Springtime on a California flower farm is something to behold, and with two farms located at each end of the state (Northern Arcata and Southern Oxnard), we get to experience this magical season two-fold. Today, our Spring Flower Series brings us to our fabulous Iris. Yes, we grow this crop year-round, but springtime is when it really kicks into high gear.
California Iris
We grow a few crops at both our Oxnard and Arcata farms and Iris is a big one. In warmer Oxnard, our iris is grown in open fields October through May, and in cool, coastal Arcata, we grow iris in hoop houses year-round. This parallel production gives us a steady supply of fresh iris, especially during spring as the both farms take advantage of the perfect iris weather.
When summer brings its heat, it will be too hot for field iris in Oxnard, but our cool and foggy Arcata summers create the perfect environment, so come summer, we will be growing iris in both hoops and the field. Frosty nights are few and far between, and there’s sufficient sun during the day without the oppressive heat that can cause plants to go dormant.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Sun Valley Group's Flower Talk