Cut Flower Kit for Market Growers

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955 Benton Avenue Winslow, Maine 04901 Web: Johnnyseeds.com Cut Flower Kit Phone: 1-877-564-6697 for Market Growers Congratulations on your new interest in growing cut flowers for profit! Growing beau- tiful blooms is a sure way to attract new customers and grow your business.

In this kit, we’ve fea- tured proven varieties of cosmos, sunflowers, and zinnias.

Varieties included:

Sunflowers:1,000 seed ea. ‘Sunbright’ (F1) ‘Sunrich Orange’ (F1) ‘ProCut Orange’ (F1)

Cosmos: 1/2 oz. of seeds ‘Versailles Mix’ Also included:

Zinnia: 500 seeds -The Basics of Cut Flower ‘Benary’s Giant Mix’ Growing for Profit

(Varieties subject to change.) -Growing Instructions

-Sample Planting Guide

At Johnny’s Selected Seeds, we hold seed variety trials to test every variety that we offer in our catalogs and on our website. Our cut flower trials are among our largest and involve between 800 and 1,500 varieties on a yearly basis. Our staff evaluates the flowers for characteristics like beauty, bloom- time, vigor, disease resistance and fragrance. These trials allow us to better help you have a profitable and successful growing experience.

To learn about all of our flower varieties, please visit our website Johnnyseeds.com. You are also welcome to visit our trial farm in Albion, Maine. For more information about visiting our facilities, email [email protected]. Or, call us toll-free at 877-564-6697. An employee-owned company Cut Flower Kit: Growing Guide Growing, Harvesting & Marketing SPACING: Plants should be 6” apart. 9170 EARTHWAY SEEDER Sunflowers - Helianthus annuus HARVEST: Cut when the petals are The fast and easy way to just lifting off the face of the flower. 1712 PROCUT ORANGE (F1) is an furrow, plant and mark rows Leaves should be stripped prior to all in one pass. early blooming vari- cutting. Cut at approx. 36” from the ety, ready for harvest head down. They should be transported in 50-60 days. Tall in clean water from the field to an area and strong, this to be trimmed and bunched. Flowers single-stem is a nice should be bunched in groups of 3 or 5 commercial cut. with similar size heads. Tie or elastic Pollenless. Day length band bunches in two places: directly neutral. Ht. 60”. under the heads and approximately 4” from the bottom of the evenly cut 1314 SUNRICH flowers. Sunflowers can be kept in a ORANGE (F1) is a cooler to preserve freshness. nonbranching, pol- SEEDING: Zinnias are easily direct lenless sunflowers. MARKETING: Market your sunflowers seeded but can also be transplanted. Ideal for cut flower in galvanized flower buckets or 5 gal- If you are direct seeding, you can use production. 4-6” lon buckets filled with clean cool water. the cucumber plate of an Earthway golden yellow ray Bunches of 5 can be sold for $5/bunch seeder. 1 oz. of seed will sow 500’. If blooms with black or more depending on flower pricing in transplanting, be careful not to let the disk. Ready 10-14 your area. seedlings get root bound as they dislike days before the root disturbance and may revert to Sun series in 60-70 single flowers. Flower production will days. Ht. 48-60”. continue until frost as long as you Growing, Harvesting & continue to cut new blooms. Zinnias 1307 SUNBRIGHT (F1) is a vigorous Marketing Zinnias - Zinnia prefer warm temperatures. To grow the hybrid. It produces healthiest plants, it may be advisable 4-6” blooms under 1346 BENARY’S GIANT MIX is a to plant on black plastic (this is the short days and vigorous all-season producer that holds technique used on our trial farm). low temperatures. up well in summer rain and heat all over Succession planting, every 2-3 weeks, Suitable for winter the country. Densely will give you healthier plants at harvest greenhouse pro- petaled blooms are time. Please refer to cultural info on duction. Pollenless. up to 6” across. back of packet for further instructions. Day length neutral. Colors include: deep Ht. 60-72”. Ready red, orange, carmine SPACING: Plants should be 9-12” for harvest in rose, coral, wine, apart. 70-80 days. purple, bright pink, white, salmon rose, HARVEST: 75-90 days to flower. NOTE: “Day length neutral” means that scarlet, and golden Cut when blooms are partially open. day length does not directly influence yellow. 75-90 days Cut stems as long as possible but flowering. These varieties do fine under to harvest. leave enough nodes to ensure future short days. production. Store in clean water treated with floral preservative. Zinnias do not Sunflowers normally produce a large NOTE: All zinnias need good air need refrigeration. Avg. 20-30 stems amount of pollen. Pollenless sunflower circulation to minimize occurrence of per plant, though this can vary depend- varieties have been specially developed powdery mildew. ing on how long you cut your stems. for the cut flower industry and for florists who don’t want to contend with pollen MARKETING: Zinnias can be bunched covering their bouquets and vases. Harvesting your flowers and sold separately by color or variety has never been easier or they can be used in mixed bouquets. SEEDING: Direct sow 500 seeds in a than with the Zinnias look very nice in 10-stem 250’ row (or a block of five 50’ rows). bunches. Bunches can retail from $2-5 Succession planting at 10-14 day 9210 ARS 300L NEEDLE NOSE SHEARS dollars per bunch depending on your intervals will extend harvest as can market. You may consider including a planting a number of varieties that the one preferred packet of flower food with your zinnias. bloom at different times. In this kit by professional A product like Floralife Fresh Flower we’ve included enough seed for two flower growers. Food will significantly increase vase life. plantings of each sunflower variety. Growing, Harvesting & Marketing General Tips for Successfully Cosmos - Cosmos bipinnatus sleeves at the ready to quickly wrap Selling Your Flowers: a customer’s purchase. Dropping a 1095 VERSAILLES MIX cosmos are an Presentation is important! packet of Floralife in the sleeve, along easy-to-grow favorite. Early-blooming with a word to the customer about and vigorous. Will produce under short You’ll want to make sure that your the benefits of floral preservative will days. Strong stems can withstand con- flowers are properly prepared and go a long way in keeping the flowers siderable handling. Blooms are 21/2” attractive for your customers. After healthy and your customers happy. across. Ht. 40.” Blooms are ready in harvest, flowers can be stored in clean Make sure your display area is neat 75-90 days. 5 gallon buckets. Scrub and bleach and keep your buckets and containers treat your buckets before each use. tidy at all times. It’s psychological, but SEEDING: Direct seed. 1/2 oz. seeds Clean buckets and containers are the customers are more likely to pick will plant 500’. most important factor in giving your from a full bucket than to take the flowers the longest life possible. Fresh last bunch out of a bucket. Be sure to SPACING: Plants should be spaced water and a floral preservative such keep your buckets fully stocked. 9-12” apart. as Floralife are also key components. Water should be changed daily in any Best of luck as you begin to grow and containers you are using to store cut market your own cut flowers! If you flowers. For a professional look at your need assistance, or have questions, stand or market you can use green don’t hesitate to call Johnny’s toll-free floral buckets or to give your stand at 1-877-564-6697. a more cottagey feel try galvanized flower buckets. Bouquets and bunches should be easy for your customers to HARVEST: 75-90 days to flower. Cut access. You may choose to present when petals on the first flower are just your bouquets in flower sleeves before opening. Avg. 20-30 stems per plant purchase or you can have flower but varies depending on how long you cut your stems.

MARKETING: Can be sold in bunches or mixed with other flowers. Cosmos don’t store as long as other varieties. Be sure to cut right before sale and use a preservative solution.

The following products are not included Herbs and ornamental grasses are in this kit, but you may want to consid- becoming popular additions to bouquets. er planting some bouquet fillers to add As you become more experienced, con- beauty and volume to your bunches. sider trying some of the items below.

Ammi Basil for Cut Flowers (Organic) 1968 DARA, Daucus carota var. sati- 1772G AROMATTO, Ocimum basi- vus—Attractive 31/2-5” lacy umbels atop licum—Add color and scent to your strong, sturdy, upright stems. Flowers bouquets. Sturdy, purple stems, dark in shades of dark purple, pink, or white. purple flower bracts, and purple-green Highly productive with 7-15 stems per bicolor foliage. Use as a filler or accent plant. Long lasting in bouquets. flower. 75-80 days to harvest. Dara 1034 WHITE DILL, Ammi majus— Dill (Organic) Plants bear numerous lacy flower heads 920G BOUQUET that can be used in all sorts of bou- Bupleurum Anethum graveolens—Most widely quets. 65-75 day to harvest. 1045 GREEN GOLD, Bupleurum rotun- grown dill. Good seed and leaf yields at difolium—An elegant green filler that can a height of 38-42” tall. 40-55 days to 1758 GREEN MIST, Ammi visnaga— be used with flowers of any color and has leaf harvest. A wonderful filler for bouquets, it has a long vase life. 80-90 days to harvest. feathery foliage and large, full flowers Ornamental Grass that compliment any color combination. See our catalog or website 1855 FROSTED EXPLOSION, 85-95 days to harvest. NOTE: Growers for more cut flower and herb Panicum elegans—Airy flower plumes in Northern climates may find Green Mist varieties. Look for the seem to burst from the center of the matures too late for their market. At our scissor symbol R to identify plant. An excellent filler for bouquets, farm, in Maine, we have better luck with and a startling bedding plant when the A. majus though the color of the A. varieties that are best several are planted together. 84-112 visnaga is preferable. suited for cutting. days to harvest.

955 Benton Avenue, Winslow, Maine 04901 Phone: 1-877-564-6697 B Web: Johnnyseeds.com Cut Flower Plot This is an example of how you can set up a 1/4 acre of cut flower production using the seeds included in this kit. seeds) 250 oz. seeds) 4 / 1 seeds) 250 oz. seeds) 4 / 1 Dirt Foot Path Dirt Foot Path Dirt Foot Path Dirt Foot Path First Planting. ( First First Planting. (500 seeds) First First Planting. (500 seeds) First First Planting. (500 seeds) First First Planting. ( First 250’ Second Planting 21 days later. (500 seeds) Second Planting 21 days later. ( Second Planting 21 days later. (500 seeds) Zinnia - Second Planting 21 days later. (500 seeds) Second Planting 21 days later. ( Sunflower - Sunflower - Cosmos -

Sunflower - Zinnia - Sunflower - Sunflower - Cosmos -

Sunflower - Sunbright Versailles Mix Benary’s Giant Mix ProCut Orange Sunrich Orange Sunbright Benary’s Giant Mix Versailles Mix ProCut Orange Sunrich Orange

12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 12” 36” 24” 36” 24” 36” 24” 36” 24” 36”

25’ An employee-owned company The Basics of Growing Cut Flowers for Profit: Frequently Asked Questions What flowers are good for a first-time flower grower?

You will want to start with cuts that can be direct seeded (direct seeding is simpler and less time-consuming than transplanting) and are easy to grow. You’ll also want to start with varieties that provide high-den- sity yields, are easy to harvest, have a long harvest period, and a long vase life. Some popular common annuals to consider are sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos.

Should I just grow one type of flower?

Unless you have a market for just one type of flower, it is probably better to try several different varieties. After only one year you should have a good idea of Why grow cut flowers? what is popular and will sell in your area.

Many growers don’t grow cut flowers because they think it is difficult and time consuming. The reality, however, is that cut flowers can be an incredibly What should I think about before profitable crop, especially for those growing on small starting a cut flower program? acreage. The initial investment in growing cut flowers is comparatively small, and you can often make a good Some questions to consider are: return on your efforts in a single season. What markets do you think will work best for you? Are your customers interested in flowers? How many other cut flower growers are in your What will cut flowers add to my existing opera- area? Have you talked with your local tion? extension personnel about growing cut flowers? Have you familiarized Cut flowers offer the opportunity to expand your yourself with the cultural needs of market. You can sell flowers at the farmers’ market the flowers you plan to grow? or roadside stand. U-pick flower operations are increasingly popular. And, many restaurants where you already deliver produce may be interested in fresh flower displays. It is also possible to sell flowers to Where can I get more information? wholesale and retail florists, and places like hotels. There are many excellent books available on growing cut flowers. The book The Flower Farmer by Lynn With Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Byczynski is excellent and Allan Armitage’s book you’ll know your seeds have been Specialty Cut Flowers is also a good resource. The thoroughly tested and trialed to Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is another source of information. Their website is www.ascfg.org. ensure you have a profitable and And, our commercial sales staff at Johnny’s is always successful growing experience. happy to answer any questions you may have.

955 Benton Avenue, Winslow, Maine 04901 Phone: 1-877-564-6697 B Web: Johnnyseeds.com