Episode 86: From Backyard Dahlias to 4,000 Plants: Building Sweet Bloom Farm with Melissa Stewart

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, I’m joined by Melissa Stewart of Sweet Bloom Farm, a boutique dahlia farm in Battle Ground, Washington.Melissa’s journey began the way so many of ours do, with a few mystery dahlias from a garden center and a spark she couldn’t ignore. What started as six blooming plants in her suburban backyard quickly grew into 20 varieties… then 50… then 100… and eventually into a two-acre farm growing 4,000 dahlias.In this conversation, we talk about: Scaling from 600 to 4,000 plants in one season Why their second year on the farm was their hardest The soil test that saved their crop Farming no-till in rocky Pacific Northwest soil Selling dahlia tubers online and shipping nationwide Whether the dahlia market is oversaturated Why local flowers matter more than ever The community that flowers create beyond the bloomsMelissa shares openly about balancing a corporate job, raising two children, building a farm with her husband, and learning when to ask for help.If you’ve ever wondered whether your backyard dahlias could become something more, this episode will inspire you.Book: Weeds & What They Tell Us: https://amzn.to/3ZHkWQOConnect with Melissa:Website: www.sweetbloomfarm.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetbloomfarmInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetbloomfarmSign up for our podcast newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletterShow Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2026/02/24/ep-86-sweet-bloom-farm/