Field and Garden with Lisa Mason Ziegler Lisa Mason Ziegler

If you are a Southerner or a Northerner you may think the Cool Flower concept doesn't work for you, but nothing could be further from the truth! When you find your planting time sweet spot you will be the envy of all your grower friends, and your customers will think you are nothing short of a miracle worker!



As a Southerner, I spent years at the farmers market watching customers love on my sweet peas and tell me why they can't be grown here - Ha!



Meanwhile I hear from my northern flower farming friends that they have become driven to find ways to get this plant family in the ground earlier and earlier each year to reap the benefits!



Cool Flowers are for everyone. Myth busted, truth unveiled!



Enjoy this week's episode for my best Cool Flower tips and recommendations for Southerners and Northerners.



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Request the FREE webinar: ⁠3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers⁠

Lisa's Book, ⁠Cool Flowers⁠

Request the Cool Flowers video book study

Online Course: ⁠Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest⁠

Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook

TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show

⁠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!

Stepping away and looking at the big picture, it is easy to see why and how we have been skipping over spring crops. Some of us go to extremes to get warm plants blooming sooner than they should be and others are still planting this family way too late to reap the rewards that well-established plants give. Warm-season plants are familiar, which makes them seem easier to grow.



I want to fast forward to where this journey of embracing seasonality with cool-season hardy annuals can lead.



This is a trend that I have seen over and over, and I think it is so smart.



My first experience with flower farmers making a clear decision to move away from offering summer crops and focusing on spring and or fall crops was with good friends Megan and Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm in North Carolina. I met them before their babies came, and I watched as they started a family, lived the homesteading life, and grew cut flowers as a piece of their family life, not allowing it to consume them. They developed their model as an early to late spring offering flower farm.



Now we're seeing more and more flower farmers realizing they can maintain control as they grow their businesses, molding them into a more manageable part of their life.

I had the honor of visiting one of my student's farms a couple of years ago. She came to the rescue of furnishing some flower crops for a photo shoot for my newest book, The Cut Flower Handbook. 



I knew I wanted to revisit her farm with the team to learn and film about how she got into flower farming and where her journey is headed. I was thrilled to hear her story of creating a more manageable flower farming business. Our visit with Emma will be released as a Field & Garden podcast episode later this season.



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Request the FREE webinar: 3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers

Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers

Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest

Emma Mobley, End of Nowhere Flower Farm

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!

Why Grow Annuals?



I stumbled into growing annuals. I initially began planting perennials but I quickly saw the errors of my way-- I was going to run out of space, QUICK!



As my business was gaining more demand than flowers I had-- I became a little crazy figuring out how to make the most of my total property of 1.17 acres that also had my home and outbuildings.



I already had a nice stand of hydrangeas in our landscape and thought-- bingo, use it all. But then I needed a consistent supply-- I didn't see it yet but annual plants were knocking down my door.



Then I got it! To maximize my space and to have a consistent supply I needed annuals.



What I discovered along that journey is that annuals are the perfect fit for the small-space flower farmer.



It's the recommended way all farmers get started to learn how to farm, maintain, seed start, harvest, and find customers:


Low investment,
Max production small space,
Constant ability to change up-colors & varieties,
The annual system has been so misrepresented

A little-known reality of the "Annual Farmer" is that this style of farming can become an asset to your home. I could literally stop farming any day, plant trees or grass, and call it a life well lived.



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⁠Online Courses⁠⁠ from The Gardener's Workshop

⁠⁠⁠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!

This episode features a takeover of our popular “Ask a Flower Farmer” live Q&A session on Instagram. Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co. in Greenville, SC hosted this one. Daniel is an 8th-year flower farmer growing in zone 8a and an alumnus of most of The Gardener’s Workshop’s online courses. Here, he answers questions on topics such as Mother’s Day flowers and pricing, ordering plugs vs. starting from seed, purchasing and saving ranunculus corms, and so much more!



Other topics covered: hydroponic tulips, when to plant dahlia tubers, tuberose growing tips, peonies for Mother's Day, perennial phlox, starting small with flower farming, ranunculus harvest stage, starting zinnias from seed, shipping flowers, foliage and greens for Mother's Day, sunflower seed starting.



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⁠⁠Petalpickers.com⁠⁠: fresh flowers shipped nationwide, dahlia tuber and fall bulb sales

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠Petal Pickers⁠⁠, ⁠⁠The Gardener's Workshop⁠⁠

Book, The Cut Flower Handbook

⁠Book, Postharvest Handling of Cut Flowers and Greens

High Tunnels from Farmers Friend

Lisianthus plugs: ⁠Ball Colorlink⁠, ⁠Farmer Bailey⁠, ⁠Leo Berbee⁠

⁠Online Courses⁠ from The Gardener's Workshop

⁠⁠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!

Take control now, because if you don’t, nobody will! Resist distractions, structure your workdays to get the tasks that matter done, grow more of less, endlessly market your business, and streamline everything!



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Lisa's Favorite Hat to Beat the Heat!

Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers

⁠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 and our newest TGW instructor Lennie Larkin offer a look inside our online course, Profitable Flower Farming.



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Online Course: ⁠Profitable Flower Farming with Lennie Larkin⁠

⁠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!