[Market-farming] Raising organic flowers- SWALLOWTAIL GARDEN SEEDS

wiediger at msn.com wiediger at msn.com
Sun Apr 11 14:49:51 EDT 2004


You know, we have been growing cut flowers using organic methods for over 10 years here in the humid clime of southern Kentucky.  We have literally no insect pressure on our cuts. We do have mildew on Zinnias - and re-plant them about every 6 weeks to combat it.  The flower quality is nicer on the new plantings anyway.  Our cut flowers are gorgeous - as nice or nicer than anything else that comes to market, and with no spraying of anything, synthetic or OMRI approved. Perhaps the insect problems you see are because of your spraying of chemicals, and the damage it does to the beneficials that would normally keep them in balance.  Some things are a challenge to grow organically - eggplant comes to mind - but flowers?  no way.  So if you're a new cut flower grower, and want to grow them organically, go for it - and get the book "The Flower Farmer" - which uses organic methods.

Alison

Paul and Alison Wiediger
Au Naturel Farm
http://aunaturelfarm.homestead.com
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: robert schuler 
  To: cyndi at tikvah.com ; Market Farming 
  Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2004 9:09 AM
  Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Raising organic flowers- SWALLOWTAIL GARDEN SEEDS


    When a customer sticks their nose into a bouquet of organic flowers and breathes deeply they get a snoot full of western flower thrips. Or worse yet they get them home, place them on the dinner table and little black beetles crawl out. Its a challenge to grow a quality cut flower without some pesticide. Its even a greater challenge to grow them organically especially in our  humid east coast environment.   I find it offensive when prople say we "dump" pesticides on everything... Bob.
     
    What is the first thing people do when presented with a flower?  They stick 
    their nose right in it and breathe in deeply.  Any pesticides or other 
    chemical residues come right into your lungs. 
      
     
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