Do you shy away from using marigolds in your bouquets due to their strong fragrance? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss tips for managing marigold scent and introduce two unique cultivars that naturally have less fragrance than typical marigolds. They cover why the fragrance can be problematic in bouquets, where the scent is primarily concentrated in the plant, a simple trick for eliminating the fragrance in cut marigolds, two unique cultivars with beautiful flower colors and low scent, the proper ha...
Jun 15, 2023•17 min•Ep. 41
Would you like to add touches of texture, layers of interest, and a bit of magic to your bouquets, arrangements, and landscape? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss eight of their favorite plants to grow for ornamental seed pods. They cover why pods are coveted by flower farmers and home gardeners alike, how the flowers of each plant develop into interesting and attractive seed pods, the cut-flower potential of both the flowers and pods, the proper pod harvest stage, reseeding potential of the plants, ...
Jun 08, 2023•29 min•Ep. 40
Did you know that some plants can be cloned by taking sections of stem and providing conditions that encourage root development? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss how to propagate Salvia leucantha and Salvia mexicana from stem cuttings. They cover why these two species of salvia are valuable as cut flowers and in a landscape setting, how to overwinter "mother" plants in areas where they are not winter hardy, recommended tools and supplies, when and how to take and prepare cuttings, tips to encourage...
Jun 01, 2023•22 min•Ep. 39
Looking for an alternative to plastic mulches or landscape fabric? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss Bio360, the biodegradable mulch film Lisa uses at the farm. They cover what Bio360 is made of, advantages and disadvantages of biodegradable mulch, alternatives, how to install the film by hand and using equipment, where to place drip tape, which side of the film to place up (black or white/gray), tips for handling and storing, how long the material is expected to last, and more. Listen to the podcas...
May 25, 2023•40 min•Ep. 38
Did you know there are two main types of sunflowers to choose from - single-stem and branching? Wondering which one is right for your garden or farm? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the ins and outs of branching sunflowers. They cover the differences between single-stem and branching sunflowers, considerations for farmers and gardeners, growing tips for branching sunflowers (including spacing, pinching, productivity, and succession planting), favorite varieties, and more. Listen to the podcast and...
May 18, 2023•26 min•Ep. 37
Would you like to grow beautiful stock, snapdragons, and tulips to include in your Mother's Day bouquets? Today, Layne is joined again by Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm to continue discussing her farm's top five Mother's Day flowers. Episode 35 (part 1) featured anemones and ranunculus, and today's episode (part 2) features the remaining three crops - stock, snapdragons, and tulips. Layne and Gretel cover each crop's significance, favorite colors and varieties, whether the plants are ...
May 11, 2023•29 min•Ep. 36
Would you like to grow gorgeous anemones and ranunculus to include in your Mother's Day bouquets? Today, Layne is joined by Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm to discuss her farm's top five Mother's Day flowers. Today's episode (part 1) features two of the five crops - anemones and ranunculus. Layne and Gretel discuss why Mother's Day is such an important holiday for Gretel's business and cover each crop's significance, favorite colors and varieties, whether the plants are grown in struct...
May 04, 2023•25 min•Ep. 35
Wondering when and how to fertilize your seedlings or how to amend your beds? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss fertilizer routines for seedlings, beds, and plants. They cover why they opt for organic fertilizers, when and how to fertilize growing seedlings and plants, what to incorporate into beds, consequences of overfertilizing, foliar feeding, and how to maintain beds of perennials and woody plants. Listen to the podcast and learn some tips for building healthy soil and growing productive plants...
Apr 27, 2023•23 min•Ep. 34
Did you know that many perennials can actually be started from seed? Today, Lisa and Layne are joined by Dave Dowling of Ball Seed to discuss three perennials grown for cut-flower use that can be started from seed. They cover why each plant is worth growing, USDA hardiness zones, favorite varieties, the meaning of "first-year flowering", growing and spacing tips, the proper harvest stage, vase life, and more. Listen to the podcast and get ready to grow echinacea, echinops, and yarrow from seed! ...
Apr 20, 2023•28 min•Ep. 33
Have you ever considered including ornamental peppers in your bouquets or wreaths? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss rooster peppers, the perfect peppers to grow for cut-flower use. They cover why rooster peppers are sought after by flower farmers, how many plants to grow and how to space them, the harvest stage for fresh and dried use, how to dry the peppers, and ideas for incorporating them into your bouquets and other arrangements. Listen to the podcast and learn how to spice up your bouquets wit...
Apr 13, 2023•23 min•Ep. 32
Do you have something growing on your soil blocks - other than seedlings? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss what to do about algae, mold, and fungal growth on soil blocks. They cover what might be growing on your blocks and why, how to properly water your soil blocks and adjust your growing conditions for healthy seedling growth, and tips for avoiding damping off. Listen to the podcast and get ready to troubleshoot the unwanted growth on your soil blocks! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conver...
Apr 06, 2023•31 min•Ep. 31
Would you like to enjoy a delicious tomato sandwich, spicy salsa, or a fresh spinach salad - all with vegetables harvested right out of your own garden? Today, Lisa and Layne are joined by Joe Lamp'l (aka the "joe" behind joe gardener®) to discuss three of Joe's must-grow vegetables to start from seed. They cover why each vegetable is worth growing, seed-starting and growing tips, succession planting, pests and diseases to look out for, harvesting tips, and favorite varieties and dishes. Listen ...
Mar 30, 2023•53 min•Ep. 30
Love the beautiful blue-green and silvery gray foliage of eucalyptus but have some questions about growing it? Today, Lisa and Layne are joined by Dave Dowling of Ball Seed to discuss all things eucalyptus. They cover why eucalyptus is worth growing, the presence of "rogue" seedlings when starting from seed, plant productivity, harvesting and overwintering tips, the best varieties to grow, which varieties to avoid, and more. Listen to the podcast and learn the best tips and techniques for growin...
Mar 23, 2023•34 min•Ep. 29
Have you ever wished you could have sunflowers earlier in the season? Are you willing to take a bit of a risk to make that happen? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the early sunflower experiments Lisa has conducted on the farm over the years. They cover why "early bird" sunflowers are worth experimenting with, when and how many seeds to start, which varieties to grow for late spring and early summer bouquets, planting and protection tips, and the effects of early planting on flower size and days to...
Mar 16, 2023•32 min•Ep. 28
Why is it important to thin direct-seeded and self-sown beds of seedlings, and when is the best time to do it? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss when and how to thin your beds of seedlings sown directly outdoors. They cover why thinning is crucial for the health and productivity of your plants, which plants may tolerate closer spacing, the most efficient methods for thinning, and whether or not you should attempt to transplant thinned seedlings. Listen to the podcast and get ready to thin your beds ...
Mar 09, 2023•20 min•Ep. 27
What is hardening off, and why is it so important? Are there alternatives to the traditional "in and out" method or any situations when hardening off is not necessary? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss how to harden off your seedlings to help them transition from their indoor growing environment to outdoor life. They cover why proper hardening off is critical for the health and well-being of your seedlings, different methods to accomplish it, possible exceptions, and how long it typically takes for ...
Mar 02, 2023•44 min•Ep. 26
Wondering how far in advance to start your seeds indoors? What should your target planting dates be for cool-season hardy annuals and warm-season tender annuals? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the proper timing for starting your seeds and transplanting them outdoors. They cover how to determine your planting dates, how far in advance to start (which may depend on the seed starting method you are using), seeds that are fast, medium, and slow growers, and whether it is better to be too early or too...
Feb 23, 2023•37 min•Ep. 25
Ready to learn about seven additional cool flowers with the potential to branch and produce multiple rounds of blooms? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss their third and final set of "cut and come again" cool flowers. They cover why each of these plants is worth growing, approximately how many stems you can expect per plant, and tips for succession planting. From snapdragons to yarrow, listen to the podcast and learn about the productivity of these cool-season hardy annuals! The video version of Lisa...
Feb 16, 2023•30 min•Ep. 24
Ready to learn about seven additional cool flowers with the potential to branch and produce multiple rounds of blooms? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss their second set of "cut and come again" cool flowers. They cover why each of these plants is worth growing, approximately how many stems you can expect per plant, and tips for succession planting. From Monarda 'Lambada' to Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus), listen to the podcast and learn about the productivity of these cool-season hardy annuals! The vide...
Feb 09, 2023•32 min•Ep. 23
Wondering if you should start your seeds in small soil blocks, large soil blocks, or plug trays? Should you start with a larger block size for seedlings that you plan on growing indoors for a longer period of time before transplanting? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss which types of seeds they prefer to start in soil blocks versus plug trays. They cover when and why they use small or large soil blocks versus plug trays, which seedlings get bumped up to larger soil blocks, and why starting in small ...
Feb 02, 2023•26 min•Ep. 22
Wondering which cool flowers will branch and produce multiple rounds of blooms? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the first half of their list of "cut and come again" cool flowers. They cover why each of these plants is worth growing, approximately how many stems you can expect per plant, and tips for succession planting. From Ammi to golden drumsticks, listen to the podcast and learn about the productivity of these cool-season hardy annuals! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will b...
Jan 26, 2023•44 min•Ep. 21
Planning on planting cool flowers in very early spring, including some that typically prefer to be direct-seeded? Wondering if sowing directly outdoors at that time of year is the best option? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss very early spring planting of cool-season hardy annuals that prefer to be sown directly outdoors in the garden. They cover the challenges of direct seeding during this time frame and propose three potential workarounds for you to consider. Listen to the podcast and learn some ...
Jan 19, 2023•20 min•Ep. 20
Wondering which cool flowers you should only count on for one round of blooms? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss their list of "one and done" cool flowers and explain why this list of plants may differ depending on your climate. They cover why each of these plants is considered "one and done", why they are worth growing, approximately how many stems you can expect from each plant, and tips for succession planting. Listen to the podcast and learn which cool flowers you can remove after their first ro...
Jan 12, 2023•39 min•Ep. 19
Happy New Year, everyone! Interested in integrating the Pantone Color of the Year into your garden or floral arrangements? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the Pantone Color of the Year for 2023 ('Viva Magenta') and a flower that matches this color beautifully (Zinnia 'Uproar Rose'). Of all the zinnias Lisa has grown as a flower farmer, 'Uproar Rose' is her very favorite. Listen to the podcast and find out why 'Uproar Rose' is a must-grow flower for your garden or farm! The video version of Lisa an...
Jan 05, 2023•14 min•Ep. 18
Have you ever wondered how the seed in your packets was actually produced? Interested in learning how to save seed from your celosia plants? Today, Lisa and Layne are joined by Emily Nekl of Fuggles Flowers to discuss her experience this past year growing 'Texas Plumes' celosia for seed production. Emily walks us through the entire process, from starting the seed to harvesting, drying, and cleaning. Whether you are curious about how seed production works or are interested in saving seed yourself...
Dec 29, 2022•49 min•Ep. 17
Are your fall-planted cool flowers getting too large or even trying to bloom before winter? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss why bigger is not necessarily better for cool flowers heading into winter, tips for trying to slow the growth of your plants, and what to do if they are attempting to bloom prematurely. Listen to the podcast and get ready to troubleshoot your overeager cool flowers! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardener’s Workshop’s YouTube channel,...
Dec 22, 2022•14 min•Ep. 16
Do you love having the showstopping blooms of amaryllis in your home during the wintertime? Wondering how to care for your growing plant and what to do after it blooms? Today, Lisa and Layne are joined by Val Schirmer of Three Toads Farm to discuss the ins and outs of amaryllis care. They cover bulb selection, potting and growing tips, troubleshooting, and the steps to take to save your amaryllis bulbs for more flowers next year. Listen to the podcast and get ready to enjoy spectacular amaryllis...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 15
Interested in flower arranging but wondering which tools and supplies you need to get started? Today, florist Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers joins Lisa and Layne to discuss the key items you need in your toolbox. Whether you are interested in floral design yourself or would like to put together a kit for a friend, Ellen fills us in on the must-have essentials. Listen to the podcast and get ready to make your own flower arranging kit - to gift or to keep for yourself! The video version of Lis...
Dec 08, 2022•11 min•Ep. 14
Shopping for a gardener (or yourself) this holiday season? Lisa and Layne have you covered! In a singing Santa hat and antlers, Lisa and Layne discuss their top gift ideas for gardeners, flower farmers, and even houseplant lovers. Listen to the podcast for a fun look at some of the girls' all-time favorite things! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardener’s Workshop’s YouTube channel, where all “Seed Talk” episodes are organized into a playlist . In additi...
Dec 01, 2022•28 min•Ep. 13
In honor of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Lisa and Layne discuss two flowers they are thankful for - sunflowers and strawflowers. Listen to the podcast and learn what these beautiful flowers have to offer. For those celebrating Thanksgiving today, we wish you a safe and happy holiday with family and friends! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardener’s Workshop’s YouTube channel, where all “Seed Talk” episodes are organized into a playlist . In add...
Nov 24, 2022•12 min•Ep. 12
