Cut Flower Farm Crop Design: Growing for Sun and Height

Designing a successful cut flower farm requires careful planning to maximize sun exposure, plant health, and overall efficiency. At Aurora Valley Farm, we’ve put a great deal of thought into our crop layout, ensuring that each flower thrives in its ideal conditions while creating a beautiful, functional space for our community events.

The Art of Planning by Hand

Before a single seed is planted, I sit down with my notebook and sketch out the entire farm layout by hand. There’s something deeply satisfying about using pen and paper, mapping out each row with care, and deciding where every plant should go based on height, water needs, and sunlight exposure. This planning method allows me to visualize the space, ensuring that taller plants like delphiniums and sunflowers won’t shade out delicate varieties like cosmos and strawflowers.

Another key part of this process is placing the heavier-drinking plants closer to the drip irrigation source so we can turn off water lines further out for those that don’t need as much. It’s a simple but effective strategy to optimize water use while keeping every plant healthy.

Finding Spring in the Dead of Winter

Winters here are long. I mean, really long—the kind of long that makes you forget what warm soil feels like beneath your fingers. But this flower farm journey has given me a whole new way to bring the joy and excitement of spring into my life as early as January. When the snow is deep and the world is frozen, I’m cozied up with seed catalogs, sketching out plans, researching new varieties, and imagining the bursts of color that will fill our fields. It’s like having a secret window into the future, a reminder that winter won’t last forever.

And then, the real magic begins. Seed starting. There’s something so therapeutic about it. My life is usually go-go-go, always moving on to the next thing, the next project, the next task. But seed starting forces me to slow down. It’s quiet. It’s calming. There’s nothing like the feeling of watering tiny seedlings, checking in on their progress each day, and watching the first little green shoots push through the soil. It’s a moment of stillness in a world that never stops moving.

Our Flower Bed Layout

Our farm consists of 40 in-ground beds, each 4 feet wide by 60 feet long, prepared with manure and compost to enrich the soil. We use landscape fabric to control weeds, with a drip irrigation system running underneath to provide consistent moisture to our plants. This setup ensures efficient water use and healthy root development. In addition to these rows, we have a 50x50-foot hydrangea courtyard, which will become the heart of our farm gatherings. We envision this space with farm tables set up for you-pick experiences and bouquet-making workshops, creating a magical place for our guests to connect with flowers and nature.

Experimenting with Growth & Fertilization

This year, we are taking an even deeper dive into growing techniques, experimenting with fertilizers, compost teas, and natural soil amendments to encourage our blooms to grow bigger and stronger. By trialing different methods, from organic compost teas to foliar feeding, we aim to improve bloom size, longevity, and plant health. Farming is an ongoing learning process, and we’re excited to see how these adjustments shape our season.

What We Grow

Our flower selection is designed not only for beauty but also for resilience and longevity in arrangements. Some of the key varieties we grow include:

Dahlias – A staple for their stunning, intricate blooms

Hydrangeas – Perfect for lush, romantic bouquets

Cosmos & Zinnias – Prolific bloomers that add vibrant color

Snapdragons & Yarrow – Great for height and texture

Lilies & Allium – Elegant additions for diverse arrangements

Strawflower & Aster – Excellent for fresh and dried bouquets

Poppies & Sunflowers – Statement blooms that capture the essence of summer

Delphinium, Hollyhock & Lupine – Cottage-garden favorites for vertical interest

This year, we’re excited to expand even further, adding:

3 more rows of delphinium

6 rows of peonies

Scabiosa, amaranthus, crabapples, goatsbeard, dogwood, dara, ammi, feverfew, and so much more!

Expanding into a Perennial Cottage Garden

In addition to our cut flower fields, we are thrilled to expand into a perennial cottage garden, designed with a European aesthetic focusing on shades of purple, green, and white. This garden will provide an enchanting, timeless feel while welcoming even more pollinators to our farm. Since our cut flowers are often harvested before pollination occurs, this dedicated space will serve as a haven for bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.

Zone 3 Perennial Garden Plan

To ensure a stunning year-round display, we are incorporating a variety of perennials that thrive in Zone 3, categorized by height for a layered and cohesive design.

Tall Plants & Shrubs:

Delphinium – Towering spires of deep blue and purple

Hollyhock – Classic cottage garden favorite with vertical height

Lupine – Beautiful spires in shades of purple and white

Goatsbeard – Feathery white blooms adding texture

Hydrangea (Paniculata & Arborescens) – Large, lush blooms that anchor the garden

Dogwood (Shrub Varieties) – Structural interest with seasonal color

Russian Sage – Airy purple-blue blooms with fragrant, silvery foliage

Medium Height Plants:

Peonies – Romantic, full blooms in white and soft purples

Amsonia (Bluestar) – Delicate blue flowers and fine foliage

Feverfew – Dainty white flowers for a wildflower touch

Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) – Soft purple blooms with airy movement

Echinacea (White & Purple Varieties) – Essential for pollinators and structure

White Roses (Hardy Varieties for Zone 3) – Classic, elegant blooms for a timeless garden look

Phlox (White & Purple Varieties) – Fragrant, long-blooming flowers perfect for cottage gardens

Low Growing & Ground Cover:

Lamb’s Ear – Silvery foliage that enhances the garden’s texture

Creeping Thyme – Fragrant and great for pathways

Snow-in-Summer – Cascading white flowers for a soft ground cover

Ammi Majus – Delicate Queen Anne’s lace-like white blooms

Dianthus (White & Lavender Varieties) – Sweetly scented border plants

Catmint (Nepeta) – Soft purple flowers with aromatic foliage that attracts pollinators

Evergreens for Year-Round Structure:

Juniper (Blue Star or Low-Growing Varieties) – Adds cool tones and year-round interest

Boxwood – Perfect for structured edging and a classic European feel

Spruce & Fir (Dwarf Varieties) – Provides winter greenery and shelter for wildlife

Looking Ahead

With each season, Aurora Valley Farm becomes more than just a place to grow flowers—it’s a sanctuary, a learning experience, and a reminder that beauty is always on the horizon. We can’t wait to share this upcoming season with you!