Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop and Greenhouses
with Steve & Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm
Welcome
Introduction: Steve & Gretel talk about how SMFF was built
Private Facebook Student Community
Part 1: Decision making and planning
Week 1: Structure types, location, deconstruction, and construction
Session 1: Low tunnel/ caterpillar tunnel & our version the “Wollam” House
Session 2: Hoop houses/ high tunnels aka “Hoopties”- 3 or 4 season structures
Session 3: Heated Greenhouses & Gutter Connects
Session 4: Considerations: ventilation, automation, utilities available, monitoring system, location, drainage, etc.
Session 5: Where to buy and tips for deconstruction of a used structure
Session 6: Steps for construction part 1
Session 7: Steps for construction part 2
Q & A Sessions
Week 2: Creating a successful plan of action- Crop planning, sales outlets, & seed starting
Handouts: Flats to bed ft cheat sheet, GH schedule 2020 sample sheet, GH plan example
Session 1: Considerations for crop decision making
Session 2: Crop planning first steps- sales projections & budgeting
Session 3: Crop scheduling & greenhouse planning
Session 4: Sales outlets & pricing
Session 5: Enterprise budgets
Session 6: Seed starting, plant popping, & recording
Session 7: Propagation
Q & A Sessions
Part 2: Crops to grow
Week 3: Spring Blooms- both heated and unheated production
Handouts: Ranunculus, Anemones
Session 1: Ordering & sourcing ranunculus
Session 2: Ranunculus growing & harvesting
Session 3: Anemone growing & harvesting. Corm saving!
Session 4: Ornithogalum & prechilled tulips
Session 5: Snapdragon
Session 6: Stock (Matthiola incana)
Session 7: Dusty Miller
Session 8: Poppies, delphinium
Session 9: Sweet peas & our early sunflower trials
Q & A Sessions
Week 4: Blooms for Summer & Fall
Session 1: Lisianthus- seeds, plugs, & ordering
Session 2: Lisianthus- potting up, transplanting, & netting
Session 3: Lisianthus- harvesting, bunching
Session 4: Lilies programmed
Session 5: Eucalyptus & begonias
Session 6: Heirloom Chrysanthemums
Session 7: Dahlias- early & late
Session 8: Post frost flowers
Q & A Sessions
Part 3: Greenhouse Management
Week 5: Caring for the plant’s environment
Handouts: Reducing Humidity in the Greenhouse, Growing For Market- Nov/Dec 2020 Greenhouse environment
Session 1: Setting up the seed house- maximizing space & time
Session 2: Bed Prep
Session 3: Watering & irrigation
Session 4: Netting
Session 5: Cover crop & resting beds, rotation
Session 6: Maintenance & ventilation
Session 7: Dealing with the elements
Session 8: Sanitation
Session 9: What we’ve learned about humidity & venting from our Conservation Innovation Grant
Q & A Sessions
Week 6: Pest, Disease, & Soil Management
Handouts: IPM plan 2020 for sharing, Pest Cheat Sheet SMFF, ASCFG Grower Grant Report- Steaming, Growing For Market- Nov/Dec 2015- Downy Mildew Handouts from University & other sources: Purdue Downy Mildew, Mealybugs Insect IPM Mgmt Guide, Aphid Insect IPM Mgmt Guide, Scale Insect IPM Mgmt Guide, Whitefly Insect IPM Mgmt Guide, Fusarium lisianthus, Phytophora, Soil Solarization California, N. cucumeris, Dalotia coraria, Aphidius colemanii
Session 1: Diseases: Phythophora, Fusarium, Botrytis
Session 2: Diseases part 2: Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew, Rhizoctonia
Session 3: Pests: Aphids, Fungus Gnats, Whiteflies, Scale, Mealybugs
Session 4: Pests part 2: Thrips, Cabbage Loopers, Cutworms, Slugs, etc.
Session 5: Our worst weeds & weed cultivation o Chickweed, sow thistle, bindweed, thistle, lamb’s quarter, galinsoga
Session 6: Integrated Pest Management: Scouting & beneficial insects
Session 7: IPM part 2: Spraying with organic practices in mind
Session 8: Soil tests & amendments
Session 9: Soil steaming for disease & weed management
Q & A Sessions
Wrap-Up
Wrap-up video: Words of encouragement from Steve & Gretel
Q & A Sessions
BONUS Webinar: Strategies for Developing Customer Relationships