PYO Flowers

Spring Ledge offers Pick Your Own flowers on over 1/3 acre in the fields next to the farmstand. We grow 248 varieties of flowers including old time favorites snapdragons, zinnias, asters, cosmos and bachelor buttons. We also try new plants and varieties each year and offer many color choices for each type of plant. For instance, we plan to grow eight varieties of snapdragons and 10 types of sunflowers this year. Our plantings are staggered throughout the summer to provide a steady supply of flowers. We are at the mercy of the weather, though, and therefore cannot guarantee any flowers will be available at any particular time.

Our cut flower garden is open during normal business hours. The garden is located just beyond the farmstand and parking lot (directions to the farmstand). We have a picnic table set up with buckets of water, scissors and plant information. We offer signage with tips on the best way to cut fresh flowers.

Choose your weapon, grab a bucket of water and meander into the garden. We charge by the pound – $10.50 / lb. Pre-picked bunches are $8.50 each and usually weigh in at around 1/3-1/2 lb.

Of course any time you wish to browse through the garden for ideas on new plants or to watch the bees in action, you are welcome to do so.

Cutting Tips

The following are harvesting and conditioning techniques used for the most common garden cut flowers. Any flower not specifically mentioned below, and there are hundreds that could be used as cut flowers, will benefit from the following:

  • Cut flowers before they are fully open, usually halfway open and showing color.
  • Cut the longest possible stem to retain the most options when arranging the flowers.
  • Be sure to have a pail of water with you when cutting flowers and place the cut stems into the water as soon as you cut them.
  • Cut early in the morning when plant tissues are firm.
  • Use sharp tools to cut, not crush, the stems.

Post Harvest Treatment

You have your fresh cut flowers, now what? The following tips will help extend the vase life of your cut flowers.

  • Keep them cool or even refrigerated until ready for arranging.
  • Re-cut the stems underwater. When stems are cut in the air, a bubble forms in the conductive tissues of the flower (phloem and xylem). This air bubble can slow down the uptake of water and food for the flower and decrease the vase life. When you cut the stems underwater, the air bubble does not form.
  • Stand the cut flowers loosely in a darkened and cool area for several hours. This reduces the transpiration of the leaves which in turn retains water.
  • If desired, add floral preservative, such as Floralife. Or, try a homemade version of 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon bleach to each quart of water in the vase. The bleach keeps bacteria from growing and clogging up the phloem and xylem, and the sugar provides some food for the flower.
  • Arrange, place in your favorite room and enjoy.

Cut Flowers at Home

Growing flowers for cutting at home is simply a matter of choosing the right varieties and knowing when to cut. In the spring (May & June), we offer limited quantities of our Cut Flower Garden Pack. Included are 24 plants (14 varieties) that we find well suited for our growing season in N.H. We also include a suggested planting map. The Cut Flower Garden Pack sells for $19.50.

Of course you don’t need to rely on our ideas. Whether from seed or transplants, many flowers are well suited to cutting. Check the plant description in the catalog or on the tag for good height (18″+) and possibly a reference to its use as a cut flower. Or check our cut flower listing for some common and not so common plants useful for cutting.

Weddings

In the past, wedding parties used our cut flower garden to supplement their bouquets and arrangements. We are more than happy to have groups of pickers in our garden. There are a few differences between our operation and a standard florist:

  • First, we are not flower arrangers. We just grow ‘em.
  • Second, our policy regarding weddings is to have no policy. You pick at your own risk and use the flowers however and wherever you like.
  • Third, because of unpredictable weather and picking pressures, we cannot guarantee any particular color, type or quantity of flowers on any particular day.
  • Fourth, the cutting garden is a first come, first serve pick your own operation.

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