Clemson Extension Releases New Cut Flower Guide
The cover to the new edition of the Southeast Outdoor Specialty Cut Flower Production manual. | Clemson University
As demand for locally grown flowers rises across the Southeast, the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service has released a new production guide designed to help growers meet that demand with research-based strategies and practical business tools.
The Southeast Outdoor Specialty Cut Flower Production manual is the first major Clemson Extension resource of its kind in more than two decades, offering updated guidance for commercial growers, hobbyists, home gardeners, homesteaders, and diversified farmers looking to add flowers to their operations.
“There has been an explosion of new cut flower growers, but almost no modern Extension information to support them,” says Zachary Snipes, Clemson Extension Horticulture Program Assistant Team Leader. “So much has changed in 26 years. Growers truly needed a new resource.”
The guide walks growers through the basics of cut flower production, including:
- Site selection
- Soil fertility
- Pest and disease management
- Postharvest handling
It also covers business planning and marketing, with worksheets to help growers think through costs and sales.
One chapter focuses entirely on flower varieties, highlighting species and cultivars commonly grown in the Southeast.
“There were simply too many varieties to list, which is why we devoted a full chapter to help growers navigate their options,” says Snipes.
Snipes emphasized that the goal is to help both new and experienced growers succeed in a market that continues to gain momentum.
“Whether someone is starting their first half‑acre plot or adding flowers to an existing farm, this manual gives them research‑based, up‑to‑date guidance they can trust,” he says.
Download the Southeast Outdoor Specialty Cut Flower Production Manual Online
The publication is available as a free online PDF through Clemson Extension Horticulture. Printed copies can be purchased through the Clemson University Marketplace.
For additional information on the cultivation and production of cut flowers, including a look at the South Carolina cut flower industry, please read the original article written by Denise Attaway and found on the Clemson Extension website.
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