How We're Preparing the Farm for Planting Season

The grass is greening up, the sun is starting to warm the air, and that unmistakable scent of spring soil is hanging in the breeze, which means it’s go time on the flower farm. Here at Franklin & Co. Flower Farm, we’re entering the heart of our prep season, doing all the behind-the-scenes work that makes the blooms possible later.

This might not be the prettiest part of flower farming, or the easiest, but it’s one of the most important. The days are long and our eyes are tired, but our hearts are full. We're having so much fun building this dream. So if you’re curious about what happens before the fields fill with color, here’s a peek at how we’re getting ready to plant.

Finishing the Fence

One of our biggest pre-season tasks? Fencing. Deer pressure in our area is no joke, and since we’re growing in an open zone with a LOT of wildlife, a solid fence is essential. We’ve been installing 8 foot posts and securing the perimeter, and we’ve already installed a windbreak along the full stretch to help tackle the intense wind that often sweeps across our open field.

We’re hoping this windbreak will provide an extra layer of protection for our blooms, especially the taller varieties, and create a more sheltered microclimate in the field.

We’re also using this time to plan our field access points, water locations and workflow so things stay organized once harvesting begins. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.

Soil Prep: Feeding the Foundation

Before a single seedling goes in the ground, we’re focused on the soil. Earlier this spring we did a soil test, and thankfully we have great soil here. The starting point is wonderful, and now we’re adding the amendments to make it even better! We’ll be adding compost, loosening compacted areas, and testing amendments to support each crop’s needs. In Zone 3, the growing window is short, so our soil has to be ready to support healthy, vigorous plants right from the start.

This spring has been cooler than usual, and our soil is taking its time warming up. That’s Zone 3 gardening for you, it’s no joke. We’re getting sunburnt during the day with 15+ degree weather and blazing sun, only to dip back down to zero degrees at night. It’s a wild temperature swing that keeps both farmers and plants on their toes. Right now, the raised beds where we planted tulips are hovering around 14°C. We’re watching closely, waiting for it to hit a consistent 15.5°C, because that’s the sweet spot where we expect to see full sprouting. It’s a test of patience.

As for the tulips planted in the greenhouse? We’re not feeling too confident. While we hoped the protected space would give us an earlier show, we’re starting to suspect those bulbs might not sprout at all. It’s all part of the learning process, and a reminder that Mother Nature always has the final say...and sometimes she keeps you guessing right until the last frost.

Waking Up the Dahlias

Dahlia tubers are still in storage, but not for long! We’ve started the wake up process, gently moving them into the warm garage and placing them in trays to sprout. And wow, so many are already showing signs of life.

We’re hoping this early start will give us dahlias a few weeks sooner than expected, which would be a huge win in our short Zone 3 season. Fingers crossed!

We’re also organizing our tuber inventory and labeling systems so we can track which varieties perform best in our northern climate, and which ones don’t. It’s all new, but it’s exciting to watch these dormant roots begin their journey toward becoming some of the most spectacular flowers in the field.

Seedling Chaos (The Happy Kind)

Our greenhouse is packed, and so is my parents’ garage. We’ve got trays of snapdragons, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, and more, germinating and growing under lights. Every week, another variety is ready to be hardened off in preparation for their field planting debut!

We’re also starting to assess which trays are thriving, which need a little extra love, and which ones might need a second succession. This kind of hands-on, close-up work is slow, but it’s where the magic starts.

Some of the earliest seedlings, like ranunculus, stock, bachelor buttons, lisianthus, snapdragons, feverfew and a few perennial varieties, have already hit the soil, and the rest will follow in carefully planned waves. Succession planting is the name of the game, and we’re spacing out our crops so the farm keeps blooming from spring through fall.

In Zone 3, our average last frost date is May 15th, and we take that seriously. Tender annuals like zinnias and cosmos won’t be heading into the field until after that date passes safely. When your growing season is this short, timing really matters, and a single cold snap can mean starting over.

Planning With Purpose

We’ve built our planting calendar backwards, from our expected harvest and subscription dates, so we know when each seed needs to be started, hardened off, and transplanted. It’s a lot of logistics, but worth it when the first bouquets start rolling out the door.

We’ve also built in buffer zones and flexibility, knowing that in Zone 3, weather rarely plays by the rules. Our goal is to stay ahead of the curve, but also to pivot gracefully when things change, learn to take things in stride because we are sure will have to pivot often. There’s a lot to keep track of, but we’re leaning into the rhythm. I have a million and one spreadsheets on the go to stay organized. We know the days will only get busier from here, but this part, the organized chaos, has its own kind of magic.

What’s Next?

Soon, we’ll be finishing up amending the beds, running drop irrigation lines, laying landscape fabric before planting out the rest of our field crops, opening the Flower Shack, and welcoming visitors to come experience the beauty we’ve been working so hard to grow. But for now, it’s compost, seedlings, watering, and tubers, so many tuber, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thanks for following along as we build this dream from the ground up, literally. Stay tuned for more updates (and flowers) soon!

— Cory
Franklin & Co. Flower Farm