Resources for Commercial Production of Outdoor Cut Flowers in High Tunnels
Books and Associations
- Specialty Cut Flowers, 2nd Edition. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 636 p.Armitage, Allan, and Judy Laushman. 2003.
Provides extensive coverage of annual, perennial, bulbous, and woody species for commercial cut flower production, including propagation and growing-on methods, environmental factors, yield in the field, greenhouse forcing, stage of harvest, postharvest handling, and pests and diseases. Available for $40 ($35 for members) plus s/h from ASCFG (below). - Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG)
http://www.ascfg.org/
The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG) was formed in 1988 to unite and inform growers in the production and marketing of field and specialty floral crops. The organization hosts an annual national conference and trade show, regional meetings, tours, and seminars. The ASCFG Membership Directory and Buyers Guide lists all members and provides thumbnail descriptions of growers, buyers, and suppliers. The ASCFG also publishes a quarterly magazine and maintains an active Web site and forum. - The Hoophouse Handbook: Growing Produce and Flowers in Hoophouses and High Tunnels. 2003. By Lynn Byczynski (ed.). Fairplain Publications, Inc. 60 pages
Includes information on construction and management, including crops to grow and sources of supplies. Available from Growing for Market, 800-307-8949 - High Tunnel Production Manual. 2003. By William J. Lamont et al. The Pennsylvania State University. 164 pages
Covers construction, production, and economics for vegetables, berries, sweet cherries, and flowers. Includes additional resources. Available from: Dr. Bill Lamont Department of Horticulture, 206 Tyson Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
Newsletters
- Growing for Market newsletter
A newsletter for market gardeners, contains a monthly column on field-grown cut flower production and marketing. This newsletter is geared for small-scale operations and also focuses on sustainable production techniques. GFM is available for $30 per year.
Websites
- University of Massachusetts Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program
http://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture - Fact sheets on growing field grown cut flowers and post harvest handling of cut flowers:
- Field Grown Annuals for Cut Flowers
- Weed Management for Outdoor Cut Flowers
- Sugar and Acidity in Preservative Solutions for Field-grown Cut Flowers
- Postharvest Handling of Six More Field-grown Cut Flowers—Astilbe, Gladiolus, Helianthus, Liatris, Lilium, Zinnia
- Using Coralbells as Cut Flowers
- Postharvest Handling Tips for Cut Flowers of Some Spring Flowering Bulbs
- Insect Problems in Commercial Production of Outdoor Cut Flowers
- Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners by ATTRA (28 pages, includes section on high tunnels)
PDF version: https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/seasonext.pdf
HTML version: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/season-extension-techniques-for-market-gardeners/ - Specialty Cut Flower Production and Marketing by ATTRA (36 pages, large files)
PDF version: https://attradev.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cutflower.pdf
HTML version: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/specialty-cut-flower-production-and-marketing/ - USDA Ornamental Price Report (Boston) Weekly wholesale price report for cut flowers and other ornamentals
https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/bh_fv201.txt
2010