Flowering in the North Conference 2026
Save the Dates:
January 27-29, 2026
Portland, Maine
To join the Flowering in the North mailing list, please e-mail ankit.singh@maine.edu.
Dear All,
The Flowering in the North conference is back — and bigger than ever! Mark your calendars and plan to join us as we bring together flower growers, researchers, and industry professionals from across the Northeast for three days of learning, connection, and inspiration.
Flowering in the North 2026
Conference Dates: January 27-29, 2026 in Portland, Maine
I also want to use this opportunity to invite proposals for being a speaker at FITN 2026. We are now accepting speaker proposals! If you’re interested in sponsoring our 2026 event, please complete our sponsorship form.
Stay tuned for registration details later this summer. We are deeply grateful and excited for getting this together!
Yours warmly and in gratitude,
Dr. Ankit K Singh
On behalf of the FITN Planning Committee:
- Alaena Robbins, Broadturn Farm
- Julia Baecher, East of Eden Flower Farm
- Lee Cline, Fox Hollow Flowers
- Jason Lilley, UMaine Extension
Speaker Proposals
We are currently seeking speakers for Flowering in the North 2026 and invite proposals that align with the areas of interest identified through attendee feedback. We also welcome original proposals beyond these categories that would benefit flower growers, designers, and industry professionals working in cold-climate regions:
Floriculture Business Management
- Marketing strategies for flower growers and florists
- Pricing for profitability
- Building and maintaining customer relationships
- Retail vs. wholesale flower production and sales
Floral Design Workshops
- Hands-on floral arranging techniques
- Incorporating locally grown flowers into floral design
- Advanced floral techniques for professional florists and growers
Crop Planning and Farm Systems
- Succession planting strategies
- Season extension (e.g., tunnels, protected culture)
- Efficient field layout and planning
Pest and Disease Management
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies
- Identification and treatment of common pests and diseases in flower crops
Variety Selection
- New or unique cut flower varieties
- Varieties adapted to northern growing conditions
- Perennials and woody cuts for flower production
Postharvest Handling
- Improving vase life
- Best practices for harvest, conditioning, and storage
Sustainability & Soil Health
- Organic flower production methods
- Building and maintaining healthy soil for flower crops
Scaling Up
- Transitioning from small- to mid-scale operations
- Hiring, training, and managing seasonal labor
Specialty Topics
- Growing flowers under cover (e.g., hoophouses, caterpillar tunnels)
- Seed saving techniques for cut flowers
- Dried flowers and alternative floral markets
Submit your proposal here:
Speaker Proposal Form – Due May 15, 2025
Flowering in the North 2025
On behalf of the planning committee, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in Flowering in the North 2025. Whether you joined as a speaker, sponsor, exhibitor, or attendee, your contributions made this event a true success.
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors:
Organizer Contact
Ankit K. Singh, Ph.D.
Assistant Extension Professor
Maine Sustainable Agriculture and Ornamental Horticulture Educator
E-mail: ankit.singh@maine.edu
Phone: 207.324.2814
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).