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 blooms

Melissa 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/3ZHkWQO

Connect with Melissa:

Website: www.sweetbloomfarm.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetbloomfarm

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetbloomfarm

Sign up for our podcast newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2026/02/24/ep-86-sweet-bloom-farm/