#97: Flower Colors For Your Market with Jonathan Leiss

In this episode, Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm and I discuss how his focus on flower colors is directly connected to what his customers want and need. His specialized business model is harvesting and selling flowers in early spring to early summer when demand and profits are high. This model allows them to fully embrace their homesteading lifestyle and pursue a business that fits their family.

To learn more about Spring Forth Farm:

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Jonathan and Megan's online course: The No-Till Micro-Scale Flower Farm  

Flowers mentioned in our discussion:

Here's a list of the white flowers we grow:

• Ammi majus
• Anemones Galilee White -- most profitable crop on our farm
• Campanula Champion White
• Dianthus Bodestolz White 
• Digitalis Camelot White or Cream
• Larkspur -- any series they all seem similar to us
• Oralya
• Peonies -- varieties appropriate for your climate
• Ranunculus -- Amandine White, Half-Clone Iceberg
• Saponaria White -- favorite filler of all time
• Snapdragons Chantilly White, Madame Butterfly Ivory
• Stock Noble White, Cheerful White, Cheerful Midseason White (all high double -- we found the HD Katz White to have weak necks)

We no longer grow:

• White Yarrow (the regular millefolium white -- heads not large enough for our market)
• Agrostemma -- pain in the butt to harvest
• Lisianthus -- amazing white varieties available, but don't fit into our season. We grew ABC but there are lots of new options
• Godetia White -- we grow other colors. The white was a little boring and didn't sell well

Hosted by Lisa Ziegler

The Gardener’s Workshop and Flower Farming School Online and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online.  Award-winning Author of Vegetables Love Flowers and Cool Flowers. Watch Lisa’s Story and view her blog Field & Garden. Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Instagram!