Sunflower U-Pick

Sunflowers are having a moment. An Instagram search of the hashtag #sunflowers returns 4 million plus results. This, combined with the public's desire to visit more local farms, may lead one to include this crop as a "pick your own farm-based enterprise".   But is it worth the time, effort, and expense to put in a sunflower field, especially as a U- pick?

Sunflowers as a Cut Flower Crop in Pennsylvania

Helianthus annuus and its cousin H. decapetales are hearty from zone 2-11 (southern Canada to northern Mexico) and do well in PA's soil. Tom Ford, Penn State Extension Commercial Horticulture Educator, is quick to point out though there are several issues "that can wreck the best made plans from a profitability standpoint. Heavy rains (when they are in flower) can ruin the floral display." Other considerations are as follows:

• Well drained slightly acid soil
• Heavy feeders requiring fertilization
• Ambient temperate 65-75 degrees
• Protect from wind
• Netting for cultivars over 4ft tall
• Pest include birds, rodents, deer, corn borers, and cucumber beetles
• May be susceptible to charcoal rot, white mold southern blight, root-knot nematodes & powdery mildew
• Irrigation available in case of drought

Additional Information: Cut Flower Production

U-PICK Or a U-Turn?

If you have a current Pick Your Own operation, you are already aware that people cause damage. Ford recalled a dairy farmer that needed another option for income. She opened her cut flower operation to garden clubs and churches, and did quite well, but eventually she graduated to farmers markets because she found that the garden club members were just as rough on her flowers as her Holsteins were when they found a break in the fence.

Customers will trample plants, try to cheat the system, and enter areas marked off limit. Some controls will need to be used, whether it be the strategic placement for continuous monitoring by staff, fencing, or cameras.  Your visitors will also need to be made aware that they are interacting with nature and that stinging insects are to be expected.

Nonetheless, a well-placed field can be a draw to your property and u-pick can reduce harvest staff time. Photographers, families, and bloggers alike will most likely want pictures among the blooms as well as the day-trippers out for a drive searching for dramatic beauty.

Economic Feasibility - Can I make money?

In the resources Lynn Kime, Penn State Senior Extension Educator prepared an enterprise (single crop) budget and road map to success based on 1,000 square feet.  Note the following:

• You may plant less within each space if including pathways (determine after developing your safety plan)
•  The budget linked to this article is for a cut flower enterprise however, you may use the expense portion to plan your marketing if you choose not to sell the blooms.
• Assume that harvest will result in 90% to 95% yield
• Cost should be taken into consideration for pricing stems especially if using the "COST PLUS" scenario.
• Consider drying and selling unpicked sunflowers for birdseed

Take note of labor hours involved. The highest cost in labor is for planting plugs. If you choose not to use plugs, you will need several successive seedings to guarantee a good crop over an extended period.

Final Steps before Production

After researching cultivation and economic feasibility, a few final issues should be resolved:

Compliance: Contact your insurance agent to determine if you have the insurance to cover this venture ESPECIALLY if this is the first time bringing outside visitors to your operation. Equally critical is compliance with all federal, state, and local requirements. Before planting, check with your local municipality to be sure you can have this type of operation or enterprise on your property.

Safety Plan: Most insurances will require you to have a detailed safety plan in place. This can include proper signage, pathways, hazard identification, staff education, and a response plan. If customers will be using shears, provide adequate training on their use.

Marketing Plan: Growing a field for 2 months will not get you in front of your customers for the other 10! Consider a detailed marketing plan that will highlight your field throughout the year. Or at least have a marketing plan in place for the months your field will be available.

Payment: How will you charge for plants? Honor system? Staffed for certain hours? Will you take credit cards?

Value Added Products: Will you have vases on hand for sale? Shears? Vases or buckets? Ribbon? Cards? Sunflower kitsch?

Other Revenue Options

If you have determined that a U-Pick Sunflower is not for you but still want to include sunflowers in your operation, consider the following:

• Survey florist, churches, garden groups, or restaurants for direct sales
• Premade bouquets in jars for sale in your storefront or stand
• Farmer market sales or partner to sell cut blooms
• Establish a sunflower trail with other growers (contact local chamber of commerce)
• Sunflower Maze
• Pay What You Will – for charity
• Sunflower Backdrops for Photographers, charge per sitting (Senior, Wedding, Family Photos) – charge for visit or a minimum of stems

Each grower should do a SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats) analysis for their unique needs. A U-Pick sunflower may compliment your current operation or make use of an unproductive field. It could be an excellent opportunity to dip your toe into agritourism or cut flower production. Or it may only be a marketing opportunity to bring people into your farm, a "loss leader" for sure but a beautiful one that may increase the visibility of your other farm enterprises.

Additional Resources

SWOT Analysis

Marketing and Management

Hazard Analysis

Safe Agritourism Guide

UPick Sunflower Budget