Whether you are someone interested in starting a cut flower business, diversifying your farm to include cut flowers, or have been growing for a few years and need more information, questions often arise. Here are some frequently asked questions with concise answers from the UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Team.
I want to grow cut flowers as a business. Where can I get information on growing field grown cut flowers?
A good source of information is the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG.org). This is a national organization which addresses all aspects of the cut flower business. It is a network for resources and information for growing and marketing flowers. They have an annual conference and distribute a membership directory and a very informative quarterly newsletter called “The Cut Flower Quarterly”.
There is also information available on the “UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture” website. See: Fact sheets on growing field grown cut flowers and post harvest handling of cut flowers:
- 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
What is a good reference book on cut flower production?
“Specialty Cut Flowers” by Allan Armitage and Judy Lauschman is a great reference book on growing 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.
“Woody Cut Stems for Growers and Florists: Production and Post-Harvest Handling of Branches for Flowers, Fruit and Foliage” by Lane Green and John M. Dole.
These books along with others are available from the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers.
Where can I find information on growing cut flowers in high tunnels?
Where can I find sources of plugs and seeds?
How do I take a soil sample for testing and where can I get it tested?
Where can I have a plant problem diagnosed?
If you do not know the general cause of the problem, contact the University of Massachusetts Plant Diagnostics Laboratory or an Extension Specialist.
If you think the problem may be caused by disease, then plant specimens can be directly sent or hand delivered to the University of Massachusetts diagnostic lab. Always contact the lab first, to inform the lab that one is being sent. There is a fee for diagnostics.
How do I manage weeds in field grown cut flowers?
See the fact sheet "Managing Weeds for Field Grown Cut Flowers" on the UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture website.
What pests are problems on cut flowers?
See the fact sheet "Managing Insects and Mites on Field Grown Cut Flowers" on the UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture website.
How do I harvest and handle cut flowers?
The UMass Extension Floriculture website (scroll to cut flowers) has several fact sheets. Also, see the references with links at the bottom of the fact sheets.
Where can I get more info on cut flower production?
Contact the University of Massachusetts Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program.
Where can I find wholesale prices for cut flowers?
The USDA Agricultural Market Service publishes reports on ornamental crops each week. These reports include demand, supply and price of cut flowers in Boston. See: Ornamental Crops Reports weekly report