Field and Garden with Lisa Mason Ziegler

Don’t allow these things to hold you back from pursuing your flower farming business dreams. No acreage, tractor, or greenhouse? No problem. I didn’t have any of those during the first decade of my flower farm.

Originally aired 9/27/22

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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 a 7th-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 high tunnel growing, lisianthus, tips for new cut flower growers, hydroponic tulips, and so many more!

Other topics covered: microclimate trial & error, selling to florists, ranunculus, tuberose, aphids, deer fence, roses, dahlias, sunflower successions

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Join Rhonda Graves and Lisa for another episode of Bug Talk! Today, they expand into the broader topic of restoring the natural order on your farm or in your garden: the benefits, the methods, and the rewards. They share all of their favorite resources for learning more about what YOU can do to improve the natural conditions in your space.

Recommended Reading

We are so hard on ourselves when we hit a wall or fail. I’ve found that the reality so often for me is that my expectations weren’t based on any facts or experiences, just hopes, and dreams. No wonder it didn’t work out!

Stepping back and rethinking the process can change it all.
Hopes + Dreams + Experience + Knowledge = a smoother and straighter road to success.

I hope this episode meets you where you are, encourages you, lets you know you are not alone, and sows the seeds of hope that there is another way.

I hope you enjoy this episode. ~Lisa Z.

Lisa was recently featured on Growing For Market podcast, joining host Andrew Mefferd to discuss concepts from her new book, The Cut Flower Handbook. Topics covered include:

• The current US market demand for cut flowers

• Cool vs. warm season flower crops

• Professionalism in flower farming

• Succession planting concept for continuous blooms

Podcast excerpts are published with permission. 

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After almost a year in development, we're so excited to tell you about our new online community! 

Membership Features: 

• Monthly live Q&As with Lisa Z!
• Exclusive training sessions 
• Expert guidance from Lisa
• Commiserate with your flower-loving peers
• Interactive challenges keep you inspired to succeed
• Private club platform - no tracking or advertising
• Access anytime from your phone, tablet, or computer

Who Is This Online Club For? 

• Aspiring Flower Farmers
• Established Flower Farmers
• Passionate Flower Gardeners

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Lisa was recently featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp'l to discuss the foundational concepts from her new book, The Cut Flower Handbook. Topics covered include:

• The soil blocking method of seed starting
• Cool vs. warm season flower crops
• Natural weed & pest prevention
• Succession planting concept for continuous blooms

Podcast excerpts are published with permission.

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Starting and being in business is overwhelming! Yep, it's true. And the overwhelm doesn't just stop one day, you have to take control and make it happen. Only you can make that choice.

Add to that the stress of flower farming, and it becomes clear why so many new growers never leave the starting gate. In this episode, I'm sharing one of the keys to getting started and staying in business as a flower farmer. Allow yourself the fair opportunity to learn how, I highly recommend it!

(Encore presentation, originally aired March 2021)

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In September '22 Lisa was featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp’l to discuss the Cool Flowers concept and how she got started growing this fantastic group of spring stunners! They covered topics such as:

• How to determine which Cool Flowers you can grow in your region
• When and how to start your Cool Flowers from seed
• The special care requirements of flowers planted in the fall and in very early spring
• What you should do to prepare in the fall even if you don’t plant until very early spring

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Growing, giving, and receiving cut flowers is good medicine for whatever ails you. I learned this firsthand from Stevie’s mom's memorial service.

The stories of Ruby sharing my flowers amongst the thousands of pound cakes she baked and shared were evidence of the power of flowers. Sharing them is an excellent ending to a flower's journey.

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Enjoy this short podcast to get relieved of the pressure to start seeds now. ~Lisa

In the episode, I share the reality that this rush and pressure we feel to start seeds in early spring is a result of marketing, and it is not the only time to start seeds! In fact, many of us could start seeds all 12 months of the year.

I hope this gives you the nudge to jump in where you are and not feel like you're behind.

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In this encore presentation of Lisa's very first episode of Field & Garden, she covers a couple of really big topics: 



1) How NOT to freak out if you decide to peek under your row covers in mid-winter, and

2) How to use this time to harness the power of succession planting as you plan out your bed space throughout the coming year.

As avid cut flower gardeners and farmers, we know that the dead of winter is not just for dreaming! Now is also the time to carefully plan your bed space for maximum production.



P.S. Do you peek under the row covers? I find it to be the scariest thing this farmer can do in mid-winter! ~Lisa

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Tests and lessons (failures!) lead to perseverance. Perseverance is a required ingredient for a small business.

Join Lisa, Dave, and Gretel as they discuss the Flower Farming School Online Trio Sale. The culmination of several years of work, these schools are being offered as a complete set for the first time, and for a limited time only.

Students now have the opportunity to gain immediate access to beginner through expert-level teachings for cut flower farming, both in the field and in structures, in a format that fits their lifestyle and needs. If you're looking for the most time and cost-efficient way to have a thriving flower farm, both now and into the future, then these courses are for you!

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Did you know that we have another podcast series? It's called Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne, and it's become really popular! This is their top podcast episode of 2023, the one with the most overall listens, and it's the first episode in a 3-part series about cut-and-come-again Cool Flowers.

If you like this one, please consider subscribing to Seed Talk wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch Seed Talk on our YouTube channel (see the Seed Talk playlist there), or listen to Seed Talk anytime in the podcast section on our website.

*Winner, Best of 2023* Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne

Wondering which cool flowers will branch and produce multiple rounds of blooms? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the first half of their list of “cut and come again” cool flowers. They cover why each of these plants is worth growing, approximately how many stems you can expect per plant, and tips for succession planting. From Ammi to golden drumsticks, listen to the podcast and learn about the productivity of these cool-season hardy annuals!

*Winner Best of 2023* This podcast had the most listens this year!

If I had the opportunity to restart my business today based on what I have learned since starting in 1998, these are some of the things that would change the course of my business. They seem so simple now, but when I was in the weeds-- I never even thought of these things!

Hope they help!  ~Lisa

P.S. Listen through to the very end for an uplifting note from Jennifer!

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This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. Guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, who is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More.

Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! Here, he answers questions about lots of plants, including snapdragons, lisianthus, astilbe, winterberry, willows, baptisia, anemones, ranunculus, peonies, freesia, tulips, and calla lilies.

Other topics mentioned: stem strength, harvest tracking, bed/path widths, where to start in flower farming, selling to florists, bulb storage, and wholesale cut flower and plug/liner pricing.

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I'm looking over my shoulder as I begin to firm up my business goals and plans for 2024. Lessons learned and reminders of advice given is good food for thought. Learning to say no to great ideas that aren't in my wheelhouse is at the top of my list.

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I find that many people struggle and quit flower farming before they really get started. Why do they quit? Not because they aren’t trying, but because “they don’t know, what they don't know” and get burned out doing the wrong stuff.

How do you learn the right stuff? Networking with those who are ahead of you in their business journey.

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This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink. Dave is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More.

Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! Here, he answers questions about lots of plants, including ninebark, dahlias, cool flowers, gladiolus, tulips, lisianthus, snapdragons, amaryllis, peonies, winterberry, daffodils, hydrangea, and ranunculus.

Other topics mentioned: thrips, raised beds, pelleted seeds, perennials & woodies for warmer climates, sales outlets, and interplanting.

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Join Lisa Ziegler and Jessi Graven as they discuss the writing of The Cut-Flower Handbook. This book is scheduled for release in February 2024 and is available for pre-order now.

Join me as I catch up with Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, Ohio. In this episode, we talk about how life on the farm has changed with the addition of their first child, get an update on their flower farming biz, and learn of another big development in Steve & Gretel's farm and home life. Listen in for the scoop on Sunny Meadows!

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Dried Flowers = Added Value!

My goal was to always sell it all fresh, but, there are always leftovers, right? Why not hang them to air dry and sell them as added-value products?

Dried flowers are back in vogue and an excellent cash crop to sell alongside your fresh fall flowers and those holiday-blooming bulb containers. Dried straight bunches, bouquets, and wreaths are all in demand.

In this very special episode, TGW staffer Jessi Graven guest hosts as she visits fellow TGW student and established flower farmer Michelle Wheeler of River Bend Blooms in Kentucky!

Here, Michelle tells the story of how she came into flower farming, how the business has grown, the selling outlets she's utilizing, and discusses her plans for the future. During the farm tour, she shows us the wildlife conservation practices in place on the farm and gives us a glimpse of her awesome flower truck as well!

Michelle would like to extend a BIG "Thank you" to all of our TGW course instructors! She says she's taken almost all of them, and each course helped her grow her business in one way or another.

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This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer, hosted by Jennie Love of Love ’n Fresh Flowers. Jennie is a well-known and highly sought-after farmer-florist in Philadelphia specializing in field-to-vase wedding and event work. She is also the author of two of our online courses: Farmer-Florist School Online: The Wedding Process, and the online mini-workshop called Making Workshops Work for You. Here, Jennie graciously shares her thoughts on many different topics, including:

•  how to get started as a farmer-florist

• where to get floral design training

•  and so much more! 

Other Topics/Questions Covered:

• Korean Natural Farming treatment for powdery mildew
• Hardening off seedlings
• Fertilizing fall seedlings
• No-till garden bed creation
• Snapdragon succession planting
• Overwintering/perennializing dahlias
• Snapdragon transplant timing
• Recommended woodies to grow
• Bridal bouquet process
• DIY Bucket Contracts
• Crop planning for annuals & perennials
• Finding customers

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Time for another great chat between Lisa and expert cut-flower grower, Dave Dowling! Dave is also a bulb and plant broker, and the author of our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. 

In this episode, Lisa & Dave talk about the many ways they've sold their flowers, and how you could be selling the flowers that you grow, too. Topics include:

• Importance of researching your local market to identify opportunities

• Understanding that you'll need to try different types of selling to find the best fit for you & your farm

• Over a dozen different ways to sell your flowers!

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What does trusting the process mean? Learning the steps and just keep doing them. I lean on mentors, teachers, organizations, resources, and team members.

Everyone needs them all. Business is an ever-evolving and changing force meaning every day has scary stuff— we need backup.

Doing this podcast reminded me that all will be well. ~Lisa

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Get your notepad ready! This is an information-packed crash course in lily succession planting from expert grower and bulb broker, Dave Dowling. Dave is also the author of our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. 



In this episode, Lisa & Dave cover lily succession planting from start to finish! Topics include:

• Why to succession plant lilies
• Intro to crate growing, how to get crates
• What types of lilies to grow
• When and where to buy them
• How to plant them
• How to care for growing plants
• When and how to harvest

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Coming out of the dog days of summer is the time to consider: what are my flower needs for next season? While it is fresh in your memory, consider "Where am I selling and when does it start?" These guiding principles will lead you to what you should grow, how much, and when the blooms should begin.

Please enjoy this replay of a webinar that Lisa did with Jennie Love called “Top 5 Mistakes New Farmer-Florists Make.” Jennie & Lisa put this one together with the hope of helping new farmer-florists avoid some common pitfalls - all mistakes that Jennie admits to making herself when she was first starting out. There are some great tips here! 

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Do you love the processes of starting, growing, and harvesting lots of cut flowers, but don’t really want to go into business? That is totally doable and in my book, an even higher calling!

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Today’s episode is a chat that Lisa recently had with Tammy Osselaer, owner of Little Petal Farm in Noblesville, Indiana. During this conversation, they chat about retail sales, farmers markets, the importance of weeding regularly, AND how flower farmers are ALWAYS learning. Listen in to hear how Tammy’s long-time passion for gardening flourished into a thriving flower farm and retail store a few years ago, PLUS what she plans to add next!

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Lisa recently had a chat with Debra Prinzing to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Slow Flowers Podcast. As part of the festivities, Slow Flowers is reairing selected episodes from each year of the podcast, and Debra chose Lisa’s episode for the second year, which was 2014. During this conversation, which originally aired on Instagram Live, Lisa and Debra get a rare chance to reminisce and catch up.

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A well-known writer, speaker, and horticulturist, the TGW family might know Dr. Allan Armitage best as the co-author of one of our favorite reference books, Specialty Cut Flowers. Here, Lisa chats with "Dr. A" about how they met, how he got his start in the industry and helped form the ASCFG, his writing and teaching career, and his current and future projects.

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I vividly remember harvesting flowers that I knew were destined for the compost heap. July and August can be tough sales months, but facing and overcoming it can be done. I hope this helps! ~Lisa

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Today’s episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, normally called Ask a Flower Farmer. In this episode we instead did an Ask a Florist session with guest host Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD. Ellen is not a flower farmer, but a year-round designer who creates exclusively with flowers and foliage purchased from local growers.  She is also one of our course instructors here at The Gardener’s Workshop. In this Q&A Ellen fielded questions about floral design, the different flowers she uses, and some great business questions too.

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Do you need a break? To continue performing everyone needs time to refuel. For me, marrying into a family that observes Sundays as a day of rest played a significant role in my business success. Looking back I see how it gave me down space to become better.

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Lisa, Val, Dave, and Ellen discuss the impacts of the pandemic and how the industry has moved on in the following years from the perspective of a cut-flower grower, a florist, and a wholesale plant broker.

Trend Alert: Customizing flower growing to fit your lifestyle, developing a narrow niche to focus on

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This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was guest hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink. Dave is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners! Here, he answers questions about many different flowers, including peonies, campanula, flowering kale, stock, calla lilies, eucalyptus, and many more.

Other topics mentioned:

• Best cut-flower varieties of Baptisia, Ninebark, and Smokebush

• Selling flowers to restaurants

• Eucalyptus growing tips

• Celosia high tunnel growing

• Butterfly ranunculus harvesting

• Best perennials for newer growers

• Didiscus planting

• Ethylene-sensitive plants

• Obedient plant

• Bronze Fennel

• Alliums

• Using beneficial insects to treat aphids

• Deer-resistant perennials

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Now is the time for big-picture planning for next spring: where and when. As I am shuffling our gardens again, I am excited to embark on a smaller garden that produces more.

I know where I am planting Cool Flowers and when I should plant which leads me backward to mark the calendar with when I start transplants, have seeds on hand, get beds ready, etc.

Take a minute to review the book and related resources to plan for the biggest season of the year, spring.

Little did I know that being afraid to sell my first flowers was actually the gift that prepared me for a career of success. Becoming a strong, confident seller was not what I thought, it was the result of becoming a prepared and professional flower farmer that led me to selling success.

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This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. This one was guest hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink. Dave is also a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More. Dave has such a wealth of knowledge to share! He answers questions about many different flowers, including ranunculus, sunflowers, clarkia, celosia, peonies, amaranth, and tulips.

Other topics mentioned:

• High Tunnel Growing Tips, privacy Screen Trees

• Cooler Storage of Ranunculus, Sunflowers, Lilies

• Harvesting of Sweet William, Clarkia, Ranunculus

• Seedling Care for Celosia, Amaranth

• Seedling Care under Grow Lights

• Fertilizing Ranunculus

• Tulip Growing/Tulip Fire

• Tree Peonies

• Icelandic Poppy Germination

• Peony Disbudding

• Planting Gladiolus over Daffodils

• Butterfly Ranunculus

• Mother’s Day Prep & Organization

• Scouting for Thrips, Aphids, and Tarnish Plant Bugs

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Lisa was recently featured on The joegardener® Show podcast, joining host Joe Lamp'l to discuss the concept of succession planting with flowers. Topics covered include:

• Spreading out & making the best use of your resources
• Maximizing your harvest over time
• Flowers that thrive late summer into fall
• How starting seeds indoors in soil blocks benefits your farm or garden

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Join Lisa Z. and Dave Dowling as they talk about some big improvements and changes to Dave's online school! These changes benefit both current owners of the course and prospective students alike, check them out!

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This episode is an encore presentation of a chat with my friend and student Nicole Pitt of Flower Hill Farm. Nicole farms in Boonville, New York on the land of her childhood (and current) home. A former TV news reporter/anchor, Nicole is now in her fifth year of cut flower production, selling through a CSA, to florists, and at her newly opened nursery. In this interview, we talked about how she got into flowers, the challenges faced as she grows her business, and what the future may hold for Flower Hill Farm. Nicole’s story demonstrates how investing in education and applying it to your business’s needs as it grows can be the foundation of success.

Originally aired as Field & Garden episode #146

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Do you refer to yourself as a flower farmer or a cut flower grower? I wonder if our verbal preference is a reflection of our subconscious focus. Either way, I believe telling our story has far more reach and impact in the future than we can imagine. Tell your story often, because it will go way beyond you. ~Lisa

P.S. Stay tuned until the end for a special message from Charissa. :)

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As I am facing the struggle of realigning my business priorities as my book project is wrapping up, I am revisiting class one in Flower Farming School Online which is helping me so much. It is making me take a look at what I’m doing with my business day and what I may need to do to take the next step. If you are overwhelmed in business or looking for your next move, these steps will flush out your path.

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