Bloommates

This episode is a dahlia lover’s dream. Katie and Sarah asked each guest from this season of the podcast to share their top 5 favourite dahlias for cut flower production, then compiled all the answers (as well as their own) into one big list of Australian grower favourites.
From tried-and-true classics to newer releases, a few tissue culture varieties from Ball Australia, and even a few that haven’t quite hit the market yet, this episode covers more than 30 cultivars that flower farmers across Australia are loving right now. Whether you’re growing on a tiny patch or a large-scale farm, there’s plenty of inspiration for your wish list ahead of tuber sale season!
Featured growers & their picks:
Luen (@luensflowers) Coorabell Astrid, Bracken Palomino, Coorabell Texas, Boundary Snowflake, Kotare Buttermilk. Honourable mention: Devon Seattle
Jen (@southernhighlandsflowerfarm) Fancy Pants, Penhill Watermelon, Lileah Pink Petticoats, Darbro Barton A25, Florelie Cosmic Romance
Kate (@bushy.blooms) Portlight Pair Beauty, Orange Stone, Yellow Quartz, Coorabell Astrid, Winkie Rhubarb
Mardi (@qcflowerfarm) Queen Vic Life on Mars, Serenade Rosa, Serenade Fairylights, QC Hot Mess (working title), Coorabell Emma
Sarah (@quayle.cottage) Everbloom First Dance, Florelie Antique, Everbloom Lioness, Everbloom Rockmelon, Sheila, Boundary Snowflake.
Katie (@grown_by_lightninghollows) Carlos Watermelon, Winkie Truffle, Bracken Palomino, Florelie Lizzie Lou, XanZu Bek, Devon Salmon. Honourable mentions: Pink Quartz, Florelie Flamingo, Coorabell Moonglow

In this episode, Sarah and Katie chat with Hannah Urquhart from @floriculturalife - an ag science graduate working at Bush Roses in Bookham, NSW, a large-scale commercial flower farm growing everything from roses and natives to annuals, perennials and foliage.

We dive into what working on a commercial flower farm actually looks like day-to-day, from the systems and infrastructure needed to run at scale to the realities of working as an employee in the flower industry rather than owning the business yourself.

You can find Hannah here:
Instagram: @floriculturalife

OUR FREE GUIDE: ⁠How To Order From Ball Australia⁠

In this episode, Katie & Sarah talk through where they actually buy everything from for their Australian flower farms including plugs, seeds, live plants, bulbs, farming tools, and floristry equipment.

Chapters:
00:37 Ball Australia
28:13 High Sun Express for Bulk Seeds
35:39 Royston Petrie Seeds
40:30 Bulb Suppliers
44:35 Plant Suppliers
56:39 Retail Seed Suppliers
01:05:46 Essential Equipment and Tools for Flower Farming & Floristry.

Suppliers mentioned:
​Ball Australia
​High Sun Express
​Royston Petrie Seeds
​Drewitts Family Farms (wholesale) / Red Earth Bulbs (retail)
​Van Diemen Quality Bulbs
​JD Propagation
​Mikiry Chrysanthemums
​Wild Violet Flower Farm
​Pure Maiden Farm
​Twist Creek Flora
​Southern Highlands Flower Farm
​Di’s Delightful Plants
​Woodbridge Nursery
​ERA Nursery
​Veggie & Flower Garden Seeds
​The Seed Collection
​The Diggers Club
​Transition Farm
​Earthenry Farm
​Southern Harvest
​Seed Scape
​Three Dogs Flower Farm
​Active Vista
​Koch & Co
​Apack
​Garden City Plastics

⁠Seeds per gram list⁠ (to help with ordering from Royston Petrie Seeds)

In this episode, Katie and Sarah chat with Mardi from Quite Contrary Flower Farm. They cover everything from growing dahlias, the digging/dividing/storing process, as well as tuber sales. They also ask Mardi about her field grown roses and her bed prep process when it comes to turning grass into growing space.

Find Mardi here:
instagram.com/qcflowerfarm/
quitecontraryflowerfarm.com

In this episode, Katie and Sarah chat with Kate from Bushy Blooms in Albany, Western Australia. They cover everything from growing at scale, selling to a wholesaler, growing dahlias, and diversifying your sales channels to ensure your flowers always have an outlet. As well as wholesale, Kate also sells her flowers at a farmers market, through her roadside stand, to event florists, and does DIY event buckets. Kate gives a behind the scenes look at the process of selling to a wholesaler and the logistics involved.

Find Kate here:
https://www.instagram.com/bushy.blooms/
https://www.bushyblooms.net/