Growing Showstopping Dahlias
1 ticket includes:
- 3 hours of professional training on our working dahlia farm
- Planting, watering and fertilization schedules
- Hands on practice pinching, disbudding, deadheading and harvesting dahlias
- Flowers to take home with you
- And more!
Learn how to cultivate an abundance of lush blooms on long, strong stems.
Practice pinching and disbudding; learn different ways to support blooms, when and how to fertilize, the right way to harvest and condition, the best cutting varieties, and more. Gorgeous dahlias don't happen by accident!
Dates
Friday Sep 4 | 2pm-5pm
Saturday Sep 5 | 10am-1pm
Friday Sep 11 | 2pm-5pm
Saturday Sep 12 | 10am-1pm
On-site at Sunset View Farm Dahlias
27 Pierce Road, Lafayette Twp, NJ 07848
LEARN TO GROW THE QUEENS OF THE CUT FLOWER GARDEN
Beginner dahlia gardeners are often captivated by the never ending array of exquisite blooms available from dahlias, and rightly so!
But the queens of the cut flower garden require a lot of thought and care to put on a jaw-dropping show.
We'll show you how to avoid common mistakes that stunt or even kill your plants, as well as how to get the biggest blooms or the most blooms (you have a choice!); the right way to harvest and condition for the maximum vase life, and more.
We grow over 10,000 dahlias here in more than 350 varieties. So you'll see examples side by side of plants that:
- have been fertilized vs those that have not been fertilized
- have been cultivated for long stems and large blooms for wholesale
- have been cultivated for shorter stems with more blooms
- have been cultivated for tuber production
- are growing in fertile vs "tired" (depleted) soil
- and more!
Whether you want to grow dahlias for show, to give as gifts to your friends and neighbors, or for your own enjoyment, we'll demystify the process and send you home with the confidence to cultivate your most productive garden ever next season.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This is not a tour where you follow us around while we "show off" how great our farm is. We're here for you, so come prepared to take notes and get your hands dirty!
Alongside a small group of peers (12 students max), you'll learn every part of the process for planting, caring for, and harvesting dahlias as cut flowers, including:
- Classroom overview of dahlia anatomy
- Planting overview
- Pinching
- Support
- Disbudding
- Watering
- Flowers
- Harvesting
- Conditioning
- Deadheading
- Hands on practice
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Casey Casperino, the field manager at Sunset View Farm Dahlias, will be your main instructor. Casey was a school teacher before making a career shift to join our team here. She's been growing dahlias for years, which prepared her to become the primary caretaker of our field of 10,000 plants.
In addition to shepherding the plants through every stage of development, from planting through the tuber harvest, she's responsible for harvesting our flowers for wholesalers, florists, individuals, event planners, our flower stand, and our in house events.
Other members of the Sunset View Farm Dahlias family and crew may drop in to assist over the course of the day. Look for the embroidered overalls!
GETTING HERE
Sunset View Farm Dahlias
27 Pierce Road
Lafayette NJ 07848
Please arrive early as we will start on time. Use the gravel farm entrance (not the asphalt driveway with the mailbox); follow the road past the barn and park in the lot behind the solar panels. Meet us in the red barn!
LUNCH
Please bring your own lunch. There are also several wonderful affordable restaurants and cafes nearby we can recommend to you if you so desire.
WEATHER
This workshop will be held rain or shine. In the event of wet weather, we'll spend minimal time standing directly in the rain, but rubber boots and rain gear are recommended. Please dress warmly in layers, as we will be in a range of indoor and outdoor temperatures throughout the workshop.
NO TOOLS NECESSARY
We will provide all workshop materials, but we recommend you bring something to take notes with.
NO CANCELLATIONS
All sales of workshop tickets are final. If you can't make it, send someone who takes great notes and great photos.
Growing Gorgeous Dahlias
Workshop Bundle Discount
