Many supermarkets now have flower shops, and we're beginning to see more sidewalk flower stands. It's a niche market we hope more Tennessee producers will consider. People who have just a small garden patch or four to five acres may want to consider field-grown flowers as an alternative crop. In studies at UT, Starman and former graduate research assistants Teresa Cerny and Amy MacKenzie tested 20 annual and 20 perennial species over two consecutive growing seasons. The productivity and profitability of these field-grown specialty cut flowers were evaluated for the southeastern United States.
Most florists prefer longer stems than are required for mass market outlets.
A long-stemmed rose purchased from a florist is usually 36 inches. For those reasons, the more casual, garden-type flowers are becoming fashionable and are often sold by retailers such as grocery stores that cater to larger markets. Cost is a factor, too. In her research, Starman and her colleagues chose 15 inches as the minimum stem length acceptable for marketability. Starman cautions prospective growers to consider the importance of marketing.