8003469140

SUSTAINABLE CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION

HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION GUIDE

Appr i e Technol Tr opr at ogy ansf f Rur Ar er or al eas

www.attra.ncat.org
ATTRA is the national sustainable agriculture information center funded by the USDAs Rural Business -- Cooperative Service.

Abstract: This publication focuses on sustainable production of cut flowers. It is not meant as a primer for inexperienced growers, but rather as a complementary piece of information that concentrates on sustainable production techniques. Some of the topics covered include integrated pest management, weed control and alternative fertilizers. Topics related to business management are also introduced.

By Lane Greer NCAT Agriculture Specialist February, 2000

Introduction
In the early 1990s, specialty cut flowers became an important crop, due to several reasons: Farmers began to diversify into high-value specialty crops. Retail florists began asking for new and unusual flowers, many of which could not be grown in South America or shipped well. Consumers had more disposable income and were willing to spend some of it on flowers. More farmers' markets were established throughout the country, and flowers became an integral part of those markets. Martha Stewart, Home and Garden TV, and similar phenomena in the media brought home and garden decoration to the attention of many Americans. As a result of these changes, farmers began asking for more information on cut flower production. In 1993, Dr. Allan Armitage, professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, published Specialty Cut Flowers (1), which quickly became and still is the bible for growers around the country. He also helped found the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG), of which more will be said later. Specialty Cut Flowers presents detailed information on annual, perennial, bulbous, and woody species for commercial cut flower production. Armitage addresses propagation, field and greenhouse performance, yields and harvesting for more than 200 genera.

Table of Contents
Introduction........................................... 1 Production Overview .............................. 3 Production Scheduling ............................ 5 Integrated Pest Management .................. 5 Weed Control......................................... 8 Alternative Fertilizers .............................. 10 Postharvest ........................................... 12 Markets & Marketing .............................. 12 Setting Prices ........................................ 13 Economics ............................................. 14 References ............................................ 15 Resources ............................................. 16 Suppliers ............................................... 18

IS A PROJECT OF THE

N ATIONAL C ENTER FOR APPROPRIATE T ECHNOLOGY

In 1997 Lynn Byczynski, editor of the popular monthly newsletter Growing for Market, published The Flower Farmer (2), a product of her decade of experience growing flowers commercially. In The Flower Farmer, Lynn focuses on organic production of cut flowers, as well as dried flowers, woody cuts, post-harvest considerations, and marketing. She also profiles several small growers and gives numerous resources for more information. Also in 1997, Dr. Alan Stevens, horticulture professor at Kansas State University, published Field Grown Cut Flowers (3). Alan focuses on the business of cut flowers. His appendices deal with specific crops (Achillea, Gladiolus, Liatris, Paeonia, Limonium, Helianthus, and Zinnia), and he also provides extensive resource lists. In 1999 Lynn Byczynski compiled four years' worth of monthly columns written by Pamela and Frank Arnosky into Were Gonna Be Rich! (4), now available from GFM Books. The Arnoskys have been raising cut flowers in Texas for almost a decade. Their columns in Growing for Market are entertaining and present some of the latest information on cultivars, pest control, marketing and diversification. The Arnoskys are well known and highly respected among small cut flower growers. They both have strong horticultural backgrounds and believe in sustainable production methods. Pamela and Frank are always among the first to use new, less-toxic products and have had good experiences with the biological controls theyve tried. There are many other books and articles available on beginning cut flower production (see the Resources section). This publication does not present basic information, but instead concentrates on topics not generally covered by such sources. It also provides some of the newest information on cultivars, disease and pest control, weed control, and sustainable production. Sustainable cut flower production depends on decreased use of chemicals and other fossil-based inputs, while at the same time reducing production costs, improving farm profit, reducing risk, and sustaining the productivity of the soil and water resources (5).

As with other alternative crops, there are gaps in the information available on cut flowers. Production information is becoming more and more common, but is still lacking on yields, postharvest care, new techniques, and economics. The best source for the latest information on these things is the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) (6). The ASCFG was established in 1988 to address the unique production and marketing needs of specialty cut flower growers. The group publishes a newsletter, a membership directory, and provides information relative to local conditions through the assistance of the Association's regional directors and members. The ASCFGs new listserver is extremely valuable to growers around the country. Through this feature, important topics can be brought up and discussed by new and experienced growers. The listserver allows immediate access to information that would probably not be shared otherwise. The Association hosts an annual conference, held in different locations around the country. Examples of conference topics include new cut flower varieties, cultural techniques, pest management, large-scale cooperatives, business management, and marketing strategies. Typically the events include tours of local farms, wholesale florist operations or equipment demonstrations, as well as an industry trade show. The ASCFG newsletter, The Cut Flower Quarterly, covers many topics such as marketing, cultural profiles, reports on latest research, literature reviews, current events, regional directors' reports, and pest management options for field-grown cut flowers. The ASCFG membership directory lists growers, buyers, suppliers, consultants, wholesalers, retailers, educators, and designers of cut flowers. A thumbnail description of each member's operation is provided, along with the crops they grow and the harvest season for each species. The ASCFG directory is the best resource available for locating people in the cut flower business. Page 2

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Contact Judy Laushman (6), ASCFG Executive Director, for further information about the Association, available publications, and for details about previous or upcoming national and regional conferences.

growing lilies, is it because they are not recommended for the region, or because they are expensive to produce? When deciding what to grow, consider what makes a good cut flower: Long vase life Good color and color retention Long harvest time Low cost of production Production of a large number of stems Good stem length (at least 18") Flower presentation on the stem (where the bloom is located-high or low on the stem) Will it grow and flower well in your region? Is it prone to disease or insect damage? Another consideration is how the cut flowers are to be produced. Thirty years ago, most cut flowers were grown in greenhouses, because that was the best way to get cosmetically perfect flowers year-round. This system fell by the wayside, to a large extent, when much of the flower production shifted to South America, where labor costs were so cheap. Field production of specialty cut flowers is now very popular, but many growers have found it feasible to start flowers indoors and transplant to the field later in the season. Although this system allows for earlier flowers in the spring, it increases the cost of production. Direct seeding can cut the costs of production initially, but may contribute to other costs later on, such as labor to thin seedlings. Most of the plants in the table below can be direct-seeded or started indoors and transplanted to the field.

Production Overview
One of the most important things to keep in mind is to START SMALL. Cut flower production is highly labor intensive and can present many challenges, especially during the first year or two. Even experienced vegetable growers admit that growing flowers is a whole new ballgame. Usually, marketing cut flowers takes more time than producing them. Before beginning production, the most important questions to ask are:

* what to grow (product) * where to grow it (place) * how it will be sold (market).
These are all interrelated topics. For example, a pick-your-own operation (market) might best be located near a busy highway (place) and would concentrate on growing large, bright, popular flowers like zinnias and sunflowers (product). Or, an operation may sell to retail florists (market), who usually buy flowers in bunches (ten stems is the norm). In this case, having enough flowers to make a bunch is important, so growing enough glads, for instance, all of one color, that bloom together (product), is important. Many growers sell bouquets at local farmers' markets, so growing stems with lots of small flowers might be appropriate. Markets also influence what colors of flowers sell well. For instance, women often prefer cool colors (pinks, blues, purples), while men often prefer hot colors (reds, yellows, oranges). The competition will also influence what flowers are grown. If the local farmers' market is flooded with bouquets of common flowers, is there money to be made by selling unusual or higher value flowers, such as lilies? If no one is

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The Most Popular Cut Flowers

Flower Species
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) Crested cockscomb (Celosia cristata) Plumed cockscomb (Celosia spicata) Larkspur (Consolida ambigua) Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) Sweet william (Dianthus barbatus) Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) Globe thistle (Echinops ritro) Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Type
P A A A A A A B B P A A A

Recommended Cultivars
Cerise Queen Blue Horizon Rocket, Potomac Chief series Flamingo series Giant Imperial, Snow Cloud, Blue Cloud Versailles, Seashells Hollandia, Electron, Messenger

Comments
Can become invasive May need to be staked

Usually requires staking Good for early spring production Does well in shade Good dried flower

Echo mix (double), Heidi & Flamenco series (single) Sunrich Lemon, Sunrich Orange, Sunbright, Sunbeam, Giant Sungold, Prado Gold, Prado Red, Autumn Beauty, Moonbright Floristan Violet Asiatics, Enchantment & Red Knight Pacific, Fortress, Excellent Indian Summer Blue Bedder Gold Coin Blue Charm, Sightseeing Benary's Giant Blue Point Series, Oklahoma, State Fair

Can be difficult to grow from seed Good dried flower

Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) Lily (Lilium spp.) Statice (Limonium sinuatum) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) Salvia (Salvia farinacea) Marigold (Tagetes spp.) Veronica (Veronica longifolia) Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

P P A P A A P A

Plant corm or plant Bulb Good fresh or dried Often treated as an annual 3' tall Blue Point series is resistant to powdery mildew

*A=annual, P=perennial, B=biennial

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Keep in mind that, although these are the most popular flowers being grown for cuts, this list is by no means inclusive of all the possibilities. The cultivars listed are those that have proven successful for many growers around the country, but there are many others. A way to form a niche for yourself is to grow flowers that no one else is offering. Seed companies are constantly finding new and better varieties for cut flowers, so it's important to keep track of trends in cultivar selection. The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) provides information on new flower trials conducted every year. Growers have begun to diversify their offerings in the past few years and have added more unusual cuts. One such direction is woody cuts, or cut branches of trees and shrubs. Willows and hollies are examples of woody cuts that are grown not for their flowers but for their interesting branch structures or fruit. For more information on woody cuts, contact ATTRA. Another movement that has gained popularity among growers is greenhouse growing. Extending the season allows growers to have more of a year-round income. Early cuts and winter cuts often bring more money per stem, because the market is not glutted and there are more winter holidays that are associated with flowers. Examples of flowers that do very well in cool greenhouses are anemones, snapdragons, and sweet peas. The best source of information for greenhouse crops is the ASCFG, although ATTRA does have more on this topic.

1. Extending the season by growing spring bulbs (e.g., narcissus and tulips). 2. Using a hoophouse or high tunnel to begin the season earlier. 3. Having lots of whites and pastels for May and June weddings. 4. Including continuous production of fillers, like Ammi majus, baby's breath, statice, and greenery, if making bouquets. 5. Using staggered plantings of flowers that go down quickly, like sunflowers and glads, to lengthen the season into fall. 6. Planting seeds of fall-blooming flowers (such as asters) in summer. 7. Using different cultivars of a species to get early and late production. While annuals can be produced quickly, most perennials take at least two years to produce saleable stems. In a 1992 study, only three species out of twenty produced stems long enough to sell during the first year of production, but eight species produced saleable stems the second year (7). Also, the number of stems harvested increased dramatically from the first to the second year (7). Perennials generally flower for only a few weeks, so the total number of harvests from any particular species is lower than the number of harvests from annuals. Markets must be established well ahead of bloom time, in order to sell the entire crop while it's in bloom.

Integrated Pest Management

An integrated pest management (IPM) program involves using resistant cultivars, building up populations of beneficial organisms, monitoring numbers of pests and developing treatment thresholds, and using spot treatments of pesticides that are least harmful to beneficial organisms and the environment. It is important to identify pests early, so that appropriate measures can be taken quickly. Scouting and monitoring levels of insect pests allows the grower to take immediate actions as quickly as she identifies a problem. Sticky cards or traps are some of the best monitoring devices. A general rule of thumb is to use at least one card per 1000 square feet and to check them once or twice a week. Page 5

Production Scheduling
Traditionally, consumers buy flowers for holidays and special occasions. Most of the "big" holidays (like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day) do not occur during summer, when field-grown cut flowers are coming on strong. It is up to the producer to schedule year-round production so that flowers are available when they are most needed and wanted. Ways to do this include:

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Grower Profile Pamela and Frank Arnosky own Texas Specialty Cut Flowers in Blanco, Texas. They spend almost no money on chemical pesticides and have simplified their growing by using biological controls, natural fertilizers and cover crops (8). The Arnoskys focus on soil health and employ methods like farmscaping and cover cropping to prevent pests and, therefore, pest problems. Farmscaping involves leaving weedy margins around fields to encourage natural beneficial insect populations. (For more information on this topic, request ATTRAs publication Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control.) Frank and Pam closely monitor pest populations. They have found that most pests never become economic problems. When the numbers exceed acceptable limits, however, Frank applies biorational pesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) (8). Pam and Frank believe strongly in building a healthy soil. Compost made up of composted turkey litter, leaf litter, and rice hulls is applied annually. For fertilizer they use Gardenville Soil Food, a combination of bat guano, blood meal, fish meal, microorganisms, and micronutrients. (See Suppliers for more information on Gardenville Soil Food.) Cover crops are a big part of the Arnoskys fertility program. They have tried numerous kinds and found that Cahaba white vetch, Lana woolypod vetch, Hubam white sweet clover, and Jemalong barrel medic work very well in their alkaline soil. Bell beans, berseem clover, and Kenland red clover all produced disappointing results (8). The Arnoskys have over 10,000 square feet of greenhouse space. They focus on keeping insects out with screens and by closely inspecting plants that have been ordered in (8).

Most Common Insect Pests Pest problems vary from year to year in different locations. In a hot, dry summer, many growers have trouble with grasshoppers, spider mites, and thrips. In a wet spring, aphids and slugs may be prevalent pests. Pest problems will also vary according to management. For instance, applying large amounts of high-nitrogen fertilizer encourages aphids. ATTRA has several publications that address management of the most problematic insects. Grasshopper Management and Thrips Control in the Field deal with two specific pests. The greenhouse IPM series (Integrated Pest Management for Greenhouse Crops, Greenhouse IPM: Sustainable Aphid Control, and Greenhouse IPM: Sustainable Thrips Control), are also useful ATTRA publications and can be applied to both greenhouse and field operations. Additionally, growers may request information on spider mites, cucumber beetles, and other pests. For more information, see the Pest Management subtopic in the Resources section at the end of this document. Often, the decision on what treatment to use will depend on price. Prices for biopesticides range from $20/quart for hot pepper wax to $225/qt for Neemazad (a neem product). Results can sometimes be improved by using both biological and chemical controls, but mixing control agents can have adverse effects, such as increased plant damage. For growers who want to experiment, there is a guide available from the Ohio Florists Association, called Insect Cocktail (9), that gives recipes that have worked in the past. Most Common Diseases The most common diseases in field-grown cut flower production are botrytis, powdery mildew, and root rots (caused by Phytophthora, Pythium, and Rhizoctonia fungi). The following paragraphs discuss alternative control options.

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Botrytis Conditions that favor development: Generally, botrytis epidemics occur in cool, wet, and humid weather. Plants most often affected: Any plant or plant part can be attacked by botrytis. The disease most often attacks aging or dying flowers and seedlings. Alternative controls: Fungus Trichoderma harzianum (available as Trichodex from Abbott and as TopShield from BioWorks) Baking soda product Remedy (available from Gardeners Supply) Baking soda solution: suggested formulations are to mix 3 tablespoons baking soda, 2 tablespoons horticultural oil, and 1/2 tablespoon insecticidal soap in one gallon water OR to mix 5 teaspoons baking soda and 5 teaspoons horticultural oil in one gallon water. (See the ATTRA publication Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide for more information.) Copper sulfate Bordeaux mixture (copper sulfate and lime) Copper hydroxide Horticultural oil Cultural controls: Resistant cultivars Good air circulation Hand-pick infected plant parts Avoid over-irrigation, poor drainage, and crop shading Avoid overhead irrigation

Powdery mildew Conditions that favor development: This disease is prevalent when there are warm, sunny days and cool nights with high humidity. Powdery mildew isn't usually a problem when temperatures rise above 86F. Rainfall actually inhibits spores. Spores are carried by wind, and infestations spread in the direction of the prevailing wind. Vigorous plants may be more susceptible to powdery mildew infection because the plant's rapid growth may have created many leaves with thin cuticles (10). Plants most often affected: Achillea, Aconitum, Anemone, Aster, Astilbe, Brachycome, Campanula, Chelone, Chrysanthemum, Cosmos, Dahlia, Delphinium, Dianthus, Gazania, Helianthus, Lathyrus, Phlox, Scabiosa, Solidago, Zinnia Alternative controls: Fungus Trichoderma harzianum (available as TopShield from BioWorks) Parasitic fungus Ampelomyces quisqualis (available as AQ-10 from Ecogen) Insecticidal soap Neem Horticultural oil Sulfur Cultural controls: Removing infected plant parts and weed hosts provides some control, as does crop rotation. A fairly dry soil and heavy applications of fertilizer tend to increase disease severity. Root rots Conditions that favor development: Root rots are encouraged by wet soil. Alternative controls: Fungus Gliocladium virens (for Pythium and Rhizoctonia root rots) (available as SoilGard from Thermo Trilogy) Bacterium Streptomyces lydicus (for Pythium and Rhizoctonia) (available as Actinovate from San Jacinto Environmental Supplies) Fungus Trichoderma harzianum (for all root pathogens) (available as RootShield from BioWorks and Bio-Trek from Wilbur-Ellis) Bacterium Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia controls Rhizoctonia and Pythium (available // SUSTAINABLE CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION Page 7

as Deny from Stine Seed and Intercept from Soil Technologies) Cultural controls: Avoid over-irrigating. Use compost to help suppress pathogens. Steam heat or solarization can be used to treat the soil before planting into it. See the section below on Weed Control for more information on these technologies.

costs about $5700. Larger units for field operations are available from Saskatoon Boiler Manufacturing in Canada. Contact these companies at: Sioux Steam Cleaner Corp. One Sioux Plaza Beresford, SD 57004 605-763-3333 http://www.siouxsteam. thomasregister.com/olc/siouxsteam.htm Saskatoon Boiler Manufacturing 2011 Quebec Ave. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan CANADA S7K 1W5 306-652-7022 Soil solarization Soil solarization is another option for killing weed seeds (and other pests) that can be done before fields are planted to flowers. Solarization involves using sheets of clear plastic, stretched across moist ground, and solar radiation to heat up the soil and kill pests, including weed seeds and harmful insects. Solarization can kill both annual and perennial weeds, if summer temperatures climb high enough. For more information on solarization, contact ATTRA. Cover crops Cover crops have many advantages. They reduce erosion, add nitrogen to the soil (in the case of legumes), increase organic matter, and, if left on top of the soil, act as a mulch. Cover crops also help suppress weeds and reduce pests and diseases. Some cover crops can chemically inhibit other plants that try to grow near them. This trait is called allelopathy. Rye is one of the most useful allelopathic cover crops because it is winter hardy and can be grown almost anywhere (13). When rye is cut and left as a mulch on the soil surface, it can suppress weed growth for about a month or two, but incorporating it cancels the allelopathic properties. In a Michigan study (14), weeds that were reduced by rye mulch included ragweed (43%), pigweed (95%), and Page 8

Weed Control
Weed management is a long-term process aimed at optimizing farm productivity by maintaining weeds below levels that compete significantly with the crop. A single method of weed control will not be successful in sustainable cut flower production, and integration of weed management methods is necessary. Integrated weed management combines several strategiesincluding selection of cultivars, planting methods, land preparation, appropriate irrigation, time of planting, crop rotation, harvesting methods, biological control agents, allelopathic substances, preventive weed control methods and judicious use of herbicides (11). Steam To treat the soil for weed seeds (and pathogens) before planting into it, consider using steam. Steam is "nontoxic, relatively easy to apply, controls the same spectrum of soil pests as methyl bromide, and can be used in a wide variety of climates and conditions" (12). The important differences in steam machines include heat output, portability, and soil penetration depth. Although most machines heat only the top 36 inches of soil, temperatures are high enough to kill most weed seeds. Machines that heat the soil to 140F for at least 30 minutes will kill pest fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and weed seeds. For a small operation, a small portable boiler is probably the best unit to have. The Sioux Steam Flo, available from Sioux Steam Cleaner Corporation will work for greenhouse and small bed operations. The Sioux Steam Flo

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common purslane (100%). Other crops that have shown allelopathic effects include sunflowers, sorghum, and brassicas. Full season or main season cover crops can be disadvantageous because land is temporarily taken out of production. It is important to plan ahead if a non-cash crop is to be incorporated into a rotation. For more information on these topics, ask for ATTRA's publications Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures and Principles of Sustainable Weed Management. Crop rotations NCAT Agriculture Specialist Preston Sullivan advises: "Crop rotations limit the buildup of weed populations and prevent major weed species shifts. Weeds tend to prosper in crops with similar requirements as the weed. Fields of annual crops favor short-lived annual weeds, whereas maintaining land in perennial crops favors perennial weed species. Rotations that include cleancultivated annual crops, tightly spaced grain crops and mowed or grazed perennial crops create an unsuitable environment for weeds" (13). Rotating from one system to another for example, from cut flowers into a pasture or cover cropis useful because rotations can reduce the weed species that were previously causing problems (15). Also, since certain weeds, like field bindweed, are adapted to a wide range of conditions, rotating into a different type of system is less useful in controlling them (15). Rotations can also benefit soil fertility and reduce insect and disease problems. Cultivation and flaming Cultivation has been used to control weeds for centuries and is still one of the most popular methods of weed control in sustainable systems. Whether done with hand tools or with powered machinery, it is best to cultivate while weeds are still very small (less than two inches tall). Cultivation can be done with hand tools, if the acreage is small, but high labor costs prohibit manual cultivation in some operations. A wheel

hoe is a great investment for a small operation, and will cut hoeing time by at least two-thirds. See the Suppliers section for sources of wheel hoes. Cultivation using heavy equipment is practical if the machinery does not interfere with plant root development nor compact the soil, and if fuel, maintenance, and depreciation costs can be covered. For small operations, purchasing large equipment is probably not economically feasible. For more information on tractors and cultivation tools, contact the Cooperative Extensive Service. Flame torches, or flamers, may be an option in some cut flower operations. Flaming works by searing and disruption of plant cells, not the actual burning of plant tissue. Passing a flamer quickly over a weed is enough to kill the tops of the weeds, but roots can re-sprout new growth. Broad-leaved weeds are more susceptible to flaming than grassy weeds, which possess growing points covered by a protected sheath. Thus, flaming will need to be repeated every 23 weeks. Ray Mong, a grower in Stow, Massachusetts, saves about 12 hours annually by flaming weeds in his fields (16). He uses a tractor-drawn flamer to treat newly planted seedbeds. Ray believes this acts as a pre-emergent herbicide, killing weed seeds just under the soil surface. Other possibilities for flaming include pre-plant and post-emergent flaming. Flaming can also be done using a small, hand-held torch. For more information on this subject, contact ATTRA. Mulches Several types of mulches can be used in cut flower productionincluding cover crops, plastic, paper, fabric, and organic materials such as straw, leaves, bark, and hay. The advantages include not only weed control, but also moisture conservation and lessened soil erosion. The disadvantages of mulches include the cost of the mulch and the labor and equipment to apply it. Additionally, some organic mulches can keep the soil cool and delay early production. Page 9

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Cover crops grown between the rows of the main crop are also called living mulches. Buckwheat, subterranean clover, and annual ryegrass are commonly used for this purpose, but there are many others. Living mulches are seeded after the cash crop has been in the ground for four or five weeks. Competition for nutrients and water can become a problem when using a living mulch. For more information on this topic, contact ATTRA. Plastic and paper mulches can be good mulch choices. Plastic mulches warm the ground and help in early production methods. Until recently, the biggest problem with using plastic has been disposal. There are now plastic recycling programs that can help alleviate this problem. Paper mulches decompose after only one season, but they dont provide the same benefits as plastic mulches. For more information on plastic and paper mulches, see the ATTRA publication Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners. Bioherbicides A recently introduced organic weed control is corn gluten meal (CGM), a by-product of corn syrup processing. CGM is a pre-emergent herbicide, applied in early spring. It works best when applied to the top inch of soil. It has no carry-over into the second year of growth, so must be applied every year. CGM contains 10% nitrogen and acts as a slow-release fertilizer for the crop. CGM has been patented and is currently being sold as a herbicide (see the Suppliers section for sources), but treating a large area can be quite expensive. Wheat gluten meal has many of the same effects as CGM, but it has not been patented and so may be more affordable. More recent research has revealed that corn gluten hydrolysate (CGH), which is made from corn gluten meal, is more effective than corn gluten meal for controlling weeds (17), and could be applied at less than half the rate for effective weed control. At this writing, CGH is available from only one source, Grain Processing Company in Iowa. See the Suppliers section for contact information. There are some new, environmentally-friendly

herbicides that break down quickly and could be used in field production. These are made from pelargonic acid, a fatty acid found in plants and animals. They work by rapidly lowering the pH of any plant sprayed, which weakens the cell walls and kills the weed, usually within 2 hours. These products (Weed Eraser, Scythe) are not systemic or selective, so they kill any plant part sprayed. Several applications may be necessary to kill perennial weeds. Natures Glory Fast Acting Weed and Grass Killer contains acetic acid (vinegar) and lemon juice. It also works very quickly as a contact herbicide and controls such weeds as crabgrass, chickweed, ragweed, plantain, quackgrass, and wild carrot. The commercial formula contains 25% acetic acid and is available from Ecoval (see Suppliers).

Alternative Fertilizers
Alternative fertilizers include synthetic slowrelease (e.g., Osmocote) and organic (e.g., fish emulsion) forms. Growers may want to consider using these in place of or in addition to conventional fertilizers. In contrast to conventional fertilizers, slow-release and organic fertilizers provide nutrients at a slower rate, thereby reducing leaching loss and groundwater pollution. Slow-release fertilization also nourishes plants in a manner more typical of that occurring in nature and is believed to reduce incidence of disease and insect attack. Organic fertilizers also add organic matter, which provides further benefits to the soil plant system. The table below is not exhaustive, but it provides analyses of some popular organic and synthetic slow-release fertilizers.

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Analysis of Organic and Synthetic Slow-release Fertilizers

Organic Fertilizers Bat guano (fresh) Bat guano (old) Blood meal Bone meal (steamed) Cottonseed meal Cover crops Hairy vetch Cowpeas (dry) Cowpeas (green) Eggshells Fish emulsion Fish meal Grass clippings (green) Greensand Hoof and horn meal Kelp meal Manure Cow Horse Pig Sheep Poultry Oak leaves Pine needles Sawdust, well rotted Soybean meal Worm castings Slow-release synthetic fertilizers IBDU Lesco MagAmp(also contains 25% magnesium) Osmocote Precise Premix (also contains micronutrients) ProKote Sta-Green %N 10 2 10 1 6 2.8 3.1 0.4 1.2 4 5 0.5 0.0 12 1.5 2 1.7 2 4 4 0.8 0.1 0.0 7.0 0.5 31 20 8 13-19 12 24 20 12 %P 3 8 0 11 2 0.8 0.6 0.1 0.4 1 3 0.2 0.0 2 0.5 2.3 0.7 1.8 1.4 4 9.4 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.5 0 6 40 6-14 6 7 3 6 %K 1 0 0 0 1 2.3 2.3 0.4 0.1 1 3 0.5 7.0 0 2.5 2.4 1.8 1.8 3.5 2 0.1 0.5 0.2 2.3 0.3 0 12 0 12-14 6 8 10 6 Other nutrients Calcium Calcium Calcium

Calcium and trace minerals Sulfur

32 trace minerals Trace minerals

11 trace minerals Effective period 4-6 months 100 days 3-4 or 8-9 months 3-4 months 6-8 weeks 7-9 months 6-8 weeks

For more information on nonconventional soil amendments, ask for ATTRA's publication on this topic. For suppliers, ask for ATTRA's resource list on sources of organic fertilizers and amendments. // SUSTAINABLE CUT FLOWER PRODUCTION Page 11

Postharvest Considerations
Postharvest flower performance, although often forgotten by the grower, is the most important aspect of production in the eyes of the consumer. How long a flower or bouquet remains attractive is critical to repeat business. The quality and vase life of cut flowers depends on pre-harvest conditions (applications of fertilizer, insect damage, soil conditions, light, water) and post-harvest conditions, including time of harvest, temperature, humidity, light, and ethylene sensitivity. Although different species have different post-harvest requirements, most cut flowers also benefit from preservatives and cooling. There are many floral preservatives on the market, but they all contain three basic ingredients: carbohydrates, a bactericide, and some form of acid to keep the pH of the vase water low. Growers can either buy commercial products or make their own using things like sugar (carbohydrates), bleach (a bactericide) and Sprite or 7-Up (citric acid). See the Suppliers section for sources of floral preservative. Growers who use a preservative have a clear advantage over those who don't. Many markets demand that the flowers be treated with preservative. For instance, florists almost always expect their flowers to be treated, and they always use preservatives in their arrangements. Flowers last longer if they are not cut in the heat of the day. Most growers cut in the morning or evening and keep their cut flowers in the shade as much as possible. A large, walk-in cooler like those used by florists is the best way to hold flowers, but these cost thousands of dollars. Used coolers may be an option for a serious grower. However, there are some low-tech, inexpensive ways to keep field heat to a minimum. A grower might cut flowers at night, place them in a basement, underground area, or simply in an air conditioned room that uses fans to move the air around. In her book The Flower Farmer, Lynn Byczynski discusses how to use an

air conditioner to make a cooler. See the Resources section for more information.

Markets and Marketing

Due to the highly perishable nature of their product, fresh cut flower growers must develop an intensive marketing strategy. When considering selling to wholesale or retail florists, some important questions to ask them are: What problems do you have with current sources and product? What bunch weight or stem count do you expect at what price? What size flower or seed head and stem length are most desirable? What varieties are purchased most often? How should the material be packaged? Wholesale markets require larger volumes of flowers and growers receive lower prices per stem. The greatest benefit of wholesaling is that a grower has an established market for the product and doesn't have to spend a lot of time finding individual customers. There arent many growers who would choose to sell exclusively to a wholesaler, however. The prices just arent that good. Growers thinking of selling to a wholesaler should visit them to see what kinds of products they offer. Because wholesalers do most of their business in the morning, they will have more time for talking with growers in the afternoon. One important point to clarify with wholesalers is transport: will the wholesaler pick up flowers from your door, will you deliver to his door, or will you ship? Although direct marketing can offer the benefit of higher prices, this strategy requires additional time and expense. The range of possibilities for direct marketing includes retail florists, farmers' markets, bucket shops, street corners and craft fairs. Lee Sturdivant, who grew flowers for the supermarket trade, gives practical suggestions for many forms of direct marketing of cut flowers in her book Flowers for Sale. See the Resources section for information on how to order this book. Local, niche markets are often the best choice for small growers. Selling to local retail florists is

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one of the best marketing strategies. Fifty years ago, florists grew their own product, so there was a greater variety of flowers, and flowers were cheaper because shipping costs were minimal. (See Fritz Bahrs Commercial Floriculture for a picture of the small florist in the early part of the 20th century.) This is no longer the case and now florists are clamoring for fresh, hard-to-find, hard-to-ship items. Small growers will never be able to produce at a competitive price the commodity flowers like roses, and specialty cuts dont have to fit into an already established distribution system. Zinnias are a perfect example of this kind of crop. Although most florists will purchase zinnias given the chance, wholesalers wont ship them. Only local growers can supply florists with this kind of product. This kind of strategy also allows (or even demands) growers to concentrate on the plants that do really well for them, rather than trying to grow every flower species available.

Growers may find it advantageous to develop a mixture of marketing avenues. For instance, a grower may decide to sell fresh cut flowers to retail or wholesale florists and at the farmers market. This way, growers could sell long stems to florists and shorter stems to buyers at the farmers market. Selling at the farmers market would also increase short-term cash flow, since wholesalers usually pay their accounts only once a month. Growers may choose to dry their crop when prices for fresh cuts dropselling them at a later date when the market is better. Drying flowers requires extra labor and storage space. These costs should be factored into the decision of whether or not it is advantageous to dry the flowers. However, dried flowers are not as perishable as are fresh, and they may be a good choice for growers located far from the market place.

Setting Prices
In an ideal world, the grower determines costs of production, allows a profit margin, and charges a per stem price that will cover both. In reality, the market sets the price that the consumer will pay. Setting prices can be difficult because it depends on several things: supply and demand, time of year, production costs, type of market, and location. A grower should always know how much it costs to produce a crop in order to determine how much each stem should bring. If, for instance, a grower is selling daisies at 30 cents a stem when each one costs 40 cents to produce, the grower may want to discontinue growing daisies. Or, the grower may be able to cut production costs or find another market that will pay 40 cents a stem. The grower may decide to keep growing daisies, however, because they are needed in bouquets, and the money can be made up on another crop. Market price reports are useful for getting a perspective on the value of specialty cut flowers in other areas. However, local market conditions greatly influence what a grower can charge, so these reports should be used mostly as an aid for setting prices. Page 13

Consider joining/forming a grower coop

Grower cooperatives can help smaller-scale producers participate in the benefits of wholesale marketing. A good source of information and assistance on starting a new cooperative is the USDA Rural BusinessCooperative Services (RBCS) (18). The RBCS staff can assist in establishing cooperatives, obtaining financing, and providing management advice. The division also publishes How to Start a Cooperative, which covers legal as well as practical aspects of starting a cooperative (19). The Minnesota Everlastings Cooperative is an example of a growers' group that was created to enable small-scale farmers to wholesale market their dried flowers (20). It was started by a small group of women who banded together to grow and market everlastings. Before growing a single crop, they first established a market, and demand outstripped supply from the very beginning.

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The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (21) publishes reports on ornamental crops every week. These reports give demand, supply, and price of cut flowers in several important markets in the U.S. See their web site for more information. Another source of wholesale prices is Growing for Market (GFM). Every month, this newsletter quotes prices for the Chicago flower market. For more information on GFM, see the Resources section.

bunch and record sales on invoices, but growers who sell mixed bunches or pick-your-own will have a tougher time of it. Making daily records is much easier than trying to remember what was sold over a week's time. It's important to be as accurate and detailed as possible. Costs are composed of variable and fixed (overhead) costs. Variable costs vary with production. Examples include fertilizer, seed/plants/bulbs, pots, soil mix, lime, floral preservatives, bouquet sleeves, pesticides, herbicides, plastic mulch, plastic buckets, packing boxes, fuel, and labor. (Labor should be determined based on the need for liming, plowing, fertilizing, bed shaping, setting up an irrigation system, transplanting, monitoring for insects, treating for insects and diseases, weeding, irrigating, and labor involved in harvesting [picking, hauling, grading, making bouquets, traveling to market]). Fixed or overhead costs are considered fixed on an annual basis and do not vary with production. Examples include depreciation on buildings and vehicles, interest on average investment, repairs, taxes, business and licensing fees, dues and subscriptions, office supplies, land, and insurance. Profits are equivalent to gross income minus total costs.

Economics
Lynn Byczynski states that growing half an acre of flowers can easily yield $15,000 (22). She grosses about $10,000 with less than a quarter of an acre during six months of production, by selling to an upper-scale retail florist. Usually, retail florists will offer the best prices for cut flowers, but in a small town this may not be feasible because of a lack of buyers. Field-grown cut flower production, in general, is a low-overhead business. This is both good news and bad news. Goodbecause it doesn't require a lot of capital to get started in this business. Badbecause competition can develop rapidly, sometimes from marginal producers for whom profitability is a low priority. It is pretty easy to keep costs low. Many growers show a profit in their third year of production, but this depends on an aggressive marketing strategy. As with most businesses, labor is the biggest single cost of production. Many growers have found that using organic or sustainable production methods increases the amount of labor required to bring in a crop. This is due to two things: the increase in time required to monitor and manage insects and disease, and the amount of time spent controlling weeds. Allowances should be made for these additional time expenditures when figuring costs. A balance sheet allows a grower to determine gross income (sales), costs, and profit. Finding gross income is easy for growers who sell by the

Summary
The decision to grow cut flowers should be based on available markets and grower experience. Although growing cut flowers is no more difficult than growing vegetables, it does demand different skills. There are many, many resources for beginners, and these can help eliminate some of the steepness of the learning curve involved. With careful attention to detail and a good marketing strategy, sustainable cut flower production can be extremely rewarding.

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References:
1) 2) Armitage, Allan. 1993. Specialty Cut Flowers. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 372 p. Byczynski, Lynn. 1997. The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers. Chelsea Green, Vermont. 207 p. Stevens, Alan. 1997. Field Grown Cut Flowers: A Practical Guide and Sourcebook. Commercial Field Grown Fresh and Dried Flower Production. Avatar's World, Edgerton, WI. 404 p. Arnosky, Frank and Pamela. 1999. Were Gonna Be Rich! GFM Books, Lawrence, KS. 168 p. Harwood, Richard R. 1990. A history of sustainable agriculture. p. 3-19. In: Clive A. Edwards, et al. (eds.) Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA. Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Judy Laushman, Executive Director MPO Box 268 Oberlin, OH 44074 440-774-2887 http://www.ascfg.org Starman, Terri Woods, Teresa A. Cerny, and Amy J. MacKenzie. 1995. Productivity and profitability of some field-grown specialty cut flowers. HortScience. October. p. 1217-1220. Thomas, Sami Harman. 1997. Cut flowers grown simply naturally. GMPro. September. p. 41-42, 44-45. Lindquist, Richard K. 1997. Insect Cocktail, Ohio Florists Association, Columbus, OH. This is the appendix to the book Identification of Insects and Related Pests of Horticultural Plants by the same author. The appendix is available for $7 from: Ohio Florists Association 2130 Stella Ct., Suite 230 Columbus, OH 43215 614-487-1117

10)

Powell, Charles C. and Richard K. Lindquist. 1992. Ball Pest and Disease Manual. Ball Publishing, Geneva, IL. p. 67. Vongsaroj, Prasan. 1996. Implementation of Sustainable Rice Production. In: JIRCAS International Symposium No. 4: Innovative Weed Management Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture. Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. June. p. 38-47. Quarles, William. 1997. Steam-The hottest alternative to methyl bromide. American Nurseryman. August 15. p. 37-43. Sullivan, Preston. 1999. Principles of Sustainable Weed Management. ATTRA Agronomy Systems Guide. Fayetteville, AR. Putnam, Alan, Joseph DeFrank and Jane P. Barnes. 1983. Exploitation of allelopathy for weed control in annual and perennial cropping systems. Journal of Chemical Ecology. Volume 9, No. 8. p. 1001-1010. Rugen, Christine. 1991. Alternatives to herbicides for weed control in field-grown cut flower production. p. 46-54. In: From a Growers Perspective: Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference on Specialty Cut Flowers. Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, Oberlin, OH. Anon. 1997. Bringing weeds to a boil. Greenhouse Management & Production. January. p. 12. Williams, Greg and Pat. 1997. More on corn gluten as a pre-emergence herbicide. HortIdeas. June. p. 62. USDA/RBCDS Cooperative Services Program Stop 3255 Washington, DC 20250-3255 202-720-6483 http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/geni nfo.htm

11)

3)

12)

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15)

7)

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8)

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19)

Haas, John T., et al. How to Start a Cooperative. USDA-Agricultural Cooperative Service, Cooperative Information Report No. 7. See the on-line version at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/agency/rbcds /cir-7.htm Whitman, Ann Turner. 1991. The Minnesota Everlastings Cooperative: Making money on dried flowers. GrowerTalks. June. p. 31, 33, 35, 37, 41. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. http://151.121.3.151/fv/mncs/fvwires.htm Byczynski, Lynn. 1995. The half-acre flower plan. Fairplain Publications, Lawrence, KS. 16 p.

20)

Arnosky, Frank and Pamela. 1999. Were 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 experiences in raising cut flowers. Available for $24.95 from: GFM Books PO 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. Ball, Vic (ed.). 1998. Ball Red Book. 16th edition. Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL. 802 p. Good reference book for greenhouse production. Focus is placed on the basics of greenhousing (including business, equipment and automation, soil treatment for disease control, environmental laws, and postharvest) for potted crops. Available for $72 from: Ball Publishing PO Box 9 Batavia, IL 60510 888-888-0013 http://www.growertalks.com Byczynski, Lynn. 1997. The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers. Chelsea Green, Vermont. 207 p. Written by Lynn Byczynski, editor of Growing for Market, this book contains the best information for organic growers, especially new growers. It contains information on choosing varieties to grow, site considerations, harvesting, marketing, and arranging flowers. Available for $28 ($25 for members) from ASCFG.

21) 22)

Resources:
Publications (cut flower production and marketing): Anon. 1989. Kieft's Growing Manual for Annual, Biennial and Perennial Cutflowers and Ornamental Grasses Grown from Seed. Kieft Bloemzaden, Blokker, Holland. 76 p. An easily accessible guide supplying specific and detailed cultural information on raising lesser known species and varieties of cut flowers and ornamental grasses from seed. Available for $15 ($5 for members) from ASCFG. Armitage, Allan. 1993. Specialty Cut Flowers. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 372 p. This book is an excellent manual for the commercial production of annuals, perennials, bulbs and woody plants for fresh and dried cut flowers. The author, Dr. Allan Armitage, is a University of Georgia horticulture professor and a founder of the ASCFG. He provides details on propagation, key environmental factors, field and greenhouse performance, harvest criteria, insect pests and diseases, and cultivars. Proper stage of harvest, drying and preserving, and postharvest handling are also covered. Available for $40 ($35 for members) from ASCFG (see References section for address). Armitage, Allan. 1997. Herbaceous Perennial Plants, 2nd edition. Varsity Press, Athens, GA. 1141 p. Excellent book for general knowledge of perennials. Available for $57 from Ball Publishing (see address above).

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Dole, John and Harold Wilkins. 1999. Floriculture: Principles and Species. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. 613 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, 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 $90 ($85 for members) from ASCFG. Gill, Stanton (ed.) 1998. Cut Flower Management Short Course. University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, Ellicott City, MD. Every two years, the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service offers a four-day workshop on cut flowers. The next course will be held March 6-9, 2000 and costs $110. 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. The 1992, 1994, and 1996 versions cost around $25 each. These may still be available for purchase or may be available through your states land-grant university system. The 1998 book, which is smaller because the workshop lasted only two days, is available for $12 from: University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service 4254 Folly Quarter Rd. Ellicott City, MD 21042 301-596-9413 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 over 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 softcover version is available for $50 from Ball Publishing (see address above).

Ogden, Shepherd. 1995. Step by Step Organic Flower Gardening. HarperCollins, New York. 302 p. The strengths of this book include well-written information on organic production in general, and the extensive crop-by-crop listing of cut flowers and how to raise them. Available for $25 from: The Cooks Garden PO Box 535 Londonderry, VT 05148 800-457-9703 Stevens, Alan. 1997. Field Grown Cut Flowers: A Practical Guide and Sourcebook. Commercial Field Grown Fresh and Dried Flower Production. Avatar's World, Edgerton, WI. 404 p. This book concentrates on production from a labor management perspective. Discusses marketing approaches, production factors and management issues for the profitable production of specialty cut flowers. Available for $40 ($36 for members) from ASCFG. Sturdivant, Lee. 1992. Flowers for Sale. San Juan Naturals, Friday Harbor, WA. 197 p. Written for the novice, small-scale grower, and is fairly general. However, the author has included comprehensive lists of potential cut flower plants. She gives readers an idea of numerous marketing options through interviews with several types of growers. Available for $14.95 plus S&H from: San Juan Naturals PO Box 642A Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-378-2648 Publications (dried flowers): 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 glycolpreserved plant materials. Available in a 3-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. 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.

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Thorpe, Patricia. 1986. Everlastings: The Complete Book of Dried Flowers. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 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 http://www.hmco.com/trade/ Publications (pest management): Chase, A.R., Margery Daughtrey, and Gary W. Simone. 1995. Diseases of Annuals and Perennials. Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL. 208 p. Contains numerous, 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 address above). 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 address above).

Publication (post-harvest handling): 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. Periodicals: 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 $27/year from: Growing for Market PO Box 3747 Lawrence, KS 66046 800-307-8949 HortIdeas is a monthly newsletter that provides all the latest information on many topics: cut flowers, landscape plants, new products and services. Available for $20/year (for periodicals mail) or $22/year (for first-class mail) from: HortIdeas 750 Black Lick Rd. Gravel Switch, KY 40328 Web Sites: http://ndsuext.nodak.edu/extpubs/alt-ag /flowers.htm Dried and Fresh-Cut Flowers North Dakota State University http://aesop.rutgers.edu:80/~floriculture Rutgers Floriculture Home Page

Suppliers:
Arlyn Hofland 403 36th St. Sioux City, IA 51114 712-258-2375 Corn gluten meal

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Abbott Labs 1401 Sheridan Rd. Dept. 44C, Bldg. A1 N. Chicago, IL 60064 800-323-9597 http://www.abbott.com Trichodex BioScape Inc. 4381 Bodega Ave. Petaluma, CA 94952 877-246-7227 Corn gluten meal (Bioweed) BioWorks 122 N. Genesee St. Geneva, NY 14456 315-781-1703 TopShield Blue Seal Feeds PO Box 8000 Londonderry, NH 03053 603-437-3400 Corn gluten meal (Safe N Simple) Bluebird Nursery PO Box 460 519 Bryan St. Clarkson, NE 68629 800-356-9164 Seed, bulbs, or plugs Bradbury Farms 19810 W. Bradbury Rd. Turlock, CA 95380 800-328-7972 Seed, bulbs, or plugs Cereal By Products PO Box 575 Mt. Prospect, IL 60050 847-818-1550 Corn gluten meal Daffodil Mart 30 Irene St. Torrington, CT 06790 800-ALL-BULB http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com Seed, bulbs, or plugs

Down to Earth Distributors PO Box 1419 Eugene, OR 97401 800-234-5932 541-485-5932 Corn gluten meal Ecogen, Inc. 2005 W. Cabot Blvd. Langhorne, PA 19047-3023 800-220-3326 215-757-1595 AQ-10 Ecoval U.S. Inc. 425 Kings Hwy. East Fairfield, CT 06432 203-338-9613 Natures Glory herbicide Fertrell Box 256 Bainbridge, PA 17502 717-367-1566 http://www.fertrell.com Corn gluten meal (WeedzStop) Floralife, Inc. 120 Tower Dr. Burr Ridge, IL 60521 800-323-3689 Floral preservative Floyd Rogers 22W213 Glen Valley Dr. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 630-858-3538 Corn gluten meal Gardeners Supply 128 Intervale Rd. Burlington, VT 05401 800-863-1700 http://www.gardeners.com Remedy Gardens Alive! 5100 Schenley Place Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 812-537-8650 http://www.gardens-alive.com Corn gluten meal (WOW)

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Gardenville Fertilizer 7561 E. Evans Rd. San Antonio, TX 78266 210-651-6115 Gardenville Soil Food Corn gluten meal Germania Seed Company 5978 NW Hwy. Chicago, IL 60631 773-631-6631 http://www.germaniaseed.com Seed, bulbs, or plugs Gloeckner & Co. 600 Mamaroneck Ave. Harrison, NY 10528-1631 800-345-3787 Seed, bulbs, or plugs Grain Processing Co. 1600 Oregon St. Muscatine, IA 52761 319-264-4254 Corn gluten hydrolysate Corn gluten meal Greenleaf Enterprises, Inc. 17 West Main St. Leola, PA 17540 717-656-2606 Seed, bulbs, or plugs Hardesty Organic Supply 252 Hedge Rd. Menlo Park, CA 94025 Corn gluten meal (Suppressa) Harris Seeds 60 Saginaw Dr. PO Box 22960 Rochester, NY 14692-2960 800-514-4441 http://www.harrisseeds.com Seed, bulbs, or plugs Headstart Nursery 4860 Monterey Rd. Gilroy, CA 95020 408-842-3030 Seed, bulbs, or plugs K&D Enterprises 4107 Morgan Rd. Ceres, CA 95307 209-538-8492 Corn gluten meal

Johnny's Selected Seeds Foss Hill Road Albion, ME 04910 207-437-9294 http://www.johnnyseeds.com Seed, bulbs, or plugs Wheel hoes Lawn Ranger 13273 Lubke Rd. New Buffalo, MI 49117 616-469-0667 Corn gluten meal (Safeway) Manning Agricultural Center 619 Julia St. Manning, IA 51455 800-248-4409 Corn gluten meal (ProPac) Modena Seed Co. 5727 Mission St. PO Box 12007 San Francisco, CA 94112 415-585-2324 Seed, bulbs, or plugs Natureslawn Services 83 Macomb Place Mt. Clemens, MI 48043 810-493-9707 Corn gluten meal Necessary Organic One Natures Way New Castle, VA 24127 800-447-5354 Corn gluten meal (Concern) Peaceful Valley Farm Supply PO Box 2209P Grass Valley, CA 95945 916-272-4769 http://www.groworganic.com Wheel hoes Corn gluten meal Pokon & Chrysal USA 3063 NW 107th Ave. Miami, FL 33172 800-247-9725 http:///www.pokonchrysalusa.com Floral preservative

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Rhode's Services, Inc. 1651 Wall St. Garland, TX 75041 972-864-1934 http://www.beorganic.com Corn gluten meal (GreenSense) Safe Earth Lawn & Gardens 900 52nd St. W. Des Moines, IA 50265 515-222-1997 http://www.safe-earth.com Corn gluten meal (SafeEarth) San Jacinto Environmental Supplies 2221A West 34th Houston, TX 77018 800-444-1290 Actinovate Smithers Oasis 919 Marvin Ave. PO Box 118 Kent, OH 44240 330-673-5831 Floral preservative Soil Technologies 2103 185th St. Fairfield, IA 50265 800-221-7645 515-472-3963 Corn gluten meal (DynaWeed) Stine Seed Co. 2225 Laredo Trail Adel, IA 50003 800-362-2510 http://www.stine.com Stokes Seeds PO Box 548 Buffalo, NY 14240-0548 716-695-6980 http://www.stokeseeds.com Seed, bulbs, or plugs Thermo Trilogy 9145 Guilford Rd., Suite 175 Columbia, MD 21046 800-847-5620 301-604-7340 SoilGard

Valley Oak Tool Co. PO Box 1225 Chico, CA 95927 530-342-6188 http://www.valleyoaktool.com Wheel hoes Walt's Organic Fertilizer Co. PO Box 31480 Seattle, WA 98103-1580 206-783-6685 http://www.waltsorganic.com Corn gluten meal Wilbur-Ellis Co. 191 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 107 Fresno, CA 93704 209-226-1934 BioTrek Wildseed Farms PO Box 3000 PO Box 308 Fredericksburg, TX 78624-3000 800-848-0078 http://www.wildseedfarms.com Seed, bulbs, or plugs Winton Graf Box 102 200 W. 97th St. Bloomington, MN 55420 612-887-0068 Corn gluten meal (SuperOrganic)

By Lane Greer NCAT Agriculture Specialist February, 2000

The electronic version of Cut Flower Production is located at: http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/cutflower.html

The ATTRA Project is operated by the National Center for Appropriate Technology under a grant from the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. These organizations do not recommend or endorse products, companies, or individuals. ATTRA is located in the Ozark Mountains at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville at P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville, AR 72702. ATTRA staff members prefer to receive requests for information about sustainable agriculture via the toll-free number 800-346-9140.

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Would you give us some feedback on this publication

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Feedback
1. Does this publication provide the information you were looking for? How could it be improved?

2. Do you know a farmer who is implementing techniques discussed in this publication? Can you provide their address and phone number?

3. Do you know of any related research that would add to the information presented here?

4. Do you know a good related website not listed in this publication?

5. Please add any other information, or comments that you wish to share.

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 FOLD

Thank You
FOR YOUR VALUABLE FEEDBACK

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NCAT/ATTRA PO Box 3657 Fayetteville, AR 72702

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