The Flower Farmers Calendar

Do you remember those sweltering dog days of summer? When the only thing you want to eat for dinner was cereal or ice cream? When you closed the curtains at 7am to keep the hot sun from creeping inside? And when you planned to spend the whole day in either the shade or the water - preferably both? 

Those days seem like a lifetime ago now as we sit here in mid-March - but way back, in the heat of summer, John and I were busy planning for spring. 

Flower farmers are always thinking 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months (or more!) ahead to ensure we have the flowers we need for spring, summer and fall.

2-3 MONTHS AGO

Three(ish) months ago John and I were pulling ranunculus and anemone corms out of storage to soak. We tucked them into soil and set them in our walk in cooler to pre-sprout. A few weeks later, they were developing cute little rootlets and were ready to be planted into Helen and Herman.

We planted the corms into the soft soil of the tunnels while the snow fell outside. It felt like a secret - planting flowers in the middle of a snowy Vermont winter. Over these past few months, the corms have developed strong root systems and begun to put on green growth. We’ll be harvesting these anemone and ranunculus before we know it - mid to late May!

6 MONTHS AGO

Back in August, John and I were busy sowing seeds for spring flowers. 

Many flowers that we grow prefer to be ‘overwintered’ - this means that we plant them in September and they put on green growth and develop a sturdy root system. Once the days get darker and colder, their growth pauses and dies back, but their root systems remain. In spring, as the days lengthen and warm, those roots are ready to provide the plant with lots of energy to help fuel new growth. These fall-planted flowers bloom earlier and more prolifically than if we were to start them in the spring. 

Flowers like feverfew, dianthus and campanula prefer to be planted this way. You’ll find these flowers in our June and July bouquets. 

13 MONTHS & 6 MONTHS AGO

In May, 2024, we ordered our fall-planted tulip bulbs. In October 2024, we planted them. In May 2025, we will harvest the flowers, put them in bouquets and share them with you! 

4 YEARS AGO

When I want to add to our peony field, I order peonies 6 months ahead of when I want to plant them. 

And after planting, we wait. And wait… and wait. 

It takes about 4 years for peony plants to establish enough for cut flower production. For the first 3 years, we de-bud the plants (a necessary heartbreak!) to encourage the plant to put energy into root growth rather than into producing beautiful flowers. This year will be the first year we can harvest from half of our peony field and I couldn’t be more excited! Last year we were only able to cut from about 50 plants and this year we will be able to cut from over 200! 

Side note: our First-to-Frost CSA Members are guaranteed Brook and Blossom peonies! If we have extras we will be selling them at our Flower Stand and at Woodstock’s Market on the Green.

CURRENTLY (Mid-March/ April)

And now, in mid-March, we’ve been seeding flowers for a couple of months. We start our seeds in our old farmhouse cellar and as the weeks tick by, it becomes filled to the brim with tiny flower seedlings. It’s pretty wonderful and such a heart-swelling promise of the season that is on the horizon. 

Thank you for following our flower farming journey! 🩷

    Heather