This week in California Insights we are going to discuss the growing of field ‘crop’ flowers in California. There are essentially three methods in which flowers are grown here: field, hoop and greenhouse.
Field grown flowers have no protection from the elements, hoop are low plastic covered protection and greenhouses are the most protected and have automation to control environment.
Certain flowers do best in a field setting such as; stock, larkspur and sunflowers. Unfortunately that means that any changes in weather can affect them adversely. In stock for example, the term ‘heat check’ is often heard in the summer months. Heat check is when the variance between daytime and night time temperatures is not enough. The stock basically shuts down and stays dormant until the difference is greater than 15 degrees again. Stock is also affected by rain/ moisture. If there is rain when the stock is flowering and ready to harvest then growers have to treat the crop and allow it to ‘dry out’ for two days before it can be cut. This is why you will have gaps in availability during season that seem odd but they are most likely weather driven.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Eye On DVFlora