The last Sunday of June
Six months in the book for this flower farmer. I started with tulips in January, hauling crates in anyway, and now we are about to enter July. It seems as though the weather is going to follow suit. HOT and humid. Joy, harvesting before the dog walk, keeping the water up to the flowers and the flower girl will be paramount this week.
I have to remember to raise the temp of the cool bot tonight or in the morning. I don’t need to keep the cooler at 40 degrees now. The summer flowers that are coming in don’t even like it that cold so we will raise it to 50-55 degrees. That will still be quite cool, especially if it is in the 90’s outside.
While I still remember, the flower shed will be closed on Friday July 3. If you are going to need or want flowers you will have to get them on Tuesday, or special order them for Thursday pick up. We are going to be chilling at the lake.
My new irrigation system has arrived which is great! It is totally moveable, as long as I can get a hose to it to run it. I am going to use it this summer to get some cover crop to germinate, instead of me watering by hand each day with my mobile tank. I figure once I get the seed down 4 waterings of 5 minutes each day, this should get the seeds off to a good start. First though I want to broadfork the aisles between the peonies to see if I can break up some of the hard pan that was created when Garth was running the digger over the area when he was making garden space for me all those years ago. Once I get it forked, I will sow tillage radish which is supposed to go deep and open up the soil, and buckwheat for a cover crop and pollinators. No time off in the summer.
The dahlias are up and just about at the point where they can get their first pinch and fertilize. Once that is done they will get fertigated (seaweed and molasses run through the irrigation) once a week until they and all the annuals then switch to a foliar spray of the same.
The cool annuals are about done, and with the high summer temps this week that will be the end of them, so if you want more beautiful ranunculus and anemones this is the week because they will start going dormant very soon now.
The sweet peas “I’m not growing” are still going strong as the the
pansies whose stems are getting long enough to put in bouquets which makes me happy. Not a big seller, but they just add so much and last a long time in a bouquet or arrangement.
Speaking of pansies in an arrangement, I had time to do an arrangement on Thursday. Here goes.
I filled the container when I made it on Thursday, again on Friday and tonight it is bone dry. What we need to remember as flower lovers that the flowers are going to drink more water in the summer. Even more water if the flowers aren’t conditioned, which these weren’t. Shame on me. So remember, keep the water up to the flowers. Keep the water and vase clean and, if you can, keep them cool. For you my flower lovers all flowers are conditioned but you will still have to keep the water clean and the flowers watered.
I will pass you off to Steve for what ever ditty he writes. Don’t forget to go on and read me, my clicks are down. What ever that means.
Also don’t forget the flower shed will be closed on Friday July 3, so you will need to come on Tuesday from 2-5 or special order for Thursday. Stay cool and hydrated.
Allie. I dream of flowers, do you?