Maryland Cut Flower Short Course

Maryland has an active cut flower growers association. They sponsor great educational events during the year with Maryland Cooperative Extension. The following is an announcement for the upcoming Cut Flower Shortcourse.

Cut Flower Short Course
February 26—29, 2008 at Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, Maryland

Sponsored by Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland

Co-sponsored by Maryland Greenhouse Growers’ Association, Maryland Cut Flower Growers, and Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers

2008 Cut Flower Short Course

Brookside Gardens is a 50-acre public display garden situated in Wheaton, Maryland. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas; azalea garden, rose garden, children's garden, formal garden, fragrance garden, Japanese style garden and trial garden. The garden also features two conservatories for year-round enjoyment.

Registration/Check-in on February 26th begins at 8:00 a.m.; the conference starts at 8:30 a.m. Depending on the day’s schedule, sessions end between 3:15 and 4:30 p.m.

February 26, 2008

Growers’ Experiences and Success Stories

Dave Dowling, Farmhouse Flowers & Plants
Maria Price-Nowakowski, Willow Oak Herb and Flower Farm
Bill Preston, Bill Preston’s Cut Flowers
Don Biggar, Galena Blooms Farm
Bert Klotz, Maison des Fleurs

February 27, 2008

>Financial Planning, Regulations, Sales Tax, Recordkeeping, Proper Business Structure
>Building a List of Cut Flowers to Grow: Woody Cut Flowers, Annuals and Perennials
>Making Connections with Wholesalers
>Setting up and Using Trickle Irrigation
>Once You’ve Cut Them: Then what? Postharvest handling, coolers and preservatives
>Fundamentals of Field Growing
>It Starts with N, P and K: Nutrients for cut flowers
>Weed Control Options

February 28, 2008

>Marketing 101
>Selling Cut Flowers at Local Markets
>Growing Toward a Destination Farm: How a grower is getting started with farm tours and floral workshops
>Should you grow organic and how to meet the requirements
>Working With Florists
>Edible Flowers

February 29, 2008

>Forcing Tulips and Lily Production
>Selling Herbs in Cut Flower Bouquets
>Heritage Roses for Superior Cuts and Fragrance
>Cut Flowers to Grow in High Tunnels

Come learn from growers and extension personnel as they cover a variety of topics on how to grow, harvest, store and market cut flowers!

For more information: Contact Suzanne Klick, 301-596-9413 or sklick@umd.edu

Registration form can be downloaded at http://www.ipmnet.umd.edu/08CutflrC.pdf