What we Grow
Dahlia, Irrigation + Cultivars
Two trials started in 2023 - one based in Logan to determine crop coefficients, optimal irrigation rates, and restricted irrigation impact with dinnerplate and ball types. In Salt Lake City, we are conducting a “lookalike” trial with cultivars similar to ‘Cafe au Lait’, which although beautiful and coveted, is more finicky than others.
Warm-season Annual Irrigation
Started in 2023, 6 crops with potentially lower water demand are put to the test. We are restricting irrigation to 1.5” per week MAX and evaluating plant health, stress, yield, and quality. Our 6 are: Centaurea, Cosmos, Dianthus, Gomphrena, Statice, and Strawflower. We’ll be evaluating them in high tunnel and field systems with wool mulch.
Delphinium
Another new one started in 2023: Delphinium. This perennial cut flower is highly sought by local florists for its size and form in arrangements, but there is a shortage. We are testing high tunnel and field production systems with planting dates, cultivars, and use of shade to evaluate production, timing, and quality. This is a sister study to our Larkspur trial.
larkspur
We began studying Larkspur with Delphinium as sister trials in 2023. Larkspur is an annual that is often direct-sowed, thus a nice space-friendly option for small farms. We are testing high tunnel and field production systems with planting dates, cultivars, and use of shade to evaluate production, timing, and quality.
Peony, Delaying
We are currently growing a late-blooming white cultivar and will test delaying production into summer with various field methods that employ soil cooling. Right now the plants are still maturing, but once the study begins, it’ll be a fun one that makes use of soil physics!
Freesia
A fragrant, Zone 9 crop we trialed in high tunnels by planting in winter for an early spring harvest. After two years of testing, it’s tricky. Covid-19 resulted in quality issues with shipping delays and then our second year faced record cold (-20F). Freesia may be too risky for Utah, unless grown indoors, but we continue to learn from it.
RETIRED TRIALS
Anemone
The key to strong production is an early bloom and use of high tunnels. Anemone may be one of the earliest cut flowers that Utah can locally grow. Read our paper and fact sheets on production and budgets.
Peony, Advancing
A premium crop that naturally blooms too briefly in Utah. Our research changes this - so far, we’ve advanced and staggered bloom by 5 weeks with use of high tunnels, low tunnels, soil heating, and the natural outdoor conditions (and all combinations of these systems). Read our paper here and fact sheet budgets here.
Stock
Known for its scent, stock needs cool temperatures for optimal production. We trialed cultivar selection, planting dates, and management in high tunnel and field systems - find the results in our production fact sheet here.
Dahlia, Nutrients + Protected cultivation
We tested nutrient management (article in review) as our first look at the crop, which introduced us to so much, collaborations with plant pathology being a big one. We also tested mulch and shade. Read our fact sheet here!
Ranunculus
Considered non-winter hardy in Zones 3-7, we pushed planting into fall with management practices that quadrupled production. This redefined the profit-potential of a high-value crop, with $5/ft2 in net returns. Read our paper on production and fact sheet budgets for the details.
Zinnia
Robust flowers that require fewer inputs than most, we used zinnia as a model cut flower for testing the efficiency of day v. night irrigation. Read our fact sheet on production and stay tuned for our irrigation paper (in preparation).
Lisianthus
Slow-growing lisianthus is highly desired on local markets, but yield is challenge in Utah. We’ve optimized high tunnel production, and are onto the field. Read our fact sheet for everything we’ve learned, from seed starting to production and sales.
Snapdragon
This trial began in 2017, and was our first in-depth cut flower study. We tested cultivar (group) selection, planting dates, high tunnel and field systems, shade, and pruning to come up with a host of tricks for growing long, productive stems over time. Check out our article and fact sheets.
Winter squash
We conducted variety trials with LA, OH, IN, GA, KY, TN, and WV, to determine yield, nutritional content, and long-term storage across the US. We tested kabocha types in 2020, C. maxima large pumpkins in 2021, and acorns in 2022. (Paper in prep.)
