Cut Flower Farms: Cost-saving Gardening Hacks

What brings more joy than the beauty of flowers? Cut flowers are one of the best ways to brighten a room (and mood). That’s why you’ve poured your soul into growing these magic carpets of color! Even flowers have their challenges, though, which is why we’re offering the following tips to make your business bloom a little easier, with less cost to you.

Choose the Best Varieties

We all have our favorite flowers, but some are better candidates for cut flower farms. Delicate Iceland poppies and short-lived peonies, for example, won’t bring in much payoff, while sturdy summer sunflowers will produce weeks of sunshiny bouquets. In general, opt for flowers that are drought-tolerant, bloom continuously over a long period, stand up well in the vase, and are easy to start from seed. Cosmos, zinnia, lavender, and sunflowers are superstars in all these areas, and most of all, people snatch them up at markets!

Participate in Seed Exchanges

All of the above-mentioned varieties (perhaps with the exception of lavender) are easy to start from seed. Better yet, their seeds can be obtained for little cost if you participate in a local seed exchange. Got too many coneflower seeds but have your eye on some orange cosmos? Find a local seed exchange by checking with your local garden club, county extension, local library, or online group. Seed swapping events are a fun way to celebrate planting season and meet people who love flowers as much as you do! 

Preserve Water

Help the environment and save on water bills by using a rain barrel, soaker hoses, DIY drip irrigation systems, and leftover water from washing vegetables or boiling eggs. The average homeowner saves 1300 gallons of water with a rain barrel alone. Imagine how much your cut flower garden can save with a combination of water-saving hacks!

Make Your Own Insecticide

Pesticides are expensive, unhealthy for the environment, and not a big selling point for your cut flower business. But you don’t have to give in to missing buds and leaves that resemble green Swiss cheese. Make your own non-toxic insecticidal soap by mixing 1-2 drops of essential oil, 1 tablespoon of Castile soap, and a quart of water in a spray bottle. Even just a bit of essential oil in your water can drive away bugs, many of whom find the smell of eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, and lemongrass particularly icky.

Use the Right Tools

The highlight of the season has arrived: cutting time! Typical clippers, scissors, and utility knives, however, pose risk for injury and the constant frustration of getting set down and misplaced.

Maximize your time and safety by using the HTK Handy Safety Ring Knife. Always at your fingertips, the Ring Knife makes quick, precise, and easy cuts to keep you and your customers supplied with an abundance of fresh, beautiful flowers for months. 

No one understands better than HTK how safe and efficient tools can make a difference for your business. Shop for the right ring knife for your cut flower farm at HTK.