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- Georgia Research Finds Flowers can Follow Strawberries Season Crop
- Researchers in Georgia have found that a variety of cut flowers may be a good match for strawberry producers. In Georgia strawberry production in the summer months are often crop free and the beds are open for use, according to Bodie Pennisi, University of Georgia, Athens (UGA) Horticulture Department. Cut flowers can offer growers a compatible crop and another source of income.
Speaking at the Georgia–South Carolina Strawberry Conference, held in January, the researcher reported on the potential of co-cropping strawberries with cut flowers. Working with researchers Gerard Krewer, UGA Horticulture Department, Willie Chance, UGA-Houston County Extension and Scott Utley, UGA-Turner County Extension, Pennisi found that ornamental plants can diversify the product line and be sold from late June (fresh flowers) until late fall (dry flowers).
The project was undertaken to explore the potential for strawberry growers to generate additional income through growing alternative crops such as cut flowers during the summer months, and attracted the attention of many southern strawberry growers at the winter conference.
In their research, cut flowers were annuals, perennials or bulbs. Pennisi said annuals offer the best choice for strawberry growers because they flower quickly, the cost for starting material is low, and seeds can be easily direct-sown in the field.
Annual seeds can be obtained from numerous seed companies, she told growers. And plants can be started from plugs (transplants) either grown by the strawberry grower or purchased from an ornamental plug producer. Plug producers need 12 weeks lead time to plan their orders. The advantage of plugs as starting material is that it allows the grower to capture earlier markets, which for fresh flowers are always stronger in spring.
“We evaluated several annual and perennial species, started from seed grown at UGA greenhouse facilities in Tifton, direct-sown in the field, or from plugs,” Pennisi said. “Plugs grown at UGA were sown four to five weeks before the planting, which took place in the first week of June.”
Three strawberry growers located throughout Georgia participated in the trial. Due to insufficient irrigation, two of the farms did not produce satisfactory results. The third farm consistently produced the quantity and quality of flowers necessary for a market study.
Reporting data from that one location, the researcher said that before flowers were planted, strawberry plants were killed using herbicide. Seeds (sunflower) or plugs (annual and perennial) were sown/planted in strawberry beds in two rows per bed, on 12-inch spacing between plants in a row and 12-inch between rows, on June 5, 2001.
Flowers were harvested, bunched up in a mixed bouquet (10 stems @ $4), and displayed for sale on the farm. In addition, sunflowers were cut daily, delivered to a local retail florist for 50 cents a stem.
“We found that although the mixed bouquets attracted considerable customer attention, sales were not as high as expected,” reported Pennisi. “Customers were coming in the market looking for food items and not flowers. However, with sufficient marketing in advance, we believe that fresh flowers could become a successful companion to fresh food produce.”
In general, disease and insect damage was minimal through the growing season, but if sunflowers were left for more than one day after the petals had unfolded, small beetles ate the petals, she said.
Pennisi cited 1997 research by A. Stevens, reporting that many species can be grown for cut flowers, but should have desirable characteristics. Those desirable traits for flowers are low cost of production, heat and drought and humidity-tolerance, disease and pest-resistance, long-stems, high production per square feet of bed space, and a vase life of seven to 10 days. Flowers should also offer easy harvest and handling, a short cropping cycle and the ability to be sold fresh or to sell surplus as dried flowers.
Southern strawberry growers interested in growing cut flowers should research their market opportunities and the techniques for flower production before beginning, said Pennisi. The researchers offered general advice for strawberry growers.
Growers should also be sure to gain insight into the methods of planting, growing, harvesting, dealing with disease and cooling of flowers. First-time growers of cut flowers should also investigate containers, presentation and storage, said Pennisi.
The research points to the conclusion that cut flowers can be successfully grown as a companion or post-strawberry crop to provide additional income for southern growers. Advance marketing is important for the successful sales of cut flowers.
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