Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne

Wondering how to maximize the vase life of your flowers? Unsure which flower conditioning products you should use and when? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the ins and outs of flower conditioning. They cover the importance of conditioning flowers and the process, from harvesting out in the field or garden to the vase, using four key products (pre-treatment, hydrating treatment, holding solution, and...

Looking for different colors, forms, and textures of foliage to fill out your bouquets? Wondering which warm-season plants you can grow from seed to meet your needs? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss three of their favorite foliage plants for the warm-season cutting garden, plus helpful harvesting tips for each one. Listen to the podcast and learn tips and tricks for growing and harvesting basil, euca...

Looking for big, beautiful flowers to fill up your summer bouquets? Wondering how to grow, harvest, and store hydrangeas to ensure a long vase life and prevent wilting? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the ins and outs of growing hydrangeas as cut flowers. They cover why they are a valuable addition to cutting gardens and flower farms, the optimal growing conditions and spacing, the proper harvest st...

Frustrated by cockscomb plants blooming on short stems? Confused by conflicting information about whether or not you should pinch your plants? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss five of the most common cockscomb (Celosia argentea cristata) questions. They cover pinching, which varieties are the best for drying, cockscomb varieties with the largest heads, the least seedy varieties, and issues with plant...

Wondering whether or not you should bother netting your flowers? Curious about when to install support netting, what height to place it at, and the most efficient and effective way to install it? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the ins and outs of flower support netting. They cover reasons to consider netting (or not netting) your flowers, the pros and cons of plastic support netting and potential a...

Would you like to add some vertical interest to your garden and unique elements to your flower arrangements? Wondering how to support vigorous vining plants as they grow and prevent your underlying structures from collapsing? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss three warm-season vining plants to consider growing this summer. They cover what makes each plant special, spacing, the proper harvest stage, an...

Working on your summer succession-planting schedule? Wondering if there are any warm-season flowers you should consider planting on a weekly basis? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss three warm-season flowers to consider succession-planting every week. They cover why the flowers are worth growing and planting weekly, favorite varieties, the price per stem relative to other flowers, and more. Listen to...

Searching for the perfect focal flower to star in your spring bouquets? Wondering how to grow, harvest, and store peonies to ensure loads of luscious blooms with the longest possible vase life? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the ins and outs of growing herbaceous peonies as cut flowers. They cover why they are a valuable addition to cutting gardens and farms, favorite varieties, the optimal growing...

Looking for ways to suppress weeds and improve your soil? Wondering what cover crops are and if you should incorporate them into your farm or garden? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the ins and outs of cover cropping. They cover what cover crop is and why it is used, potential benefits, crop considerations depending on the time of year and equipment needed to extinguish, planting times and sowing ti...

Looking for a cute new addition to your spring cool flowers lineup? Do you love the look of 'Bunny Tails' blooms but struggle with stems that are too short to use? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the newest plant to be designated as a cool flower (aka cool-season hardy annual) - 'Bunny Tails' grass (Lagurus ovatus). They describe the soft, cottontail-like blooms and compact plants an...

Looking forward to a flower-filled garden all summer long? Wondering when to plant, and how to adjust your grow room to provide the optimal environment for warm-season seeds and seedlings? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss their checklist of key items to keep in mind when planning your warm-season plantings and sowing your seeds. They cover when to plant, how many seeds to sow relative to the number o...

Looking forward to buckets of blooms this growing season? Wondering how to get the most flowers out of your space? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss six tips for maximizing flower production in your field or garden. Plus, the girls share an exciting announcement for cool flower growers everywhere. Listen to the podcast and learn how to make the most of your growing space! The video version of Lisa and...

Frustrated by fungus gnats in your growing space? Wondering how to get rid of your unwanted house guests or prevent them from taking over in the first place? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss fungus gnats and practical methods for prevention and control. They cover the fungus gnat life cycle and lifespan, where they prefer to lay their eggs and how many each female can lay, what they eat as adults and...

Wondering which order your snapdragon varieties will bloom in this spring? Confused about snapdragon groups and if you should consider them when planning your plantings? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the typical bloom order of snapdragons, how group classifications factor in, and important considerations when planting in spring. They cover how snapdragon groups relate to bloom times in the field,...

Running short on heat mat space? Wondering how to sprout high volumes of seeds in a space-efficient manner? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the ins and outs of germination chambers for seed starting. They cover what germination chambers are, key benefits and considerations, which seeds can be sprouted inside, an overview of how to make one yourself, and more. Listen to the podcast and learn whether...

Do you love the fresh look green flowers bring to a bouquet? Looking for unique shapes, forms, and textures to add interest to your arrangements? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss three gorgeous green cool flower fillers, plus a helpful tip for each one. Listen to the podcast and learn tips and tricks for growing and harvesting Atriplex, Bells of Ireland, and Sweet William! The video version of Lisa a...

Would you like to have sunflowers blooming as early as possible in your growing season? Wondering what steps you should take to make that happen and which varieties to choose? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss a checklist of key items to keep in mind when planting "early bird" sunflowers. They cover the potential risks and rewards, variety and color considerations, recommended sowing and pla...

Wondering how far above seedlings to place your grow lights? If a seed needs light to germinate, should your trays be under grow lights from the moment you sow the seeds? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss some of the most frequently asked questions about grow lights. They cover grow light placement, when to move seedlings under lights, how long to leave lights on each day, and whether or not seeds tha...

Looking for an early-blooming, low-maintenance perennial that thrives in the shade? Wondering if hellebores can be used as cut flowers and, if so, when to harvest to prevent wilting? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss tips and tricks for growing and harvesting hellebores. They cover why you should consider growing hellebores as cut flowers, variety recommendations and considerations, the ideal growing...

Wondering how soil blocking mix differs from regular seed starting mix? Confused about how wet your soil mixture should be or why you are having issues ejecting your blocks? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss some of the most frequently asked questions about soil blocking mix. They describe the key differences between blocking mix and other seed starting mixes and cover a myriad of common questions and...

Curious about planting cool-season hardy annuals beyond very early spring? Wondering which cool flowers you should consider succession planting? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss cool flower succession planting in very early spring and beyond. They cover potential consequences of planting cool-season hardy annuals later in the season, what makes a cool flower a good candidate for succession planting,...

Looking for an efficient seed-starting method that allows you to maximize your indoor growing space? Wondering what soil blocking is and whether or not it is right for you? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss some of the most frequently asked questions about soil blocking. They give an overview of the soil blocking process and cover a myriad of common questions and concerns. Listen to the podcast and le...

Are some of your overwintered cool flowers looking questionable? Wondering if the plants will make it through winter and if not, what may have gone wrong? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss seven common causes of cool flower plant loss over the winter months. From drainage to plant size and everything in between, listen to the podcast and learn how to increase your chances of overwintering success! The...

Looking for the perfect filler flower for your spring bouquets? Wondering how to start successions of bupleurum indoors during late winter and early spring to ensure a steady supply? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss tips for germinating and succession-planting bupleurum. They cover why bupleurum is such a useful filler, tips for germination success outdoors or indoors during months when outdoor condi...

Has the turn of the year inspired you to get organized? Wondering the best ways to categorize your seeds for easy access and efficiency? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss some helpful tips and considerations to keep in mind when organizing your seeds. They cover identifying your seed organization goals, different ways to group your seeds, alphabetizing by botanical versus common names, and how to keep...