Harvesting for Max Vase Life
MAY 17, 2024
Okay! We're into harvest season! Zinnias! Cosmos! Dahlias! Roses!
You worked so hard on these beautiful flowers, let's have a plant to make sure they last as long as possible in your bouquets.
This week's email is organized by bloom type, with roses strategically left out. ICYMI, I launched my first ever course, all about roses, and there will be a whole section dedicated to how to harvest roses for max vase life :)
Email subscribers get $40 off until May 22 - just sayin!
01. COSMOS
Look at Pollination:
An unpollinated cosmo will last a lot longer in the vase! Harvesting in the early morning, before the bees have visited, will maximize your vase life. The flower center looks neat and organized pre pollination, and more “fuzzy” post pollination, as shown in the pics
2. ZINNIAS
Wiggle Test:
Hold the stem about 6" down and wiggle it - if the stem waves/wiggles, it's not ripe. If the stem is firm and straight, harvest! (tbh sometimes I ignore this rule and don't notice a decrease in vase life…)
03. DAHLIAS
Back Petal Position:
Dahlias don't open much more in the vase, so harvesting them open from the plant is going to give you the biggest impact. I look for the back layer or two of petals to be flexed backwards, but NOT browned.
4. SUNFLOWERS
Cracked with color
Sunflowers WILL open in the vase - as a flower farmer, I harvest them when cracked with color, so my customers get all the beauty. As a home gardener, you can follow the same rules as cosmos :)
Thank you so much for reading!
Still have questions? The Bungalow Blooms question box is open every Wednesday!
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