Explains how to select, cultivate, and handle a variety of popular woody stem plants, with detailed profiles of one hundred genera used for cut stems, with information on key characteristics and applications, production guidelines, and tips on techniques including pruning, forcing, and coppicing.

This book covers the general market for specialty cut flowers and offers a discussion of domestic and foreign production, a brief overview of trends, and general comments and techniques about the postharvest care of flowers, including drying and preserving.

From taking cuttings to winning new customers, this is the guide to growing beautiful organic flowers for enjoyment or profit Over 75,000 copies sold! The first edition of The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers helped thousands of small growers start successful cut-flower businesses. This expanded and thoroughly revised second edition has become equally influential for backyard novices and experienced growers alike. New sections in this edition include: Utilizing greenhouses Recommendations for flower cultivars Post-harvest handling Also updated is the acclaimed resource directory, complete with sources of seeds, plants and supplies, and expert information on organic production under the National Organic Program. For the beginner and backyard gardener, there is an extensive section on the basics, including Variety selection Soil preparation Planting, cultivation & harvest Floral design For the commercial grower, The Flower Farmer, 2nd Edition includes information about: Larger-scale production Advice about selling to florists, wholesalers, and supermarkets Understanding the wedding and farmers market customers This updated edition also includes revised profiles of successful growers, offering behind-the-scenes insight into the operation of some of the most cutting-edge flower farmers in the country. Because of the extensive revisions and enhanced content, The Flower Farmer, 2nd Edition is essential reading for those already in the flower business, as well as those who dream of growing flowers for enjoyment or profit.

Highlights a movement by dedicated farmers and designers toward natural, chemical-free flowers, and explores how cut flowers are grown, designed, and used.--

Grow Woodies and Harvest profits for Decades Woody ornamentals, also known as woody cuts, or simply "woodies," are trees and shrubs whose branches are harvested and sold for floral arrangements and craft products such as wreaths. Most woodies have colorful stems, like Red Twig Dogwood, unusual stems like Curly Willow or attractive berries, buds or flowers. Unlike annual plants like flowers and vegetables, woodies can be harvested over and over again for many years. Most woodies have a lifespan of 20-60 years. New plants are produced from cuttings, so it's easy to replace older plants or produce potted woodies for sale to local buyers or the local garden center. Woodies can also provide a year-round income, as different species are ready to harvest during all four seasons. Some of the well-known woodies include holly, nandina and wax myrtle in winter, pussy willows, forysthia and witch hazel in spring, smoke tree, nine bark, hydrangea and filberts in summer and boxwood and beautyberry in the fall. In This Book, You'll Discover: Top 22 woody ornamentals for new growers. Top 10 woodies that produce up to 100 stems per plant. How to pick the best woodies for your local climate and soil. Growing, harvesting and marketing instructions for each species. 6 best "value-added" products to double or triple your profits. Wholesale sources for hundreds of hard-to-find cultivars. Order Now and Get Growing!