*Note: Some links may be affiliate links to Amazon products, which I earn a small commission on.*
1. Long Handled Wire Hoe
This is my ultimate weeding tool, especially in the hoophouse. Being able to stand upright and weed with precision is a huge win for any farmer! Neversink Farm has created a line of small farm tools that help flower farmers like me keep up on weeding. This product is kind of a 2 for 1 investment. You have to first purchase the Mutineer Interchangeable Hoe. I suggest ordering without the wood handle and just going to your local hardware store to buy your own handle to save on shipping. Then once you have these 2 pieces, you can purchase any of the interchangeable tools that use the same handle. It’s a brilliant system! I use the Thin Wire Kit to drag through my ranunculus rows to get rid of the little weed seedlings right after they’ve germinated.
2. Right Angle Trowel
My favorite tool for transplanting plugs. When you’re transplanting hundreds if not thousands of plugs per day, your wrists start to hurt when using those classic little hand trowels. Last year I discovered this tool from Johnny’s and have since purchased another for my employees to use. By having the trowel edge at a 90 degree angle, it eliminates so much extra wrist twisting.
You’ll also want some long lasting plant labels as seen here. While I really am trying to reduce the amount of single use plastic we have on the farm, these labels are really important in ensuring I know what each tray of seedlings and transplants are before bloom. I use the Garden Marker instead of a sharpie to write on the labels, and it won’t fade in the sun! Even after a full season of sun and rain, these labels state exactly what I wrote on them in the beginning on the season, and I’m actually able to wash and reuse them the next year!
3. Knee Pads!!!
This is a MUST have! I don’t care how old you are, you do not want to be laying your bare knees on dirt, weed barrier, etc. for extended periods of time when transplanting. I started off with a cheap $5 foam set to make sure it was something I’d be okay with wearing. Turns out I loved them and recently upgraded to these nice gel knee pads! You might not look super cute, but your knees will thank you at the end of the day.
4. Soil Temperature Probe
When growing in a hoophouse it’s really important to know your soil temp. This probe works quickly and accurately to provide you with helpful knowledge. I use it before and after freezes to get an idea of how my ranunculus corms are doing, as well as when a hot spell comes through to see if they’re nearing dormancy.
5. Aquarium Pump
Yes seriously, I use this aquarium pump every January to aerate the water while soaking corms. It’s a one time purchase that I’m so glad I bought. Instead of having to drip your faucets over a bucket of water to keep movement and prevent stagnation, just plug in this pump for 4 hours. You won’t regret this purchase. Plus, it’s small and fits in a drawer for storage the rest of the year.
6. Soil Blockers and their Plastic Trays
I’ve tried several trays for soil blocks and ultimately these IKEA plastic trays are the winner. They’re cheap, they’re perfectly flat without any bend, and they have the perfect sized lip to allow for bottom watering. I am able to fit 9 of the mini blocks (20 blocks each) onto these trays. That means 180 mini blocks per tray. I use soil blocks for snapdragons, yarrow and stock. I always transplant out in these mini block sizes, but they can be bumped up to the 2″ blocker if more growing time and space is needed.
7. Baker’s Rack for Seedlings
These are definitely an investment. Each year I purchase another 48″ baker’s rack from Costco, and man those prices have gone up! BUT…these are extremely durable racks that are:
- on wheels
- do not retain water do to the wire (avoid those plastic shelves that will pool water and not allow airflow)
- adjustable shelving heights
- wire allows for easy grow light adjustments
- again ON WHEELS for easy rolling outside when hardening off
- shelves do not sag causing uneven water distribution
Can also be purchased on Amazon
8. A Sun Hat
This is an absolute MUST! I don’t care where you live, the sun is a dangerous thing for us working beneath it all the time. You must must MUST have a sunhat to help aid your skin from dangerous UV rays. I apply sunscreen to my face and arms/shoulders twice a day and I still notice sun damage and spots when I’m not wearing a hat. I purchase this exact hat from a TJ Max clearance shelf for $6 in 2020. And while I don’t personally think it’s the cutest thing in the world, it’s super useful and I really enjoy that it’s a semi-visor style. With velcro securement in the back, and an open top, this allows me to have my hair up in a high bun or ponytail. I did happen to find the exact hat on Amazon.
9. Gloves and Shears
This is a twofer. Easy items you probably already own for a home garden, but are essential for flower farming. I purchase both from Amazon back in 2021 when I realized I didn’t really need to send $40 on a single set of shears or $20 on one pair of gloves. These are items I constantly misplace and find again later, so why drop $60 each time I lose another pair of each?
10. Chiffon Bags for Dahlias
I battle some real pest pressure with dahlias. Cucumber beetles, tarnish plant bugs, and grasshoppers are my main culprits in browning and munching on their perfect petals. Many of my florists and customers ask how I can offer nearly perfect blooms without any blemishes. Insert: chiffon bags. These 8×12″ drawstring bags are applied to every single bud, and removed from the flower is in full bloom. They allow the bloom to breath, receive sun and rain, but keeps the pests out.
I was in a pinch one year and had to order the smaller size 5×7″ bags. These work well for ball dahlias (smaller tighter bloom size) but do not work for the larger decorative varieties with delicate petals.
