How to start a flower cutting garden - sustainable cut flower growing made easy with expert tips and ideas from inspirational women growers
We know that growing our own cut flowers is easy, with clear benefits: thrift, bounty, show-off value. But we don't always get around to doing it, despite
“Miracle” is the perfect term associated with regards to how to revive an orchid. It’s nearly impossible to recover when there’s a strong indication of damage or a positive sign of dying. But you must
How to grow dahlias with Erin Benzakein of Floret - all you need to know to cultivate and arrange these most blissful and prolific of blooms
Learn how to grow ranunculus (even if you live in a hot summer climate like the low desert of Arizona) with these 5 tips.
A dried flower arranging garden may be old fashioned, but it is a beautiful way to grow your own craft materials and provide food and shelter for wildlife.
It's possible that you are not familiar with Ixias, but Ixia bulbs or "wand flowers" make an amazingly colorful addition to your garden.Ixia bulbs are also called African corn lily, and they belong to the Iridaceae family. They are known for bringing some real color! Planting Ixia bulbs in the fall provides you with an abundance of beautiful blossoms in the later part of the following spring. Ixia bulbs will survive mulched in zones 6 to 7, or without mulch in zones 8 and 9. Ixia Bulbs originate from South Africa and prefer warm, dry climates. Read here how to grow and care for Ixia. Height: 24 Inches.Bulb Size: Top Size 5/+ • Fragrant • Great Cut Flower• Deer Resistant
Tips on how to grow a cut flower garden including how to layout your garden, amending soil, and flowers to choose for scented bouquets
Growing cosmos in pots is easy, and you'll be rewarded with plenty of flowers for cut or dried arrangements, or you can simply enjoy them in their pot. Read here to learn more about container-grown co
If you are in love with blue flowers, but not sure where to start, we have selected the best blue flowers to grow in containers.
How to grow roses from cuttings easily! Compare the BEST & worst ways to propagate in water or soil, using potatoes, & root by air layering.
Lisianthus is a summer staple in my low desert Arizona garden. Learn how to grow lisianthus with these 10 tips.
Check out these awesome Flowering Ground Cover Plants that you can grow in your garden with ease to add a dash of colors!
Mock orange (Philadelphus) is an ornamental shrub loaded with sweet-scented white flowers. Learn how to add this beauty to your landscape now.
Learn just how easy Hellebore care is with these tips on planting, fertilizing, and pruning Lenten Rose (as well as some great varieties)
This article is tailored made for all species of Oxalis, including the Oxalis Triangularis. Click here for information on their cultivation hacks and much-needed dormancy period over the autumn and winter months.
Plumbago is one of the stars of the summer garden. A perennial down South, an annual up North, this easy to grow flower is always a winner in the garden!
Now’s the time to start forcing spring bulbs so you can have their cheerful blooms indoors. See two easy and attractive ways here!
Learn how to grow ranunculus (even if you live in a hot summer climate like the low desert of Arizona) with these 5 tips.
I love geraniums. The smell of the leaves leave a lasting impression on me of times when I was young and my dad had them in the garden. They produce a host of different reds, pinks, and white flowe…
Edible flowers are a wonderfully interesting, beautiful, beneficial, and high-value crop that can be added to your production. Ranging from tender annuals that pump out blossoms in the summer, perennial shrubs with extended bloom times, all the way to fruit trees whose blooms can provide color and value in the early spring, edible flowers provide a bouquet of opportunities. GET STARTED... PDF SpreadSheet Flower List Top 10 Edible Flowers to Grow Edible Flowers A-Z Tip: Be sure to make a copy of the PDF spreadsheet. This will enable you to use the search function (ctrl F) to easily locate varieties. SELLING EDIBLE FLOWERS "IF IN DOUBT, DON'T EAT IT AND DON’T SELL IT. " When diving into the world of edible flowers it is important to note that many plants share a common name even when the actual plants are from completely different families. This means that even though two plants share a name, one type may be edible while another is poisonous. In our list, we have named plants by their scientific names to avoid confusion about which cultivars to look for. Each listing also includes the most frequently used common names. Be sure to check the scientific designation for any plant you are planning to grow for edible flower purposes. It is your responsibility as a grower to know that what you are growing is safe to consume. VALUE ADDED PRODUCT OPPORTUNITIES WITH EDIBLE FLOWERS You are not limited to selling only in-season blossoms when growing edible flowers. We have seen an uptick in interest from local chefs for dried petals year-round. Many varieties can be used to make natural food coloring and if dried properly will still add vibrant colors to a plate. Here are some other ways to sell edible blooms: Added into homemade lollipops or hard candies Dried and blended with custom salt blends Freeze-dried Sugared Pressed Flower infused ice-cubes These are a simple way to increase the price you are receiving per bloom. Having novelty items like this also draws new customers. PRICING AND PACKAGING Packaging edible flowers can be a delicate process since they have a short shelf life. In general flowers will last around 7 days in normal refrigeration conditions. After 7 days most flowers start to deteriorate and become unusable quickly. An interesting study done on nasturtiums showed that the flowers reacted well to being placed in poly containers with a small hole poked for gas exchange (1). Different flowers may show slightly different shelf life under different treatments but this seems to be a good standard practice, particularly if you are selling mixed flowers. When packaging flowers this way it is good to remove as much of the stem as possible to extend shelf life and provide an easy to use product for your customer. Some edible flowers can also be harvested and sold in the manner of cut flowers as well. Flowers that have stems of decent length can be bunched into jars or shallow buckets with water to stay hydrated. This method can work great for cocktail bars, caterers and restaurants with open kitchens. They add visual interest and keep the flowers as fresh as possible up until the moment of plating. NON TOXIC VS. EDIBLE In this resource, we have tried to include only flowers we think are truly edible. Meaning they either are beautiful and have a mild flavor or distinct flavors that contribute to a dish beyond merely being eye catching. There are definitely other flowers out there that are nontoxic but not recommended for eating. Meaning in small quantities they won’t hurt you but they also are not particularly good for you or tasty. It never ceases to amaze how many times you can see a beautiful plate of food garnished with flowers and foliage that are inedible. This is an opportunity for the well-informed grower to help their clients as well as themselves. Folks who don’t know plants may assume there is no harm in plating with flowers of dubious origin because, “Nobody eats the garnish, right?” A dangerous mindset when you consider the liability involved if someone chooses to eat a plant that you (or your customer) put on the plate and gets ill. In the warnings, we have noted that some of these plants do contain compounds that can cause intestinal distress or other health issues in large quantities. For our purposes, this includes oxalic acids and alkaloids, both of which are often found in high concentrations in some medicines. All members of the sorrel family contain oxalic acid as do many other food crops. Oxalic acid should be avoided by those with certain medical conditions such as gout, and in high concentrations, can cause light sensitivity. Alkaloids are a compound found in many foods, like tomatoes, but can be present in higher concentrations in the flower. Overconsumption of any alkaloid can cause health issues but the amount present in the flowers we include here would require consuming a lot to cause issues. When it comes to eating the flowers this is just a reminder that many edible flowers should be used sparingly. It can help to think of edible flowers in terms of plant-based medicines, a little bit may be good for you but too much of anything can be hard on your system. ALLERGIES Since many edible flowers will be served with the pollen anthers still attached there is the possibility for allergic reactions. In most cases, we recommend removing the anthers from flowers that are large such as daylilies. For many of the smaller flowers, this practice isn’t feasible at scale. For products that are required to have allergy warnings, it is important to include this information for your customers. PARTS OF THE FLOWERS TO KNOW Not every part of every flower is edible. Notice that with some flowers, only the petals are edible. It is important to know the basic parts of a flower in order correctly serve them. For example, It's sometimes recommended that before serving, the preparer remove the bitter, green sepals, and white base of most flowers. Other times, these sepals can add to the flavor. If you are not sure, try one both ways. GO TO EDIBLE FLOWER LIST Disclaimer: This resource's purpose is to provide general information and inspiration only. Since many of the flowers listed herein are known for medicinal properties, seek the advice of a health professional before touching or eating any plant matter that is new to you. As with any natural product, they can be toxic if misused or consumed in large quantities. BootstrapFarmer.com stresses that you do not eat any edible plants, herbs, weeds, trees, or bushes until you have verified the genus and species. If selling flowers as a consumable, it is up to you to do your due diligence to know the species of any flowers sold to consumers. No liability exists against BootstrapFarmer.com or anyone who works for BootstrapFarmer.com; nor can they be held responsible for any allergy, illness, or adverse effect that any person or animal may suffer as a result of the information in this website or through using any of the plants mentioned by BootstrapFarmer.com.
Learn how to grow ranunculus (even if you live in a hot summer climate like the low desert of Arizona) with these 5 tips.
Perennials in your cutting garden is a great way to have cut flowers that are low maintenance. A cutting garden does not always have to start from seed.
Celosia’s unique flowers will make you look twice! Learn about the 3 different types of celosia flowers and how to use them to add flair to your garden.
Geranium care is central to having the best flowering and most vigorous geranium plants. Like all plants, geraniums (Pelargonium xhortorum...
How to grow different types of Hyacinths is now not a question to get worried? Knock at The Gardening Dad to get the perfect process.
Celosia’s unique flowers will make you look twice! Learn about the 3 different types of celosia flowers and how to use them to add flair to your garden.
See how to plant, grow and maintain cosmos in containers and flowerbeds. Cosmos are an easy care annual that bloom from summer until fall.
Create a beautiful yard with these creative landscape ideas with big impact.
Nasturtium mini quiches are so quick, easy and taste delicious. Nasturtiums are in abundance in my garden right now and I want to make the most of them.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is an easy-to-grow herb. If you can provide the warmth, sun, and humidity it needs, you can grow it anywhere.
Learn just how easy Hellebore care is with these tips on planting, fertilizing, and pruning Lenten Rose (as well as some great varieties)
by Matt Gibson Stock (also called Matthiola incana, Gillyflower, perfume plant) is one of the most fragrant flowers you can grow. Its scent is described as both sweet and spicy, not to mention incredibly pleasant. Many gardeners who have experience growing stock flower suggest making the most of stock by positioning them to mature at […]
Any plant that has green, soft and succulent stem in spite of the wood and brown
Is anything in the garden more cheerful than a border of blooming agapanthus? Learn how to grow and care for these proud beauties now on Gardener’s Path.
If your border is short on sunlight, fill it up with this lush, shade-loving combo. Your garden will look fresh all season long.
Fig tree (Ficus carica) The common fig tree (Ficus carica) can be easily planted to your home, it is quite popular because its flowers do not require pollination. Many varieties of this tree are found, including many hard varieties, which you can develop in cold climates (6 and 7 regions). Trees become inactive during the
Hydrangeas are a Southern garden staple. The only thing better? Hydrangeas in containers that you can use to decorate everywhere. Get inspired with these easy arrangements.
Discover eight of the best cosmos combinations.
There are Trees You Can Grow Indoors to instantly add a touch of nature and create a statement in your home.
Enclose your yard with a hedge of flowering shrubs instead of fences to add color, texture, and even fragrance to your backyard space. Check out these top picks for large flowering bushes.
Tips on how to grow snowdrops including advice on planting them 'in the green', prefered growing conditions, and how to create a drift of snowdrops
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) capture the beauty of wildflowers. Here's how to care for these loosely planted flowers, water, and fertilizer techniques.
Nasturtiums deserve a place in every garden. Beautiful while in flower and useful when harvested, here's how and why you should grow nasturtiums.
Follow these tips to grow bearded irises and grace your garden with long-lasting, ever-multiplying blooms.
