. The New Farm. June. www.newfarm.org/columns/cut_flowers/2004/0604/questions.shtml
Dole, John, and Lane
Greer. 2004. Status of the specialty cut flower industry and new
crop development. OFA Bulletin. July–August. p. 11, 17–21.
Dole, John, and Vicki
Stambeck. 1998. Pricing Specialty Cuts. ASCFG Bulletin No. 2. p.
7
Dowling, Dave. 2002. Back to
basics: Making money growing cut flowers. The Cut Flower Quarterly.
April. p. 8–9.
Hitt, Alex. 2005. Back to basics:
Improving soil quality naturally. The Cut Flower Quarterly. Winter.
p. 43–44.
Kantor, Sylvia. 1999. Marketing
Specialty Cut Flowers. Washington State University King County.
Fact Sheet # 520.
www.metrokc.gov/dchs/csd/wsu-ce/agriculture/PDFs/flower.pdf
(PDF / 153KB)
Kennicott, Harrison. 2002. Presentation.
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers conference and trade
show. Madison, Wisconsin.
Larsen, Carol. 2004. Personal
communication.
Reich, Lee. 2005. Debunking soil
myths to save you work. Fine Gardening. July–August. p. 82–83.
Reid, Michael S. 2002. Postharvest
Handling Systems: Ornamental Crops. In: Postharvest Technology of
Horticultural Crops, Third Edition. University of California Publication
3311. p. 315–325.
Smith, Gay. 2004. Postharvest
update. The Cut Flower Quarterly. Summer. p. 13–14.
Stamback, Vicki. 2003. Personal
communication.
Association of Specialty Cut Flower
Growers
MPO Box 268
Oberlin, OH 44074
440-774-2887
ascfg@oberlin.net
The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) was formed in 1988 to unite and inform growers in the production and marketing of field and specialty floral crops. The organization hosts an annual national conference and trade show, regional meetings, tours, and seminars. The ASCFG Membership Directory and Buyers Guide lists all members and provides thumbnail descriptions of growers, buyers, and suppliers. The ASCFG also publishes a quarterly magazine and maintains an active Web site and forum.
Society of American Florists
1601 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-836-8700
800-336-4743
Wholesale Florists and Florist Supplier
Association
147 Old Solomons Island Road, Suite 302
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-573-0400
888-289-3372
info@wffsa.org
American Institute of Floral Designers
720 Light Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-752-3318
410-752-8295 FAX
AIFC@assnhqtrs.com
The American Institute of Floral Designers was established in 1965 to recognize and promote the art of floral design as a professional career. Today, it is the leading nonprofit organization committed to establishing and maintaining higher standards in professional floral design.
American Floral Endowment
P.O. Box 945
Edwardsville, IL 62025
618-692-0045
afe@endowment.org
AFE is a not-for-profit organization that funds floriculture research and education programs in the U.S.
Armitage, Allan, and Judy Laushman. 2003. Specialty Cut Flowers, 2nd Edition. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 636 p.
This greatly revised and expanded edition of Specialty Cut Flowers offers a unique perspective on cut flower production. Introductory chapters offer a discussion of domestic and foreign production, a brief overview of trends, and general comments and techniques for the postharvest care of flowers, including drying and preserving. The main body of the book gives extensive coverage of annual, perennial, bulbous, and woody species for commercial cut flower production, including propagation and growing-on methods, environmental factors, yield in the field, greenhouse forcing, stage of harvest, postharvest handling, and pests and diseases. Available for $40 ($35 for members) plus s/h from ASCFG.
Armitage, Allan. 1997. Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 2nd edition. Varsity Press, Athens, GA. 141 p.
Excellent book for general knowledge of perennials. Available for $69.95 from Ball Publishing.
Ball Publishing
P.O. Box 9
Batavia, IL 60510
888-888-0013
Armitage, Allan. 2000. Amitage's Garden Perennials. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 324 p.
Dr. Armitage includes 1,400 photographs and extensive information on perennial plants in 136 genera. More than a dozen lists conclude the book, organizing plants by particular situations or use, such as plants for wet places, for drought tolerance, and for fragrance or color. $49.95 plus s/h from Ball Publishing.
Armitage, Allan. 2001. Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials and Half-hardy Perennials, Timber Press. Portland, OR. 539 p.
This practical reference is similar in format to Armitage's book on perennial plants. It lists 245 genera from Abelmoschus to Zinnia. Basic descriptive and cultural information is given for each genus, along with lists of key species and cultivars and their descriptions.
Arnosky, Frank, and Pamela Arnosky. 1999. We're Gonna Be Rich! GFM Books, Lawrence, KS. 168 p.
Four years' worth of monthly columns from Growing for Market. This book focuses on the Arnoskys' vast experience in raising cut flowers. Available for $24.95 from:
GFM Books
P.O. Box 3747
Lawrence, KS 66046
800-307-8949
Bahr, Fritz. 1922. Commercial Floriculture: A Practical Manual for the Retail Grower. A.T. de la Mare Company, New York. 646 p.
First printed in 1922, this book was reprinted every few years until 1941. It presents a vast accumulation of knowledge gained by Fritz Bahr, an Illinois florist, who shares his experiences on many topics, ranging from marketing and other aspects of business to cultural information for hundreds of species. Other topics of interest include pointers for the beginner, things to be done month-by-month, greenhouse growing, sideline possibilities for retail growers, and important flower days of the year. The book is out of print, but it can be obtained through a good used bookseller.
Barash, Cathy Wilkinson. 1995. Edible Flowers: From Garden to Palate. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, CO. 250 p.
This colorfully illustrated combination cookbook and gardening guide showcasing 280 recipes using flowers from herbs, vegetables, and ornamentals provides inspiration for branching beyond flowers displayed in vases to displays on plates.
Beytes, Chris (ed.). 2003. Ball Red Book Set. 17th edition. Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL. 260 p.
For more than 70 years, the Ball Red Book has been helping growers produce better crops. The new 17th edition has been split into two volumes. Volume 1, Greenhouses and Equipment, covers greenhouse structures, glazing, benches, curtains, irrigation, climate control, mechanization, transport, pest control equipment, the headhouse, business management, and the retail greenhouse. Volume 2, Crop Production, is a complete guide to growing a range of crops, including annuals, perennials, herbs, tropicals, potted plants, and vegetable plugs. The set is available for $118 from Ball Publishing.
Busco, Janice, Nancy R. Morin, and Gene Balzer. 2003. Native Plants for High-Elevation Western Gardens. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, CO. 356 p.
For gardeners in the American West at altitudes of 4,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level and higher. Offers basic information, advice for growing and nurturing, and full-color photographs of 150 plants selected especially for their low maintenance requirements and popularity.
Byczynski, Lynn. 1997. The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers. Chelsea Green Publishing Company, White River Junction, VT. 224 p.
If you're just beginning with flowers, this is the first book you should read. It's a comprehensive guide to starting a small commercial flower business. It includes variety recommendations, site considerations, harvesting, post-harvest handling, pricing and yield, marketing, and arranging flowers. The appendix covers 100 species. Available for $24.95 plus s/h from GFM.
Byczynski, Lynn. 2003. The Hoophouse Handbook. Fairplain Publications, Inc., Lawrence KS. 58 p.
The booklet contains articles about both vegetable and cut flower production, with information from both official university research and anecdotal on-farm trials. It provides practical details on where to buy structures, how to determine which structure is best for you, and tips for erecting it. Available for $15 plus s/h from GFM.
Darke, Rick. 1999. The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, Restios, Cat-tails, and Selected Bamboos. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 325 p.
Extensively illustrated with color photographs, this reference on ornamental grasses focuses on their use in landscapes, but can also be useful to those who want to grow grasses as cut flowers. Available from Ball Publishing for $49.95 plus s/h.
Davies, Dilys. 1992. Alliums: The Ornamental Onions. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 168 p.
Alliums come in a wide range of colors; many are gaining recognition as garden and cut flowers. This is a practical reference to more than 150 species.
Dole, John, and Harold Wilkins. 2005. Floriculture: Principles and Species, Second Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. 1023 p.
This book is an excellent resource for greenhouse growers. It is divided into three parts: the first deals with the basics of production, including propagation, temperature, light, water, nutrition, media, plant growth regulation, pest management, postharvest, greenhouse construction and operations, and marketing and business management. The second and third parts, which occupy two-thirds of the book, deal with specific crop species of floricultural crops (potted plants, cut flowers, bedding plants, etc.). Available for $105 ($95 for members) from ASCFG.
De Hertogh, August. 1995. Holland Bulb Forcer's Guide, 5th edition. International Flower Bulb Centre, Hillegram, The Netherlands. 587 p.
This guide includes production schedules, troubleshooting, and cultivar lists for major and minor bulb crops and other crops grown from tuberous roots. Recommendations for forcing field cut flowers are also included. $64.95 plus s/h from Ball Publishing.
Gill, Stanton (ed.). Cut Flower Management Short Course. University of Maryland Cooperative Extension.
Every two years, the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service offers a multi-day workshop on cut flowers. The course is held in even-numbered years, usually in early March. Growers and Extension specialists present valuable information at each course, detailing topics important to cut flower growers, such as pest management, irrigation, marketing, soil management, and production of specific crops. Information from each course is available in a spiral-bound notebook. Copies of the most current program manual are available while supplies last for around $25 each. For a copy of the book or information on the cut flower program, contact:
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension,
11975 Homewood Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
301-596-9413
Hassell, Wendell G. 1999. Guide to Grasses. First edition. Pawnee Buttes Seed, Greeley, CO. 107 p.
Line drawings and information on origin, description, habitat, culture, use, and varieties for grasses, forbs, shrubs, legumes, wetland and riparian species for the central Great Plains and the Rocky Mountain region.
Johnson, Eric A., and Scott Millard. 1993. The Low- Water Flower Gardener. (The Natural Garden Series) Plants for the Arid West. Ironwood Press, Tucson, AZ. 144 p.
Selection and cultural information for flower gardeners, including unthirsty flowering perennials, grasses, and shrubs. Regionalized for Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.
Knopf, Jim. 1991. The Xeriscape Flower Gardener: A Waterwise Guide for the Rocky Mountain Region. Johnson Publishing, Boulder, CO. 182 p.
Waterwise plant lists and profiles. An excellent reference for a sustainable intermountain West, and the gardeners, landscapers, and commercial flower growers who live in eastern Washington and Oregon, northern Nevada, Utah, northern New Mexico and Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and western parts of North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
Lamont, William J. Jr. (ed.). 2004. Production of Vegetables, Strawberries, and Cut Flowers Using Plasticulture. NRAES-133. 156 p.
Covers plastic mulch, drip irrigation, fertigation, season extension, windbreaks, crop establishment, weed management, soil sanitation, and managing used plastics. Strawberry and cut flower production systems are described in depth. For new/experienced growers, educators, serious gardeners. Available for $24.00 per copy (plus shipping and handling) from NRAES, Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 4557, Ithaca, NY 14852-4557. Shipping and handling for one copy is $6.00 within the continental United States. For more information or a free book catalog, contact NRAES by phone at 607-255-7654, or by e-mail at nraes@cornell.edu. Web site: www.nraes.org
Madison, Mike. 1998. Growing Flowers for Market: A Practical Manual for Small-Scale Field Production and Marketing of Fresh Flowers. Yolo Press, Davis, CA. 270 p.
The author provides practical information for growing flowers in the open field on one to two acres for local markets. Planning, tools, soil management, pest management, harvest, and postharvest are covered. Cultural information for the best-selling flowers based on the author's experience in the Sacramento Valley of California includes yields in terms of stems per hundred feet of row. Available from www.addall.com/ for $19.95 plus s/h.
McIntire, Suzanne. 2002. An American Cutting Garden: A Primer for Growing Cut Flowers Where Summers Are Hot and Winters Are Cold. University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. 284 p.
The author provides practical information on herbaceous perennials, biennials, annuals, and bulbs for an easy garden, a small garden, a shady garden, and a fall garden. She includes interesting notes on growing, cutting, and expected vase-life of two hundred choice plants.
McGary, Jane (ed.). 2001. Bulbs of North America. North American Rock Garden Society and Timber Press, Portland, OR. 251 p.
First book devoted entirely to bulbous plants that are monocots native to this continent, and the first detailed presentation of these plants primarily by American authors.
Nau, Jim. 1999. Ball Culture Guide: The Encyclopedia of Seed Germination. 3rd edition. Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL. 248 p.
Provides in-depth germination and scheduling information for more than 300 of the most popular seed-grown crops. Covers bedding plants, potted flowering and foliage plants, herbs, cut flowers, perennials, and ornamental grasses. Written in an easy-to-read chart style. The soft-cover version is available for $49.95 from Ball.
Nau, Jim. 1996. Ball Perennial Manual: Propagation and Production. Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL. 512 p.
The book begins with information on propagation by division; stem, leaf, and root cuttings; and seed germination. It continues with cultural information, uses, bloom time, and varieties for 149 genera and 300 species of herbaceous perennials. Many, but not all, of these are excellent cut flowers. Available from Ball Publishing for $64.95 plus s/h.
Ogden, Shepherd. 1995. Step by Step Organic Flower Gardening. HarperCollins, New York, NY. 302 p.
The strengths of this book include well-written information on organic production in general and the extensive crop-bycrop listing of cut flowers and how to raise them. Available for $25 from:
The Cook's Garden
P.O. Box 535
Londonderry, VT 05148
800-457-9703
Proctor, Rob. 1997. Naturalizing Bulbs. Henry Holt, New York, NY. 241 p.
An informative garden book on growing bulbs naturally, with practical suggestions and dazzling photography that can deepen any reader's understanding and appreciation of bulbs, both monocots and dicots.
Springer, Lauren. 2000. The Undaunted Garden: Planting for Weather-Resilient Beauty. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, CO. 264 p.
A wealth of references to unusual plant varieties not found in other gardening books, with tips for western gardeners growing plants in dry shade or where hail conditions prevail.
Stevens, Alan. 1998. Field Grown Cut Flowers: A Practical Guide and Sourcebook. Commercial Field Grown, Fresh and Dried Flower Production. Avatar's World, Edgerton, WI. 392 p.
Both beginning and advanced growers will find this volume an indispensable guide to producing fresh and dried cut flowers outdoors. It also includes details on production systems and the labor requirements needed to get the job done. Information on how to grow eight of the most popular outdoor-produced cut flowers is also featured. Available for $24.95 plus s/h from Ball Publishing.
Stewart, Martha. 1987. Weddings. Clarkson Potter, New York, NY. 386 p.
Sturdivant, Lee. 1992. Flowers for Sale. San Juan Naturals, Friday Harbor, WA. 197 p.
Written for the novice, small-scale grower, with fairly general content. However, the author has included comprehensive lists of potential cut flower plants. She gives readers an idea of many marketing options through interviews with several types of growers.
Available for $17.50 postage paid from:San Juan Naturals
P.O. Box 642A
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-2648
800-770-9070
Tannehill, Cecilia, and James E. Klett. 2002. Best Perennials for the Rocky Mountains and High Plains. Colorado State University. 128 p.
A comprehensive guide to the best-performing perennials based on results from Colorado State University's W.D. Holley Plant Environmental Research Center (PERC).
Whipker, Brian E., and John M. Dole. 2003. Southeast Outdoor Cut Flower Manual, 2nd Edition. North Carolina State University. 58 p.
A comprehensive manual that includes production basics, a list of potential flowers for the Southeast, woody cut stems, flower drying, postharvest handling, pest management, marketing, pricing, and sources for additional information.
North Carolina Commercial Flower Growers' Association
3906 Wake Forest Road, Suite 102
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-334-0093
Koch, Mark. No date. Preserving Flowers and Foliage with Glycols & Dyes: A Manual for the Commercial Producer. 200+ pages.
A comprehensive manual for systemic and immersion methods of preserving plants and foliages using glycols, dyes, bacteriostats, and surfactants, this is intended for the experienced commercial producer of glycol-preserved plant materials. Available in a three-ring binder for $85 ($77 for members) from the ASCFG.
Rogers, Barbara R. 1988. The Encyclopedia of Everlastings: The Complete Guide to Growing, Preserving, and Arranging Dried Flowers. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, New York, NY. 191 p.
Very inclusive catalog of flowers that can be dried. The book also provides information on how best to arrange or display each dried crop. Although out-of-print, the book may be obtained through inter-library loan.
Thorpe, Patricia. 1986. Everlastings: The Complete Book of Dried Flowers. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA. 144 p.
This paperback book contains good information on the different methods of drying (air, sand, glycerine, etc.). It also provides instructions on when to harvest specific flowers for drying and which drying method is best for that crop. Available for $12.95 from:
Houghton Mifflin
181 Ballardvale St.
Wilmington, MA 01857
800-225-3362
Anon. 2001. Introducing the Procona System. The Cut Flower Quarterly.
July. p. 24.
Anon. 2001. Pagter Innovations, Inc. The Cut Flower Quarterly. July.
p. 25
Arnosky, Pamela, and Frank Arnosky. 2005. Your most crucial task:
Post-harvest handling. Growing for Market. March. p. 17–21.
Blessington, Thomas M. No date. Post Harvest Handling of Cut Flowers.
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension. 5 p. www.agnr.umd.edu/ipmnet/cutpost.htm
Byczynski, Lynn. 2005. Floral preservatives vs. water: Research
shows which is best. Growing for Market. August. p. 13–15.
Daly, Jim. 2003. Improving specialty cut vaselife. Greenhouse Management
& Production. May. p. 60–61.
Fanelli, Frankie, Beth Harden, John Dole, Bill Fonteno, and Sylvia
Blankenship. 2004. 2003 Postharvest trials: What works and what
doesn't. The Cut Flower Quarterly. Winter. p. 30–32.
Fang Yi, Ming, and Michael Reid. 2001. Storing specialty cut flowers—temperature
is the key. The Cut Flower Quarterly. p. 32.
Ferrante, Antonio, Don Hunter, and Michael Reid. 2001. For longer
postharvest life, choose the best varieties. The Cut Flower Quarterly.
July. p. 31.
Gast, Karen L. B., Rolando Flores, Alan Stevens, and Sheri Smithy.
1994. Cold Storage for Specialty Cut Flowers and Plant Material.
Kansas State University. 12 p.
Harten, Chrissie. 2003. Conditioning. The Gardener. 5 p.
www.thegardener.btinternet.co.uk/conditioning.html
Hoogasian, Cindy. 2005. Back to basics. Floral Management. May.
p. 35–40.
www.safnow.org/publications/floral_manage/ITGdocuments/FF_688.pdf
(PDF / 524KB)
Oliver, Libbey. 2000. Flowers are (Almost) Forever: The Care and
Handling of Cut Flowers. Brandylane Publishers, Inc., White Stone,
VA. 112 p.
Flower expert Libbey Oliver gives excellent general advice on cleaning buckets, cutting, using floral preservatives, and cooling and holding flowers. She also shares many florist design tips, provides an extensive reference chart for garden and florist flowers, and lists useful sources for products and information. $17.50 postpaid from:
Brandylane Publishers, Inc.
1711 East Main St., Suite 9
White Stone, VA 23223
800-553-6922
McGregor, Brian. 1999. Cut Flowers and Florist Greens. Tropical
Products Transport Handbook. USDA. 8 p. www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/Tropical/cutflowers.htm
Nell, Terril A., and Michael S. Reid. 2002. Back to basics: Checklists
for proper handling of cut flowers. The Cut Flower Quarterly. Summer.
p. 8–9.
Nell, Terril, and Michael Reid. 2000. Flower & Plant Care: The
21st Century Approach. Society of American Florists. 212 p. www.safnow.org
Newman, Julie, Mike McKiernan, Michael Reid, and Jim Thompson. 2001.
Precooling cut flowers in "Proconas" and hampers. The Cut Flower
Quarterly. July. p. 29.
Nowak, Joanna and Ryszard M. Rudnicki. 1990. Postharvest Handling
and Storage of Cut Flowers, Florist Greens, and Potted Plants. Timber
Press, Portland, OR. 210 p.
Discusses various postharvest handling techniques for cut flowers, including information on how growing conditions affect cut flowers and how to store and transport them. Although out-of-print, the book may be obtained through inter-library loan.
Reid, Michael S., and Linda L. Dodge. 1997. Flower handlers: Sanitation
is crucial. Perishables Handling Quarterly. November. p. 6–7.
Reid, Michael S. 1997. Considerations for effective handling of
ornamentals. Perishables Handling Quarterly. November. p. 2–4.
Reid, Michael S., Steve Tjosvold, and Jim Thompson. 2000. Transport
temperatures for Californian cut flowers— We're making progress!
Perishables Handling Quarterly. February. p. 17–19.
Smith, Gay. 2004. Postharvest update. The Cut Flower Quarterly.
Summer. p. 13–14.
Smith, Gay. 2003. Postharvest. The Cut Flower Quarterly. Spring.
p. 15, 19.
Smith, Gay. 2003. Postharvest: Summer flowers, so cool, but so
sensitive. The Cut Flower Quarterly. Summer. p. 15–17, 24.
Stevens, Alan B. 1995. Commercial Specialty Cut Flower Harvest Systems.
Kansas State University. 20 p.
Weddington, Megan. 2003. Research update: Packaging for long-term
shipment of cut flowers; Vase life of Eucalyptus parvifolia; Postharvest
handling of tropical cuts. The Cut Flower Quarterly. Summer. p.
18–20.
Chase, A.R., Margery Daughtrey, and Gary W. Simone. 1995. Diseases of Annuals and Perennials. Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL. 208 p.
Contains many full-color photographs of diseased plants. Addresses diseases by plant, including yarrow, snapdragon, aster, celosia, cosmos, delphinium, gladiolus, iris, liatris, lily, peony, phlox, zinnia, and many others. Available for $60 from Ball Publishing (see p. 23).
Cranshaw, Whitney. 1998. Pests of the West: Prevention and Control for Today's Garden and Small Farm. Revised edition. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, CO. 248 p.
Contains environmentally safe techniques such as increasing natural enemies and using biological, cultural, and mechanical control methods for combating major insect pests, plant diseases, and weeds west of the Mississippi. The book is directed at gardeners in the High Plains, Rocky Mountains, and intermountain regions of the western United States. Although it does not cover a few pests that plague gardens in California, such as the brown garden snail, soft scales, and peach leaf curl (or certain pests such as Japanese beetles common to the East Coast), much of the information is relevant for gardeners across the country.
Flint, Mary Louise. 1990. Pests of the Garden and Small Farm. Publication 3332. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA. 276 p.
Contains really good, clear, color photographs of insect pests and diseases. The information on pest management techniques is concise and well written. Some information on weed management is presented. There are also excellent troubleshooting charts for the major vegetable and fruit crops, somewhat slanted toward California growers. Available for $30 from:
ANR Publications University of California
6701 San Pablo Ave.
Oakland, CA 94608-1239
510-642-2431
(Make checks payable to UC Regents)
Powell, Charles C., and Richard K. Lindquist. 1997. Ball Pest and Disease Manual. 2nd edition. Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL. 448 p.
Includes chapters on most ornamental diseases, including powdery mildew, rusts, botrytis, fungal leafspots, bacterial and wilt diseases, root rots, and viruses. Contains updated pesticide, cultural, and environmental control information for the major insect and mite pests. Presents a holistic approach to managing plant health. Chapters are organized in an easy-to-reference format for quick diagnosis and results. Available for $65 from Ball Publishing (see p. 23).
The
Cut Flower Quarterly, published by the Association of Specialty
Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG), is the only regular publication dedicated
to information about the production, postharvest care, and marketing
of cut flowers. It provides the latest information on new cultivars,
harvest and postharvest techniques, marketing, regional, national,
and international workshops and conferences; and sources for plants,
seeds, and supplies. Contact the ASCFG, listed under Organizations.
Growing for Market,
a newsletter for market gardeners, contains a monthly column on
field-grown cut flower production and marketing. This newsletter
is geared for small-scale operations and also focuses on sustainable
production techniques. GFM is available for $30 per year from:
Growing for Market
P.O. Box 3747
Lawrence, KS 66046
800-307-8949
growing4market@earthlink.net
HortIdeas is a monthly newsletter that reports on the latest research, methods, tools, plants, and books for vegetable, fruit, and flower gardeners. The information is abstracted from hundreds of popular and technical sources worldwide. Available for $25 per year (periodicals mail) or $15 per year for an on-line version from:
HortIdeas
750 Black Lick Rd.
Gravel Switch, KY 40328
gwill@mis.net
Greenhouse Management and Production is published monthly and is free to qualified commercial growers in the U.S. It is a good source of information on greenhouse grown cut flowers, bedding plants, and blooming potted plants, including greenhouse design, equipment and supply companies, seed companies, and marketing strategies.
GMPro
P.O. Box 1868
Fort Worth, TX 76101
800-434-6776
Greenhouse Grower is published monthly, including two bonus issues in mid-June and mid-September. Subscription rate is $36 per year. The mid-June bonus issue contains a comprehensive listing of sources for greenhouse equipment, supplies, consultants, seeds, and more.
Meister Publishing Company
37733 Euclid Ave.
Willoughby, OH 44094-5992
440-942-2000
info@meisternet.com
Greehouse
Product News (GPN)
Green Profit
P.O. Box 16057
N. Hollywood, CA 91615-9594
Grower Talks
P.O. Box 9
Batavia, IL 60510
630-208-9080
info@ballpublishing.com
NM PRO
Nursery Management & Production
P.O. Box 1868
Fort Worth, TX 76101-9781
817-882-4120
800-443-5612
Northern Gardener
OFA Bulletin
2130 Stella Court
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-487-1117
ofa@ofa.org
American Nurseryman
Horticulture
The American Gardener
Brooklyn Botanic
Garden Plants & Garden News
Florists'
Review Enterprises
P.O. Box 4368
Topeka, KS 66604
785-266-0888
800-367-4708
Monthly magazine with easy-to-emulate designs, including clear photos showing the works step-by-step. Books available from the same company include Weddings, Weddings 2, 101 Wedding Bouquets, and 101 Ranos de Novia.
Links to many sites.
Association of Specialty Cut Flower
Growers, Inc.
Flower
Council of Holland.
Trade organization with promotional materials and tips for florists.
Horticultural Business
Information Network
Laurie Hodges' Home Page.
Missouri Department of Agriculture
Ag Business Development Resources—Cut Flowers
North Carolina State University
North Dakota
State University
Oklahoma
State University
F-6426 The Care and Handling of Cut Flowers
F-6425 Annual Flowers for Specific Uses in Oklahoma
F-6410 Perennial Flowers for Specific Uses in Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
State University Center for Plasticulture
University of
Connecticut
Integrated Pest Management for Cut Flower Growers
University of Florida
University of
Maryland
FS686 Producing Annual Sunflowers as Cut Flowers
FS687 Production of Asiatic and Oriental Lilies as Cut Flowers
FS684 Production of Celosia as Cut Flowers
FS685 Production of Yarrow as Cut Flowers
FS731 Production of Purple Conefl ower as a Cut Flower
FS 753 Producing Anemone as a Cut Flower
FS713 Producing Larkspur as Cut Flowers
FS-770 Production of Lisianthus as a Cut Flower
University of Massachusetts Floriculture Fact Sheets
Field Grown Annuals for Cut Flowers
Weed Management for Outdoor Cut Flowers
Sugar and Acidity in Preservative Solutions for Field-grown Cut Flowers
Postharvest Handling of Six More Field-grown Cut Flowers—Astilbe, Gladiolus, Helianthus, Liatris, Lilium, Zinnia
Using Coralbells as Cut Flowers
Postharvest Handling Tips for Cut Flowers of Some Spring Flowering Bulbs
Insect Problems in Commercial Production of Outdoor Cut Flowers
Texas
Department of Agriculture's Cut Flower Resource Guide
The New Farm
e-magazine
Pennsylvania cut flower grower Melanie DeVault's current and archived columns provide experience-based information.
The site is a comprehensive assembly of information that can be used by growers, wholesalers, florists, supermarkets, brokers, breeders, educators, bouquet manufacturers, associations, and floral supply companies to improve the performance of cut flowers and greens, cuttings, plugs, and foliage, flowering, and bedding plants. Illustrations and detailed information on postharvest care for nearly 450 floral crops are included, as are links to sites with postharvest and/or marketing information.
Agua Fria Nursery
1409 Agua Fria
Santa Fe, NM 87501-3507
505-983-4831
Plants. Wide selection. Retail. Uncommon penstemons.
Bluebird Nursery, Inc
P.O. Box 460
Clarkson, NE 68629
800-356-9164
Liners and containers, unusual and hard to find items.
Cramers' Posie Patch
116 Trail Rd. North
Elizabethtown, PA 17022
877-CRAMERS
Creek Hill Nursery
17 W. Main
Leola, PA 17540
888-565-0050
Liners, grasses, hydrangeas, woodies, select perennials.
De Vroomen Holland
P.O. Box 189
Russell, IL 60075
847-395-9911
sales@devroomen.com
Bulbs and perennials (liners and bare-root).
Donahues
P.O. Box 366
420 SW 10th St.
Faribault, MN 55021
507-334-8404
Clematis specialists.
Ednie Flower Bulb, Inc.
37 Fredon-Marksboro Rd.
Fredon, NJ 07860
973-940-2700
Bareroot, bulbs, lilies.
Emerald Coast Growers
P.O. Box 10886
Pensacola, FL 32524
877-804-7277
Liners, grasses, hostas, daylilies, select perennials.
Ernst Benary of America, Inc.
Rudolf Sterkel
1444 Larson Street
Sycamore, IL 60178
815-895-6705
rsterkel@benary.com
Seeds.
Flagstaff Native Plant
and Seed
409 West Pine Avenue
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-773-9406
928-214-7351
Native plants and seed for northern Arizona. Source-identified plants and seed. Xeric non-native plants suitable for northern Arizona.
Forestfarm
990 Tetherow Rd.
Williams, OR 97544
541-846-7269
GeoSeed
121 Gary Rd.
Hodges, SC 29653
888-645-2323
Germania Seed Company
P.O. Box 31787
5878 N. Northwest Hwy.
Chicago, IL 60631-0787
800-380-4721
info@germaniaseed.com
Perennials (plugs), bulbs, seed.
Go Native
P.O. Box 3631
Las Cruces, NM 88003
800-880-4698
Natives, perennials, ground covers, herbs.
Gloeckner
600 Mamaroneck Ave.
Harrison, NY 10528-1631
800-345-3787
Seeds, plugs, liners, bulbs, supplies.
Gro'N Sell
320 Lower State Rd.
Chalfont, PA 18914
215-822-1276
Plugs and liners.
Harris Seeds
355 Paul Road
P.O. Box 24966
Rochester, NY 14624-0966
800-544-7938
Headstart Nursery
4860 Monterey Rd.
Gilroy, CA 95020
408-842-3030
Plugs.
Heronswood Nursery
7530 N.E. 288th St.
Kingston, WA 98346
360-297-4172
High Altitude Gardens
4150 B Black Oak Drive
Hailey, ID 83333
208-788-4363
mcdorman@seedsave.org
Seeds for high elevations and cold climates. Native grasses, wildflower seed, and mixes.
High Country Gardens
2902 Ruf na St.
Santa Fe, NM 87507-2929
505-438-3031
800-925-9387
plants@highcountrygardens.com
Extensive selection of perennials, shrubs, and bulbs for the western garden and a ½ acre display garden, greenhouse, and retail store in Santa Fe.
Ivy Garth
8140 Mayfi eld Rd.
Chesterland, OH 44026
800-351-4025
Annuals, perennials, vegetables.
Jelitto Perennial
Seeds
125 Chenoweth Lane
Louisville, KY 40207
502-895-0807
Perennials.
Johnny's Selected Seeds
184 Foss Hill Rd.
Albion, ME 04910
207-437-4395
Vegetables, herbs, flowers.
Johnston Seed
Co.
P.O. Box 1392
Enid, OK 73702
800-375-4613
580- 249-5324
johnseed@johnstonseed.com
Seed. Retail, wholesale, mail order.
Lawyer Nursery
950 Highway 200 West
Plains, MT 59859
800-551-9875
trees@layernursery.com
seeds@layernursery.com
Seeds, bareroot, liners for woodies.
Little Valley Wholesale Nursery
13022 E. 136th Avenue
Brighton, CO 80601
800-221-3241
303-659-6886 FAX
lvwn@lvwn.com
Wholesale source for plants, plugs, liners, bulbs of perennials and shrubs. Knowledgeable staff and extensive selection.
Meadow Lake Nursery
P.O. Box 1302
McMinnville, OR 97128
800-852-5322
Bareroot, liners, cuttings for woodies.
Missouri Wildflower Nursery
9814 Pleasant Hill Rd
Jefferson City, MO 65109
573-496-3003
Bareroot and container, native perennial flowers, shrubs,
trees, vines.
North Creek Nurseries
388 North Creek Rd.
Landenberg, PA 19350
877-326-7584
Liners, perennials, grasses, woodies, ferns, natives for cut flowers.
Park Seed
2 Parkton Ave.
Greenwood, SC 29647-0002
800-845-3366
Vegetables, flowers, plants, plugs.
Pawnee Buttes Seed,
Inc.
P.O. Box 100
605 25th Street
Greeley, CO 80632
800-782-5947
970-356-7002
info@pawneebuttesseed.com
Provides native and introduced grass, forb, and shrub seed, with an emphasis on educating customers on proper management techniques to ensure grass stand longevity and conservation of our natural resources.
Plants of the Southwest
3095 Agua Fria Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-438-8888
plantsofthesouthwest@juno.com
OR
6680 4th St. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107
505-344-8830
plantsofthesw@juno.com
800-788-SEED Orders
Plants and seed. Wholesale and retail. Retail stores in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Prairie Moon Nursery
Rt. 3, Box 163
Winona, MN 55987-9515
507-454-5238
866-417-8156
Native seeds and bareroot plants.
Prairie Nursery
P.O. Box 306
Westfield, WI 53964
800-476-9453
Native seeds and bareroot plants.
Prairie Ridge
Nursery
9738 Overland Rd.
Mt. Horeb, WI 53572-2832
608-437-5245
Native seeds and bareroot plants.
Raker's
10371 Rainey Rd.
Litchfield, MI 49252
Plugs; must order through a broker like Germania.
Sawyer Nursery
5401 Port Sheldon Rd.
Hudsonville, MI 49426
616-669-9094
Bareroot and liners, incredible phlox selection.
Shady Oaks Nursery
P.O. Box 708, Dept. MH
1101 State St.
Waseca, MN 56093-0708
Sherman Nursery Company
P.O. Box 579
1300 Grove Street
Charles City, IA 50616-0579
800-361-7759
Woodies, peonies.
Spring Meadow Nursery
12601 120th Ave.
Grand Haven, MI 49417
816-846-4729
Wholesale; supplies liners to other nurseries around the country. Exceptional hydrangeas.
Spring Valley
Greenhouse, Inc.
3242 Daansen Rd.
P.O. Box 552
Walworth, NY 14568
315-597-9816
Clematis and bittersweet.
Theodore Payne Foundation
for Wildflowers and Native Plants, Inc.
10459 Tuxford St.
Sun Valley, CA 91352
818-768-1802
info@theodorepayne.org
Mail order California native seed. Native plants available in nursery.
Walters Gardens
P.O. Box 137
Zeeland, MI 49464-0137
Bareroot and container.
Yoder Brothers Greenleaf
Perennials
2369 Old Philadelphia Road
Lancaster, PA 17602
717-299-0300
800-233-0285
perennials@yoder.com
Plugs, liners, unrooted cuttings.
ZCallas Oregon Coastal Flowers
9455 Kilchis River Road
Tillamook, OR 97141
503-815-3762
sales@flowersbulbs.com
Calla lily bulbs, Sandersonia tubers.
Barr, Inc.
1423 Plainview Drive
Oshkosh, WI 54904
920-231-1711
info@barinc.com
Used coolers.
Beautiful Land Products
360 Cookson Dr.
P.O. Box 179
West Branch, IA 52358
800-227-2718
Growing media, fertilizers, irrigation, mulches, row covers.
Carlin Horticultural Suppliers
8964 N. 51st Street
Milwaukee, WI 53223
Greenhouse grower supplies and equipment.
DeltaTRAK, Inc.
P.O. Box 398
Pleasanton, CA 94566
925-249-2250
800-962-6776
salesinfo@deltatrak.com
Hygrothermometer source.
Floral Merchandising
Systems
1325 East 79th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55425
800-599-9434
customerservice@floralmerchandising.com
Postharvest supplies and equipment including display vases and racks, bouquet sleeves, bucket scrubbers, stem cutters, and hygrothermometers.
Floralife, Inc.
751 Thunderbolt Drive
Walterboro, SC 29488
800-323-3689
info@floralife.com
Hydrating products include Hydraflor and QuickDip. Holding solutions include Floralife Original Fresh Flower Food, Floralife Professional, and Floralife Clear Professional. EthylBloc is an ethylene-action inhibitor.
Hummert International
4500 Earth City Expressway
Earth City, MO 63045
800-325-3055
Syndicate Sales, Inc.
P.O. Box 756
Kokomo, IN 46903-0756
756-457-7277
Hydration and holding solutions, flower food, proportioners, vases, and other florist supplies.
Temkin
302 West 900 North
Springville, UT 84663
800-235-5263
Floral sleeves and wraps.
Vita Products, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Chandler, AZ 85244
800-874-1452
info@vitaproducts.com
USDA National Organic Program compliant. Vita One-Step is a combined hydration and nutrient solution.
Products include OVB, a hydrating solution. Cut flowers directly into this and leave ½ day or overnight. Professional #2 is a holding solution. Flowers can be kept in it for up to 6 days.
Specialty Cut Flower Production and Marketing
By Janet Bachmann
NCAT Agriculture Specialist
Paul Driscoll, Editor
Cole Loeffler, HTML Production
IP025
Slot 72
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and is funded under a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Visit the NCAT Web site for more information on our sustainable agriculture projects.
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