Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne
Join Lisa Mason Ziegler and Layne Angelo as they discuss all things related to gardening, flower farming, and growing from seed. Lisa brings over two decades of flower farming experience to the conversation, while Layne offers the perspective of an avid home gardener, seed starter, and engineer. Together, the duo provides an informative and entertaining look into the world of flowers as well as vegetables, bulbs, woodies, and more. From seed starting to harvesting and everything in between, this series is full of practical tips, tricks, and information to get you growing with success.
Episodes
Wondering if poppies make good cut flowers? Curious about the proper harvest stage and how to condition both flowers and pods? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the ins and outs of harvesting Iceland Poppies (Papaver nudicaule) and Giant Poppy Pods (Papaver somniferum) for use as cut flowers. They cover the proper harvest stage, conditioning tips, and the expected vase life for both Iceland Poppies and Giant Poppy Pods. Plus, the girls...
Looking forward to bouquets filled with snapdragons this spring? Wondering which varieties to grow, how tightly to space the plants, and whether or not to pinch? In this excerpt from episode 36, Layne is joined by Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, Ohio to discuss one of her farm's top five Mother's Day flowers - snapdragons. Layne and Gretel cover why snapdragons are such an important crop for Sunny Mea...
Wondering what's happening at the flower farm this month? Curious about which tasks should be on your radar? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss what's going on at the farm in February, offer a tip of the month, and cover recent questions from listeners. Listen to the podcast and learn about the goings-on at a southeastern Virginia (USDA zone 8a) flower farm!
The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardene...
Wishing you could add a pop of powder blue to your bouquets? Interested in learning how to grow Tweedia as a cool flower? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the delightful flowers of Tweedia 'Heavenly Blue' (Oxypetalum coeruleum). They cover why home gardeners and flower farmers should consider growing it and offer tips on spacing, pinching, harvesting, and more. Listen to the podcast and learn how to boost your bouquets with the true ...
Confused about how often to water your soil blocks? Wondering what to do if your blocks seem to stay wet for too long or dry out too quickly? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss tips and tricks for watering soil blocks. They cover how to water the blocks, including recommended equipment and frequency, and troubleshoot overly wet or dry blocks. Listen to the podcast and learn how to properly water your soil blocks for seed-starting succes...
Debating whether or not to grow calendula on your farm or in your garden? Wondering if the stems are long enough to include in mixed bouquets, or if there are any tips for dealing with the stickiness when harvesting? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss some common questions about Calendula officinalis (aka pot marigolds). They cover a myriad of queries and concerns regarding timing, stem length, stickiness, conditioning, and more. Listen...
Wondering which cool flowers to plant in very early spring? Curious what to do if the ground is frozen, or if you live in a warm, frost-free climate? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss frequently asked questions about planting cool flowers (aka cool-season hardy annuals) in very early spring. They describe how to determine your optimal very early spring planting window and cover a myriad of questions and concerns. Listen to the podcast ...
Is a winter storm heading your way, or has one just passed? Wondering how to protect the cool flowers overwintering in your field or garden? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss preparing for a winter storm and dealing with the aftermath when growing cool-season hardy annuals outdoors. They cover helpful steps to take before, during, and after a storm, and offer real-life stories from past winter events. Listen to the podcast and learn ho...
Wondering how to keep track of your seed starting and planting times throughout the year? Confused about which dates to mark on your calendar and how to determine them? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss planning your growing season using a wall calendar. They cover why a physical calendar may be a good choice and walk through the steps to fill out your first and last frost dates, planting windows, and target seed starting dates. Listen...
Happy New Year, everyone! Interested in integrating the Pantone Color of the Year into your garden or floral arrangements? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss the Pantone Color of the Year for 2025 ('Mocha Mousse') and a plant that produces unique, geometric seed heads that embody this color story (Scabiosa stellata 'Ping Pong'). Listen to the podcast and find out why 'Ping Pong' starflower is a must-grow plant for your garden or farm!
Wondering why a cut-flower grower might focus on annuals rather than perennials? Interested in learning how an urban flower farm's seed-starting operation scaled up over time and which crops were essential to its success? In this excerpt from episode 6 ('How Seeds Changed My Life - Lisa Mason Ziegler Edition'), Layne interviews Lisa about her seed-starting journey as a gardener and flower farmer. They discuss the reasons why Lisa d...
Wondering which tools and supplies you need to get started in flower arranging? Looking for a last-minute holiday gift for a flower lover? In this excerpt from episode 14, Lisa and Layne are joined by Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers to discuss the essential tools and supplies to include in a floral design kit. Listen to the podcast and get ready to build the ultimate flower arranging kit for yourself or a flower-loving friend!
Looking for the perfect gift for a gardener or flower farmer this holiday season? Lisa and Layne have you covered! In this excerpt from episode 13 ('Great Gifts for Gardeners'), the girls discuss five fantastic gift ideas for gardeners. Listen to the podcast and find the perfect presents for all the gardeners in your life, including yourself!
The video version of Lisa and Layne's conversation will be posted to The Gardener’s Work...
Do you love brightening up your home with the spectacular blooms of amaryllis throughout the winter season? Wondering how often to water or fertilize the plants, or how to prevent the flower stalks from curving, leaning, or flopping? In this excerpt from episode 15, Lisa and Layne are joined by Val Schirmer of Three Toads Farm to discuss tips and tricks for growing amaryllis (Hippeastrum) indoors. They cover watering, fertilizing, ...
In honor of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Lisa and Layne spotlight something they are thankful for - all the hardworking growers of the world who produce the seed that allows us to grow so many wonderful plants at home and on our farms. In this excerpt from episode 17 ('Seed Production & Saving Celosia Seed with Emily Nekl'), Dr. Emily Nekl of Fuggles Flowers joins Lisa and Layne to discuss her experiences growing 'Tex...
Are you distressed to see your fall-planted cool flowers budding up heading into winter? Wondering if you should pinch the plants, start over, or leave them be? In this excerpt from episode 63 ('Troubleshooting Premature Blooms on Fall-Planted Cool Flowers'), Lisa and Layne cover how to handle premature cool flower blooms on both branching and single-stem plants. Listen to the podcast and learn what to do when your fall-planted coo...
Confused about how much seed to order? Wondering if you should stock up for multiple seasons or buy fresh seed each year instead? In this excerpt from episode 11 ('Seed Storage - Tips for Buying, Storing & Saving Seed'), Lisa and Layne cover how long seeds last, the meaning of "viability", which flower seeds tend to have a particularly short shelf life, when to order, and how much seed to order depending on your intended sowing...
Wondering when to put your row covers up or take them down based on temperatures? Confused what to do when you are anticipating rain, wind, or snow? In this excerpt from episode 68 ('Row Cover Do's & Don'ts'), Lisa and Layne cover which temperature and weather conditions should prompt you to put up or take down your row covers when overwintering cool-season hardy annuals (a.k.a. cool flowers). Plus, they discuss when to conside...
Looking for the perfect crop to grow for fall decor? Wishing you could add something unique to your autumn lineup as a flower farmer? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss 'Pumpkin-on-a-Stick' (Solanum integrifolium), an ornamental eggplant and fall favorite. They cover why home gardeners and flower farmers should consider growing it, how to space the plants, pinching tips, when to harvest, vase life, and more. Listen to the podcast and le...
Wondering if starting from seed is always the best option? Curious about what plugs are and if the benefits outweigh the seemingly higher upfront costs? Today, Lisa and Layne discuss all things plugs. They cover what plugs are, pros and cons versus starting from seed, and when and where to order. Plus, they list some plants that many flower farmers opt to order plugs for (rather than start from seed themselves). Listen to the podca...
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