Why September Is One of the Best Times to Pick Flowers in Minnesota
If you think the flower season is winding down when September arrives in Minnesota, think again!
While the days are getting shorter and the first hints of fall are starting to show up, September can be one of the most beautiful times to visit a Minnesota flower farm. At The Romestead Flower Farm in Cambridge, our fields are still full of color, texture, and plenty of flowers ready to come home with you.
So grab your favorite people, throw on your boots, and come enjoy one of the best parts of late summer: picking your own flowers in Minnesota.
September Is Still Flower Season!
Minnesota has a relatively short growing season, which means our flower fields have to make the most of every warm day. Many of the flowers that take center stage in July and August are still going strong in September.
At The Romestead Flower Farm, our late-season field can include favorites like:
Dahlias
Sunflowers
Zinnias
Celosia
Cosmos
Amaranth and other fillers
Rudbeckia
And plenty of other seasonal blooms
Some flowers may be starting to fade while others are just hitting their stride. That's part of the fun of visiting a seasonal flower farm—you never know exactly what you'll find!
Our fields follow the rhythm of the season, and September is the beginning of that beautiful transition from the bright colors of summer toward the warmer, richer tones of fall.
Cooler Weather + Flowers = A Pretty Great Combination
Let's be honest: Minnesota summers can be HOT.
Picking flowers in 90-degree weather while dodging mosquitoes and wondering why you wore jeans seemed like a good idea at the time.
September, on the other hand, often brings cooler mornings and more comfortable afternoons. It's a wonderful time to slow down and enjoy the field without feeling like you're melting into the rows.
And if you're looking for things to do in Central Minnesota in September, a trip to a local flower farm is a pretty simple way to spend an hour or two outside.
No complicated itinerary required.
Just flowers, fresh air, and a bucket.
The Flowers Have Had All Summer to Grow
Here's the slightly nerdy flower-farmer part.
Many of the annual flowers we grow need weeks of warm weather before they reach their full potential. By September, they've had the entire summer to establish themselves, branch out, and produce flowers.
That means you're often picking from big, productive plants that have been blooming for weeks.
Dahlias are a great example. They tend to love the cooler nights of late summer and can continue producing beautiful blooms until a hard frost finally tells them it's time to call it quits.
And that's one of the reasons we love September so much.
The field has personality.
It's not the perfectly manicured beginning-of-summer garden. It's a field that's been working hard all season—and it shows.
September Flowers Make Gorgeous Bouquets
There is something special about a bouquet picked in September.
You can still get the cheerful colors of summer, but you can also start incorporating deeper, warmer tones that feel a little more like fall.
Try combining:
A focal flower
Think dahlias or large zinnias.
A supporting flower
Smaller zinnias, cosmos, or celosia add color and movement.
A filler flower
Tiny blooms help fill the spaces between your larger flowers.
Something green
Don't overlook foliage! A little greenery can completely change the look of a bouquet.
One of our favorite tips for picking your own flowers is to cut your stems longer than you think you'll need. You can always shorten them when you get home, but you can't add length back onto a stem!
A Little Flower-Picking Tip: Keep Cutting!
If you've never visited a U-pick flower farm, it can feel a little strange at first to walk into a field and start cutting.
"What am I supposed to pick?"
"Is this ready?"
"Am I going to kill the plant?!"
Don't worry. That's what the U-pick experience is all about!
Many cut flowers actually benefit from being harvested regularly. When you cut the appropriate stem, the plant can continue producing more flowers.
At The Romestead, we recommend cutting flowers about 12–18 inches down the stem, just above a pair of leaves or branching stems. Remove the leaves from the portion of stem that will be underwater in your vase.
And remember: when in doubt, cut the longer stem.
You can make adjustments once you get home.
It's Also a Beautiful Time for Photos
September brings some of our favorite light of the entire season.
The sun sits a little lower in the sky, the evenings start getting golden, and the combination of flowers and changing seasonal scenery makes for some pretty wonderful photos.
Whether you're taking pictures of your kids, grabbing some photos with friends, documenting a date night, or simply taking approximately 47 pictures of your bouquet (we don't judge), the flower field is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.
Just remember—it's a working farm, not a perfectly level garden path. Expect grass, uneven ground, mud if we've had rain, and all the normal things that come with being outside on a farm.
September Is the Beginning of the End
Here's the bittersweet part.
Minnesota's growing season doesn't last forever.
Eventually, a hard frost will arrive, and when it does, many of our warm-season flowers will be finished for the year. Until then, we'll keep enjoying every bloom we can.
That's what makes a September U-pick flower experience in Minnesota feel a little different.
You're not just picking flowers.
You're enjoying one of the last beautiful chapters of the growing season.
And maybe that's why those September bouquets feel just a little more special.
Come Pick a September Bouquet at The Romestead
If you've been waiting for the perfect time to visit a U-pick flower farm near Cambridge, Minnesota, September is a great excuse to finally come out.
At The Romestead Flower Farm, our self-serve flower field gives you the chance to wander through the rows, choose your favorite blooms, and create a bouquet that's completely your own.
Our U-pick field is located at:
The Romestead Flower Farm
32685 Palm St NW
Cambridge, MN 55008
Our U-pick cup is $25, or you can bring your own 5-gallon bucket for $60. The field is open during designated U-pick days, so check our website or social media for current flower availability before heading out.
Bring a hat, water, sunscreen, bug spray, and shoes you're comfortable getting a little dirty.
We'll provide the flowers.
You just have to decide which ones are coming home with you.
Don't Wait for Next Summer
If September has taught us anything, it's this:
There is still plenty of growing season left to enjoy.
So before the first frost arrives, come wander the rows, pick a few flowers, breathe in some fresh Minnesota air, and take home a little piece of the season.
We'll see you in the flower field!
