Why URI Is Growing 800 Feet of Dahlias

If you’ve ever brought home a farmers market bouquet and wondered why some stems last longer than others, URI is working on the answer at its Agronomy Farm in Kingston. Researchers are spending two growing seasons comparing snapdragons and dahlias, looking at bloom timing, stem length, vase life, and the other practical details that determine whether a variety works for a local grower beyond simply looking good in the field. 

On August 19, visitors can see that research growing in real time.

URI’s Cut Flower Open House runs from 5-7 PM, with 800 bed feet of dahlias in bloom across the trial field. Guests can walk through the rows, compare varieties side by side, and get a closer look at the decisions flower farmers make long before a bunch of stems reaches a market stand or kitchen table. 

For growers, those differences matter. A dahlia might have great color but bloom too late, grow on a stem that is difficult to use, or lose steam quickly once cut. URI’s trial is designed to identify varieties that perform well in Southern New England and give small farms useful information as they decide what deserves space in the field. Snapdragons drew visitors during the first open house in July. This month, the focus shifts fully to dahlias. 

The evening also covers what happens when the flowers attract attention of the less welcome variety. URI entomologist Lisa Tewksbury of the URI Biocontrol Lab will discuss insect pest pressure and lead a pest walk through the trial, pointing out some of the challenges growers watch for during the season. 

Farmers and commercial flower growers are a natural fit for the event, but the field is open wider than that. Community members interested in growing flowers for profit can attend, and the public is welcome to come learn more about URI’s agricultural research and Cooperative Extension programs. For more information about URI Cooperative Extension programs, visit uri.edu/coopext and follow @uri_cels for updates from the Agronomy Farm.