451- Growing Cut Flowers & More For A Farmer's Market With Sarah Shuman The Beginner's Garden With Jill McSheehy podcast

Content provided by Jill McSheehy. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jill McSheehy or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

The Beginner's Garden with Jill McSheehy »
451- Growing Cut Flowers & More for a Farmer's Market with Sarah Shuman

1d ago 51:43

MP3•Episode home

Struggling to figure out how to turn your love of gardening into something you can share—or even sell? In this episode, Sarah walks us through how she built a thriving cut flower business for her local farmers market. You'll hear the practical steps she took, what she wishes she knew sooner, and how she manages growing for both beauty and profit. If you've wondered whether you could do something similar, this conversation gives you hope and a clear starting point.

free download: Garden Cheat Sheet

A simple, step-by-step starter plan to help you begin your garden with confidence. https://journeywithjill.net/gardening/when-to-plant/

Key Takeaways

Why selling flowers can be more approachable than selling vegetables
How Sarah planned her first year—and what she'd change
The importance of bloom times, succession planting, and crop selection
How working with a partner shaped the business
What she's learned from customers and community at the farmers market

Chapters

00:00 – Why Sarah chose cut flowers 04:30 – Planning the first flower season 06:20 – Bloom timing and succession basics 10:40 – Overwintering and cool-season flowers 13:40 – Direct sowing vs. plugs 17:30 – Working with a business partner 21:05 – What keeps her motivated 22:50 – The hardest parts of flower farming 25:00 – Planning mistakes in year one 27:45 – Profitable vs. low-profit crops 36:30 – Using plant starts to build early customers 39:10 – Adding microgreens for income 43:40 – What farmers markets taught her about people 47:00 – How to get started selling at a market

Resource Links

Free Garden Cheat Sheet: https://journeywithjill.net/gardening/when-to-plant/ Friday Emails (newsletter): https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/ Podcast Archive: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/

Soft Paid Mention: Complete Garden Planner – A simple system to plan and track your season. https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Disclaimer

Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance. Some links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

540 episodes

#Lifestyle #Beginninggardener #Organicgardening #Vegetablegardening #Business #Agriculture #Jill McSheehy #Gardening #Industries #Podcasting Education #Homegarden