Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop and Greenhouses

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

Flower Farming School Online: Growing Cut-Flower Crops in Hoop and Greenhouses

Online Workshop with Lennie Larkin

Class 1

Session 1: Painting The Outline of Your Farm
Session 2: Personal Goal Setting
Session 3: Financial Goal Setting
Session 4: Turning Goals into Metrics
Session 5: Setting Your Income & Gross Sales Goals
Session 6: Average Farm Finances

Class 2

Session 1: Don’t Try to Sell Everything to Everyone
Session 2: Flower Farming Sales Channels
Session 3: Flower Crop Markups
Session 4: Average Flower Orders
Session 5: Picking Your Sales Channels, Part 1
Session 6: Picking Your Sales Channels, Part 2
Session 7: Setting Your Monthly Sales Goals

Class 3

Session 1: Looking at Crops Through New Lenses
Session 2: Crops and Their Role in the Marketplace
Session 3: Planning Your Mix of Crops
Session 4: Strategic Crop Planning
Session 5: Your Sowing & Succession Schedule

Class 4

Session 1: Shifting to Critical Thinking
Session 2: Opportunity Costs
Session 3: Crop Profitability
Session 4: Time Studies
Session 5: Crop Cost of Production
Session 6: Re-Evaluating Your Crop Mix with Profitability in Mind