Making Money With Tulips (SFFF07)

(The Six Figure Flower Farming Podcast, Episode #07)

We're diving into the world of tulips, a subject that surprisingly stirs up a lot of debate in the flower farming community. Some farmers argue that tulips aren't profitable, while others claim the opposite. In this post, I'll share why we almost stopped growing tulips, what changes we made on our farm, and how these adjustments have led to increased profitability.

Why Tulips Weren't Initially Profitable for Us

For us, tulips were never particularly profitable. While we made some money, it was never substantial. A common concern is that you only get one flower per bulb. However, tulips can be densely planted, making efficient use of space. For instance, in one of our hoop house beds, we could fit almost 30,000 tulips. Despite this, several challenges kept our profits low.

Major Changes We Made to Boost Profitability Of Tulips

1. Changing Crop Timing

One of the most significant changes was adjusting the bloom timing of our tulips. In Central New York, field tulips bloom simultaneously with ranunculus, making it difficult to sell tulips. Our ranunculus are a big hit in the local market, and tulips just couldn't compete.

To tackle this, we decided to changethe bloom timing of our tulips to earlier in the season before ranunculus came into full bloom. By planting tulips in high tunnels, we could control their environment better, ensuring they bloomed three to four weeks earlier than field tulips.

2. Changing Planting Methods

We also revamped our planting process. Traditionally, we dug a trench and carefully placed each bulb, point side up, “like eggs in an egg carton.” This method was time-consuming. Instead, we started digging trenches, dumping bulbs in, smoothing them out, and covering them up. We didn’t bother to set them “pointy side up.” This change saved us hours of labor…and the tulips grew great!

In high tunnels, we plant tulips in the fall with the sides open to keep it cold, then close the sides in late February to warm up the tunnel and accelerate blooming. This method has been highly effective, and we've stopped planting field tulips altogether.

3. Changing Harvest and Storage Practices

Previously, we dug up tulips with their bulbs attached for storage, which was labor-intensive and often resulted in damage and plenty of shrink. Now, we simply pull the tulips, leaving the bulbs in the ground, and sell them the same week. This new method reduces damage, saves time, and ensures better quality flowers. We don’t have much need to store tulips for later sales, so it works for us.

Hydroponic Tulips: An Additional Strategy

While we didn't manage to grow hydroponic tulips this year due to a canceled bulb order, we've found them to be surprisingly easy and effective in the past. Hydroponic methods allow us to control the growing environment precisely, leading to high-quality blooms exactly when we want them.

Continuous Improvement and Efficiency

Every season, I analyze our practices to find improvements. Focusing on one crop at a time, like tulips this year, allows for detailed and accurate studies. This approach has led to more efficient practices and increased profits on our flower farm. I encourage all flower farmers to do the same!

I track all expenses and labor for each crop using a simple pen-and-paper method. This helps us identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions. If you're interested in tracking your farm's expenses, you can download our free expense record sheet at www.trademarkfarmer.com/help.

Conclusion

By changing our tulip growing practices, we've significantly increased their profitability. These adjustments, including altering bloom timing, changing planting methods, and improving harvest practices, have made a considerable difference. I encourage you to try these methods on your farm and see how they work for you.

If you have any questions or want to share your experiences with tulips, comment on this post below!

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