Has the turn of the year inspired you to get organized? Wondering the best ways to categorize your seeds for easy access and efficiency? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss some helpful tips and considerations to keep in mind when organizing your seeds. They cover identifying your seed organization goals, different ways to group your seeds, alphabetizing by botanical versus common names, and how to keep track of seed age and quantities remaining. Listen to the podcast and get ready for the growing sea...
Jan 11, 2024•13 min•Ep. 71
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 2024 ('Peach Fuzz') and a beautiful cockscomb flower that embodies this color story (Celosia 'Jura Salmon'). Listen to the podcast and find out why 'Jura Salmon' is a must-grow flower for your garden or farm! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardener’s Workshop’s YouTube c...
Jan 04, 2024•14 min•Ep. 70
Are you ready for a fresh start in 2024? Have you taken some time to reflect on changes you will be making going into the new year? Today, Lisa and Layne wrap up the year with a review of the top-selling seeds of 2023, new things they will be trying in 2024, some flowers they will not be growing, and resolutions for a new gardening season. Listen to the podcast, consider what changes you might make in your own field or garden in the upcoming year, and look forward to a beautiful 2024! The video ...
Dec 28, 2023•22 min•Ep. 69
Wondering how to install row cover that actually stays in place? Confused about when to put covers up or take them down? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss some important row cover do's and don'ts when overwintering cool-season hardy annuals (a.k.a. cool flowers). They cover how to properly space your hoops and secure your row cover, fabric weight considerations, which temperature and weather conditions should prompt you to put up or take down your covers, and more. Listen to the podcast and learn so...
Dec 21, 2023•30 min•Ep. 68
Shopping for a gardener or farmer (or yourself) this holiday season? Wondering which books are worthy of adding to your collection? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss some of their top book recommendations for gardeners, flower farmers, and nature lovers. Listen to the podcast and get ready to expand your library with some of the girls' all-time favorite books! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardener’s Workshop’s YouTube channel, where all “Seed Talk” episode...
Dec 14, 2023•25 min•Ep. 67
Do you love brightening up your home during the cold winter months with the fresh, beautiful blooms of paperwhites? Wondering if there is any way to avoid the frustrating problem of foliage and flower stems that grow too tall and flop over? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss three tips to help prevent your paperwhites ( Narcissus tazetta ) from flopping when forcing these bulbs indoors. Plus, they provide a bonus tip about bulb selection to help reduce the classic paperwhite fragrance that many peopl...
Dec 07, 2023•18 min•Ep. 66
Did your hardiness zone change in the newly updated USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map? Wondering what this means for your plantings of cool flowers going forward? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the just released 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map and implications for growers whose zone designations have changed. They cover noteworthy updates and nationwide trends in the new version of the map, implications for those outside of the United States using the map as a reference, cool-season hardy annual c...
Nov 30, 2023•20 min•Ep. 65
In honor of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Lisa and Layne continue with last year's theme and discuss two more flowers they are thankful for - foxgloves and snapdragons. 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...
Nov 23, 2023•18 min•Ep. 64
Are you distressed to see buds forming on your fall-planted cool flowers before winter has even set in? Wondering what might have gone wrong and what you should do? Today, Lisa and Layne troubleshoot premature blooms on fall-planted cool flowers. They cover potential causes of premature bud formation and blooming, which cool flowers are more prone to this behavior, and what to do for early-blooming branching and single-stem plants. Listen to the podcast and learn how to deal with overeager plant...
Nov 16, 2023•20 min•Ep. 63
Are you a garden and flower lover who has always dreamed of traveling to England? Wondering which sights to see on a flower-filled journey across the pond? Today, Lisa and Layne are joined by florist Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers to discuss Ellen's recent trip to England. Ellen describes her stops at Columbia Road Flower Market, Brothers Farm Flowers, Compton Acres, and Kew Gardens and shares her perspective on the flower culture in England, new flower discoveries, travel tips, and more. Li...
Nov 09, 2023•27 min•Ep. 62
Running behind schedule on your fall cool flower plantings? Wondering if you still have time to plant, or if your window of opportunity has passed? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss whether or not it is too late to start or plant cool-season hardy annuals this fall. They cover how to determine whether it is too late based on your seed-starting method (direct seeding versus transplanting) and weather conditions, wintertime plantings in warm climates where the ground does not freeze, the importance of...
Nov 02, 2023•17 min•Ep. 61
Contemplating which tasks should be on your mind when preparing your flower beds in the fall? Wondering how bed preparation may differ depending on your plans for the space or the type of bed (conventional versus no-till)? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss their checklist of key considerations to keep in mind when preparing your beds in the fall. They cover when and how to tear down conventional and no-till beds, how to prepare beds depending on your plans for the space (planting immediately, cover ...
Oct 26, 2023•24 min•Ep. 60
Does your flower support netting end up in a tangled mess when you try to remove it? Wondering if there is a better way to remove the netting so that it can be easily stored and reused? Today, Lisa and Layne cover five simple steps to remove and store plastic mesh netting (such as Hortonova) for future use. They cover each step in detail, from stake removal to storage. Listen to the podcast and learn how to neatly and efficiently remove and save the netting from your flower beds! The video versi...
Oct 19, 2023•14 min•Ep. 59
Would you like to grow your own material for dried flower crafts or arrangements? Wondering which cool flowers to include in your garden for drying purposes? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the results of this year's cool flower drying experiments. They cover a variety of cool flowers, describing how the flowers look when air dried, whether they hold their shape and color, and why they are valuable as dried flowers. Listen to the podcast and learn which cool flowers to include in your garden for d...
Oct 12, 2023•24 min•Ep. 58
Are you realizing that you may have started your cool flower transplants a bit too early? Wondering how to slow down seedling growth if weather is preventing you from transplanting out on time? Today, Lisa and Layne troubleshoot issues with cool flower transplant timing. They cover the ideal transplant size and weather conditions for fall-planted cool flowers, ways to slow down seedling growth when transplanting is delayed, and tips for using row covers or shade cloth when planting cool flowers ...
Oct 05, 2023•24 min•Ep. 57
Are you having difficulty germinating some of your cool flower seeds? Wondering why you are not seeing more sprouts in your grow room or in the garden? Today, Lisa and Layne troubleshoot germination issues with rudbeckia, bells of Ireland, and poppies. They cover tips, tricks, and common pitfalls for each seed to help improve germination. Listen to the podcast and learn how to convert your seeds into seedlings! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardener’s W...
Sep 28, 2023•22 min•Ep. 56
Are your direct-seeded beds of cool flowers looking thinner than you would like? Wondering what may have gone wrong and if there is anything you can do going forward to improve germination? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss ten mistakes to avoid when sowing cool flower seeds directly outdoors in the fall. From bed preparation to thinning and everything in between, listen to the podcast and learn how to sow directly outdoors with success! The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be pos...
Sep 21, 2023•30 min•Ep. 55
Would you like to grow gorgeous godetia and orlaya flowers on taller plants with longer stems? Today, Layne is joined again by Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm to continue discussing the seven cool-season annual crops his farm will be growing next year and the advantages of growing these flowers in tunnels. Episode 53 (part 1) featured snapdragons and scabiosa 'Fama', and today's episode (part 2) features the remaining five crops - orlaya, foxgloves, godetia, anemones, and ranunculus. Layne a...
Sep 14, 2023•28 min•Ep. 54
Would you like to grow gorgeous snapdragons and scabiosa and enjoy their beautiful blooms even earlier next spring? Today, Layne is joined by Jonathan Leiss of Spring Forth Farm to discuss the seven cool-season annual crops his farm will be growing next year and the advantages of growing these flowers in tunnels. Today's episode (part 1) features an introduction to Jonathan, tips for growing in tunnels, and two of the seven crops - snapdragons and scabiosa 'Fama'. First, Layne and Jonathan discu...
Sep 07, 2023•41 min•Ep. 53
Have you ever struggled with unpredictable zinnia vase life, weak necks, or complete "zinnia meltdown"? Wondering if there is anything you can do as a grower to help prevent these issues from occurring? Today, Lisa and Layne are joined by florist Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers to discuss some of the challenges she faces using zinnias in her designs. In this farmer / florist troubleshooting session, they cover cooler confusion and challenges, whether or not it is necessary to change bucket wa...
Aug 31, 2023•45 min•Ep. 52
Looking for the perfect filler flower to add a bit of sunshine to your late-season bouquets? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss Rudbeckia triloba , a beautiful species of black-eyed susan featuring airy sprays of cheerful yellow flowers. They cover what makes 'Triloba' so special, why it is valuable both in the landscape and in bouquets, how to plant in a cutting bed or establish a self-seeding patch in the garden, plant spacing, the typical bloom time and harvest window, the number of stems to expec...
Aug 24, 2023•21 min•Ep. 51
Confused by all the sweet william varieties available? Wondering how to choose between 'Amazon' and 'Sweet', and if there are any benefits to growing both? Today, Lisa and Layne compare and contrast the 'Amazon' and 'Sweet' series of sweet william. They cover similarities as well as the differences in flower form, bloom time, height, heat tolerance, productivity, fragrance, and color selection. Listen to the podcast and learn if 'Amazon' or 'Sweet' are the sweet williams for you! The video versi...
Aug 17, 2023•14 min•Ep. 50
Did you know that fall is the perfect time to plant cool-season hardy annuals for a bountiful, flower-filled garden next spring? Wondering what to plant when, and how to adjust your grow room to provide the optimal environment for cool flower seeds and seedlings? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss their checklist of key items to keep in mind when planning your fall plantings and sowing cool flower seeds. They cover what to plant in the fall and when, how many seeds to sow relative to the number of pl...
Aug 10, 2023•22 min•Ep. 49
Looking for the perfect flower to add interest, texture, and color to your fall bouquets? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss all things amaranth. They compare the upright and trailing forms of amaranth and cover how to prevent leggy seedlings, the ideal head size for use in mixed bouquets, pinching and spacing, dealing with pest pressure, the proper harvest stage for fresh and dried use, favorite varieties, and more. Listen to the podcast and learn how to grow these textural fall favorites! The video...
Aug 03, 2023•34 min•Ep. 48
Do you dread working outdoors in the blazing summer heat? Looking for some insights to help maximize your efficiency, comfort, and safety during hot conditions? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss their top ten tips for working outdoors and harvesting flowers in hot weather. Plus, they provide a bonus tip about structuring your farm or garden to fit your lifestyle and temperature preferences. Listen to the podcast and learn how to make the most of your time outdoors during hot spells! The video versio...
Jul 27, 2023•36 min•Ep. 47
Did you know that there are gorgeous varieties of kale that grow tall enough to be used in bouquets? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss one of fall's most beautiful cut "flowers" - ornamental kale. They cover the differences between cut-flower and bedding or culinary varieties, when to start your seeds for a fall harvest, the risks of starting too early or too late, how to space your seedlings for the perfect head and stem size, the importance of support netting, pest management, conditioning tips, t...
Jul 20, 2023•25 min•Ep. 46
Are Japanese beetles destroying your plants? Wondering what you can do to reduce the population of these pests in your garden or on your farm? Today, Lisa and Layne are joined by The Gardener's Workshop's warehouse manager and bug enthusiast Rhonda Graves to tackle the subject of Japanese beetles. They discuss how to identify Japanese beetles, their place of origin and where they have spread to, how they damage plants, their lifecycle and lifespan, when they emerge and how long they stick around...
Jul 13, 2023•34 min•Ep. 45
Wondering which varieties of zinnias to grow in your garden or on your farm? Today, Lisa and Layne compare some of the most common zinnias grown for cut flower production. First, they discuss how to determine if you still have time to sow zinnia seeds for a fall crop. Then, for each cultivar (Benary's Giants, Uproar Rose, Oklahoma, Queen / Queeny, Zowie, and Giant Cactus), they cover the bloom size, plant height, days to maturity, seed type (open pollinated versus hybrid), color selections (incl...
Jul 06, 2023•27 min•Ep. 44
Did you come to The Gardener's Workshop's Open Farm event this past weekend? If so, we are thrilled you were able to join us! Even if you were not able to attend, would you like a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the day's happenings? Today, Layne talks to flower experts and online course instructors Dave Dowling, Ellen Frost, Val Schirmer, and Lisa regarding their experiences at the Open Farm 2023 event. She chats with these special guests about frequently asked questions they received, what visito...
Jun 29, 2023•26 min•Ep. 43
Are your sunflower plants exhibiting confusing behaviors, such as blooming on short stems or having multiple blooms on a single stem? Have you been disappointed by pest damage or the head size, neck strength, or vase life of your flowers? Today, Lisa and Layne troubleshoot some of the most frequently asked sunflower questions. They cover the occurrence of multiple blooms on single-stem sunflowers, plants flowering on short stems, pest damage, head size issues, soft necks on cut flowers, vase lif...
Jun 22, 2023•24 min•Ep. 42
