I usually have my Growing Dahlias class in February and March. I have a Digging/Dividing Class in October. The classes are all Eastern Standard Time. I accept Mastercard or Visa as payment.
These online classes will feature my flower farming experiences during the last 9 years. I am a NC Forsyth County master gardener volunteer. I am a member of the American Dahlia Society. I am a member of my local dahlia societies which are Central Carolina Dahlia Society and Carolinas Dahlia Society. I am also a member of the National Capital Dahlia Society.
I started flower farming in 2015 with four 100-foot rows and going to a small local farmer’s market. In 2016, I increased the cut flower field to forty 100-foot rows and changed to selling cut flowers to 9 local florists. In 2020, I also sold to a flower wholesaler as I was growing over 4800 dahlias and over 150 varieties. I delivered 500 to 1000 dahlias a week to the flower wholesaler.
I retired from selling dahlia blooms to florists. I now grow around 2000 dahlias. I grow around 1700 dahlias from seeds. I collected the seeds from my dahlia field. I grow 300 named dahlia varieties.
When I started selling cut flowers to local florists in 2016, I had no idea that I would eventually grow dahlias from seed. It is funny how starting a few dahlias from seed in 2019 really changed my focus. I am now focused on my dahlias that I grew from seed collected from my dahlia field. When I plant these first-year dahlia seedlings in 2024, I cannot wait to see what magic was created from bee pollination last fall in my dahlia field. So exciting!
In the Growing Dahlias class, I will talk about soil health, raised beds, grow bags, taking dahlia cuttings, potting up dahlias for an early start, pre-sprouting tubers, and general planting tips.
In the Dahlia Care class, I will talk about pinching, disbudding, fertilizing, watering, staking and support, harvesting, vase life, pest management, removing lower leaves, and other dahlia care tips. I will discuss what products I use for my pest management program. I try to use organic products as much as possible.
In the Growing Dahlias from Seeds, I will talk about dahlia traits, what does a seed pod look like, tips for collecting seeds, seed parents and other resources to help you. I will also talk about how to germinate the seeds in the spring and discuss planting dahlias from seed. I will share some of my experiences. I will also talk about evaluating your dahlias from seed.
In the Digging & Dividing class, I will talk about digging and dividing dahlias, taking late dahlia cuttings, pot tubers, winter storage, improving your soil during the winter, and other winter chores.
After the 60 minute presentation, I can answer your questions in this face to face meeting. I will email you a handout after the class with a summary of the class and where to purchase any products mentioned.
I hope you can join me! Please make sure you give me your email address as I will be emailing you the handout after the class. I would suggest you sign up for Zoom before the meeting. Please sign into the meeting about 5 minutes before the class starts. There is a meeting ID and passcode in your confirmation email.
Zoom is an easy to use online video platform and you can sign up for free. You need to have internet connection or be able to use your phone.
I may add more gardening classes in the future. Thank you, Paula Fisher.