We're up to our elbows in Aster Yellows with fungus among us! Crop failure is a part of farming, but what can we learn? In today's Live episode, Bailey thinks like a plant to troubleshoot common problems with Asters, Cosmos and Chocolate Cosmos, annual Phlox, Snapdragons, Stock, Strawflower, Scoop Scabiosa and more. 

But first, a sneak peak of upcoming additions to the Farmer Bailey lineup, including:

• 3 Porch Farm Heirloom Mums (10/2)
• Plug Connection plugs = the quality you expect, with more affordable shipping for Western growers (10/2)
• Woody perennials & peonies from Kolster BV of the Netherlands (11/1)

For those keeping up with book suggestions, visit ascfg.org/shop/books/ to order:

• Specialty Cut Flowers, Second Edition, by Allan Armitage & Judy Laushman
• Woody Cut Stems, Production and Postharvest Handling of Branches for Flowers, Fruit, and Foliage, by Lane Greer & John M. Dole

Pre-ordering is now open for our friend Lennie Larkin's essential new book, Flower Farming for Profit. Pre-orders are critical for any book's success; please join us in ordering now if you can. Lennie is the farmer behind B-Side Farm, an excellent teacher and savvy businesswoman. Follow @FlowerFarming.forProfit on Instagram to learn more. 

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere with Farmer Bailey is an educational video series for flower farmers that broadcasts Live on Instagram every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at Noon ET/9am PT/5pm GMT.  Every episode is available on our YouTube Channel.  We're standing by at info@farmerbailey.com, ready to receive cultural questions and topic suggestions for Bailey and expert guests. 

 

Everyone knows that flower farming is easy. Simply transplant healthy seedlings into any old dirt and let Mother Nature do her thing. Very soon, you'll have perfect blooms ready to be sold to an appreciative customer. Are you laughing yet? I hope so.

In reality, each specialty cut flower crop requires unique care and growing conditions. Even supported by research, netting, and humble prayers, some of our flower crops will fail. This is where taking notes on weird weather, wild temperature swings and pest pressure turns failure into forward momentum. Armed with observations, you're ready to troubleshoot next season, and Farmer Bailey is here to help.

Farmer Bailey returns to Instagram Live for a talk on Troubleshooting Tricky Crops on Wednesday, September 13 from Noon ET/9am PT/5pm GMT.  Leave us a Comment below with the crops that have refused to cooperate for you, and Bailey will address them during the Live session.  Include any relevant details you have: did you grow in a field, or tunnel? Were conditions droughty or wet? What did you observe?

Feeling shy? Email info@farmerbailey.com with your pesky plant problems and let us know you'd like to remain anonymous.  We get it.