Seasons Change, So Do We: A Look Back at This Summer’s Highs and Lows

Well… it’s been a minute since I’ve made a blog post or emailed our amazing subscribers.

I was on a roll there for a while, writing updates, sharing our story, connecting with fellow flower lovers and then spring hit. With it came a very busy start to our flower farming season and our son's rookie season racing go-karts.

So, how are the flowers? How was the growing season, you ask?... How much time do you have? 😂

Spring: A Tulip-Fueled Dream

Let’s start with the good stuff: Spring was amazing. Our tulips were a huge success this year! So much so that we couldn’t keep up with the demand! We ended up doubling our bulb order for Spring 2026 (yes, we’re planning that far ahead now) to hopefully meet the need we couldn't meet this past season. It’s what I like to call a “good problem” for a flower farmer but as a recovering people pleaser, I spent most of spring anxiously wondering if there was some secret spell I could cast to magically triple my tulip crop so I didn’t have to say “no” to anyone. (Spoiler: there is no spell. Just dirt, bulbs, and time.)

June & July: Where Were the Flowers?

Then came June… and with it, a whole lot of confusion. I had very few flowers, and it became clear I hadn’t quite figured out what actually thrives in our climate during this tricky transitional month. By July, I was hopeful. Last season, our zinnias and dahlias were in full swing by mid-July. I was ready for that explosion of color and joy and to be harvesting bucket loads of them. But… it never came. To be totally honest? At the time of writing this, almost October, we’re still waiting.

The Culprits: Wireworms, Weeds & Weather

There were some clear issues this season:

• A wireworm problem took out a large section of our dahlia plants early on.

• We had one of the driest summers in recent memory, and while we can supplement water, we simply can’t replace Mother Nature.

• Our dahlias went dormant from heat, drought, and humidity.

• Our zinnias and filler flowers failed, unable to handle the tough conditions.

We scrambled to save what we could, we even added more sprinklers to the dahlia field later in the season (a fun little unplanned expense when you have nothing to sell 😅). But the bottom line? It was a hard growing season.

What We Learned (the Hard Way)

Even with the challenges, I’m trying to focus on the lessons and believe me, there were many. Here are some of the biggest takeaways we’re carrying into next season:

1. Weeding is ACTUALLY Important (Yes, Really)

If you take weeding seriously, good for you LOL but I’ve always been a bit more relaxed about weeding, it just wasn’t a big issue. But this year, that approach came back to bite us. Most weeds thrive no matter the conditions. They’re hardy, aggressive, and relentless. When your dahlias are already stressed from weather, they can’t afford to compete with weeds for nutrients and space. Especially in our climate (Zone 6b), which already isn’t ideal for dahlias, keeping weed pressure low is critical. Lesson learned.

2. Plant Your Cover Crops Before You Plant Dahlias

If you're planning to use a cover crop in the walkways between your dahlia rows (which I still recommend!), do yourself a favor: get your rows set and your cover crop in early, before the dahlias go in. That way the cover crop has time to establish, and you can mulch and maintain those beds with way less effort later.

3. Have a Water Plan, BEFORE You Need It

This one’s huge. We were caught off guard this year and ended up scrambling to install additional irrigation mid-season. It was a stressful and costly fix.

Going forward, we’re planning for more water access and coverage than we think we’ll need so that if we need to take over watering duties from nature, we can do so without panic.

Dahlias are thirstier than I realized, and this season made it crystal clear how important consistent watering is to their success.

4. Treat for Pests and Mildew Before There’s a Problem

Next season, we’re implementing a proactive pest and disease management plan. No more waiting for signs of trouble, we’ll be treating on a schedule (weekly or bi-weekly) to stay ahead of common issues like mildew, aphids, and other troublemakers.

The Silver Linings

Even with all the setbacks, there were still beautiful moments. We had some amazing seedling blooms this year. Several first-year varieties made the cut and will return in 2026. Our favorite second-year seedling came back stronger than ever, s

he’s headed into her third year now and one step closer to being available for your farm or garden!

2025 first year dahlia seedlings

Second year seedling. Even more beautiful than I remember!

Life Beyond the Blooms

Outside of the farm, the Onken family had a fun and full summer.

Our daughter spent countless hours at her happy place, the barn, “horsing around.” (She hates that joke, by the way 😂).

And our son completed his rookie season in go-kart racing! He had a blast going fast and making new friends and we had so much fun cheering him on.

Looking Ahead

Yes, it was a tough season as a flower farmer. But also a beautiful one. We’re taking the lessons, the wins, the flops, and carrying them forward into a stronger season ahead.

Thanks for following along on this journey. I’ll be sharing more soon about our fall prep and spring plans. If you’re a flower grower (or a dreamer), I hope this reminds you: you’re not alone. Let’s keep growing.