Spring can’t come soon enough for flower farmers and gardeners!
February was quite harsh here in Kentucky, although we had a few warm days—which made us anxious to pull out all the stops and get the growing season up and running. It’s easy to feel great anticipation for spring, especially when you’re a flower farmer and earn your living by selling flowers. However, here in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, we must control our impulses and work within the realities of our area’s weather forecast.
We eagerly wait for certain spring flowers to bloom in the garden. Till then, forced bulbs brighten the remaining winter days and bring in customers. As March begins, we’re focusing not only on bringing out the forced bulbs, but also cutting tulips for fresh cuts because, as small flower farmers, we have a limited amount we can manage—and after that, they’re gone.
Forced bulbs seem to be selling quickly right now, which gives me hope that it’s going to be a prosperous year. Folks are ready for the growing season and are turning to flowers as a type of therapy, whether to plant in gardens or to freshen up home interiors.
As we continue through March and the ground thaws, we’ll start tackling spring weeds, either by pulling or lifting them. Getting a head start on weeding will allow us to concentrate on what comes next, including the possibility of adding another plant or new seed to our 2022 crop.
Here are some of the other tasks that we perform in March here at the farm:
- Plant cool flowers. Some—such as bachelor buttons, poppies and bells of Ireland—are already in the ground. Tough annuals, to say the least!
- Plan what to plant and where. We’ll be walking the field and making labels for each variety to plant and trying to rotate dahlias from last year’s plot. We’ll leave sunflowers and zinnias in the same spot because they have no disease worries.
- Work the ground thoroughly before it’s time to direct sow.
- Sharpen tools.
- Tidy up and organize the potting shed.
So, let’s welcome March with open arms, but not jump the gun. Afterall, temperatures are still likely to waver.
Happy Gardening!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden