#355: Dave Dowling's June Q&A, Ask A Flower Farmer

12/08/2025 21 min

Listen "#355: Dave Dowling's June Q&A, Ask A Flower Farmer"

Episode Synopsis

This episode features a takeover of our popular weekly live Q&A session on Instagram, called Ask a Flower Farmer. It was guest-hosted by Dave Dowling of Ball/ColorLink, a former flower farmer and the instructor for our online course: ⁠⁠⁠Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More⁠⁠⁠. Dave is always happy to share his knowledge with our listeners!Topics CoveredPeony care: fertilizer timing, summer watering, and planting in warm zonesDahlia care: watering needs, pests, mildew, pinching, and harvest techniquePest and disease basics: powdery mildew and spider mitesSunflowers and crop rotation: how to plant and when to amend bedsFoliage picks for cut flower farms and shade-friendly perennialsPractical reminders: soil tests, drip irrigation checks, harvest timesEpisode originally aired 6/25/25 on Instagram. Join Lisa and her guest hosts Wednesdays at 3:00PM Eastern time to get your cut flower growing questions answered by the experts!MentionsSouthern Peony: Growing Peonies in the SouthWalters Gardens, an online perennial wholesalerDave's Course: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More!⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!⁠⁠⁠⁠The⁠⁠⁠⁠ Field and Garden Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers⁠⁠⁠⁠, owner of⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Gardener’s Workshop,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Flower Farming School Online,⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the publisher of⁠⁠⁠⁠ Farmer-Florist School Online⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠ Florist School Online.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lisa’s Story⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with Lisa on social media!