Specialty cut flower growers to meet in Reston, Va.

The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Inc. will hold its 2011 National Conference and Trade Show, Nov. 7-10 in Reston, Va. The conference opens with its popular Growers’ School, an intensive 1-day program covering the basics of cut flower production. This hands-on event will take place in Gainesville, Va., at Lynnvale Studios, a flower farm which provides flowers for Washington D.C., area farmers’ markets, florists and special events. Planting site preparation, insect and disease control, crop selection, woody stems as cuts, and marketing and sales are some of the topics that will be discussed.
Concurrently on Nov. 7 will be the first alternative energy workshop specifically designed for cut flower growers. Speakers will examine methods and equipment which help farmers lower inputs and conserve resources including solar panels, wind turbines and making equipment more efficient.
Nov. 8 includes sessions on growing sustainably, growing cut bulb crops, growing for fall sales and a stink bug update. Nov. 9 will feature more educational sessions, a trade show and tours of Farmhouse Flowers and Plants, and the U.S. National Arboretum. The week wraps up on Nov. 10 with tours of Wollam Gardens and the Fresh Tulips USA.