About this episode
Heirloom chrysanthemums fill an important role for local growers- as very late bloomers they can be one of the last flowers in the fall to keep cash flow going after others have succumbed to the cold. Our guest this week, Kate Dagnal of Goose Creek Gardens, grows thousands of bouquets every year for grocery stores, and heirloom chrysanthemums are the anchor flower she uses to finish out the season. In this interview we go deep on everything you need to know to grow great heirloom chrysanthemums, including propagation, growing, harvesting and postharvest.We discuss why new varieties of mums aren’t being sold in the US (thus the term “heirloom”) and some important differences mums have from other flowers- they need to be propagated from cuttings, and day length is what triggers them to bloom. Heirloom mums come in a wide range of shapes and colors- from big focal flowers to delicate sprays- so they can play many different roles in late season design work. They also have excellent vase life if handled properly- listen to this week’s interview for everything from how to propagate, what stage to harvest, how much frost protection they need, how to handle after harvest, favorite varieties and more! Connect With Guest:Website: goosecreekgardens.comInstagram: @goosecreekgardens Free companion article:All about chrysanthemums by Rebecca Kutzer-Rice from Growing for Market MagazineHuge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support: This episode is brought to you by Tend, the all-in-one, AI-powered farm management platform trusted by modern growers. Tend helps you cut through the busywork, so you can focus on growing and selling what matters. With Tend, you can plan your crops, assign and track tasks, manage inventory, and handle your sales and accounting, all in one smart, easy-to-use platform. Whether you run a 1-acre farm or manage a large operation, Tend adapts to your scale and style, supporting everything from manual labor to fully mechanized workflows. Try it for free at Tend.com, no credit card required. Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm. Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manu
