COUNTY TO SHOW US SNOW IS STILL BLANKETING THE FIELDS AT 11 MILE FARM. BUT INSIDE, THIS LOCAL FLOWER FARMER HAS BEEN BUSY ALL WINTER, FORCING SPRING TO COME A LITTLE EARLY. 11 MILE FARM IS A PRIVATE FLOWER FARM RIGHT HERE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, AND BECCA RINGHAM IS MAKING SURE PITTSBURGHERS CAN ENJOY FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN BLOOMS. PEOPLE LOVE GIVING FLOWERS. PEOPLE LOVE SEEING AND SMELLING FLOWERS. AS SOON AS YOU WALK IN AND YOU SEE THIS DISPLAY, WE OUR BODIES ARE RESPONDING TO IT. AND REALLY, FLOWERS ARE MAGICAL IN THAT SENSE. TO SURVIVE PITTSBURGH’S BRUTAL WINTERS, BECCA GROWS INDOORS THIS TIME OF YEAR USING HYDROPONICS. MEANING THESE FLOWERS ARE GROWN IN WATER, NOT SOIL. THAT ALLOWS HER TO GROW THOUSANDS OF SPECIALTY TULIPS, INCLUDING FRINGE AND DOUBLE BLOOM VARIETIES YOU WON’T FIND AT THE GROCERY STORE. THAT WAS A GOAL OF MINE TO HAVE FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN FLOWERS AVAILABLE FOR CUSTOMERS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY. SO THERE’S DEFINITELY A SCIENCE AND A TECHNIQUE BEHIND IT, WHICH I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A SPECTACULAR OFFERING THIS YEAR, SO WE’VE REALLY NAILED IT. SHE ALSO TENDS CRATE GROWN BULBS. THESE WILL BE READY FOR EASTER. HER FLOWERS ARE SOLD THROUGH HER 11 MILE FARM WEBSITE AND AT LOCAL RETAIL SHOPS. THERE’S NOTHING LIKE LOCALLY GROWN FLOWERS. REALLY, TRULY. I MEAN, THE THINGS THAT ARE SHIPPED IN ARE BEAUTIFUL, BUT WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR GROWER, WHERE THEY SOURCE THINGS, I’VE TOUCHED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE FLOWERS FROM START TO FINISH. IT IS SUCH AN EXTRA SPECIAL AVAILABILITY. BECCA ALSO SHARED SIX TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR FLOWERS FRESH LONGER. BUY FRESH, HIGH QUALITY FLOWERS. ALWAYS USE THE FLOWER FOOD PACKET. IT PROVIDES NUTRIENTS AND KILLS BACTERIA. REFRESH VASE WATER AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY. DRAIN OUT THE OLD WATER AND REPLACE IT WITH COOL WATER. RE TRIM THE STEMS AND KEEP FLOWERS IN A COOL SPOT OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT. AND IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A GIFT BEYOND A TRADITIONAL BOUQUET, SHE SUGGESTS DRIED FLOWERS THAT LAST LONGER. A FLOWER SUBSCRIPTION FOR ONGOING DELIVERIES, OR EVEN A FLOWER WORKSHOP. BUT PEOPLE LOVE EXPERIENCES, AND WE REALLY FAVORITE PART OF WHAT 11 MILE FARM OFFERS ARE WORKSHOPS WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN COME WORK ALONGSIDE ME. I TEACH THEM ELEMENTS OF HOW TO GROW THESE FLOWERS, HOW TO WORK WITH THEM, HOW TO ARRANGE WITH THEM A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE ON THIS HOLIDAY
Allegheny County flower farm brings early spring blooms to Pittsburgh
Flower farmer Becca Ringham at Eleven Mile Farm grows flowers indoors using hydroponics
Updated: 5:54 PM EST Feb 13, 2026
Despite the snow still blanketing the fields at Eleven Mile Farm in Allegheny County, flower farmer Becca Ringham is busy forcing spring to arrive a little early.”People love getting flowers. People love seeing and smelling flowers. As soon as you walk in and see this display, our bodies are responding to it — and really, flowers are magical in that sense,” Ringham said.To survive Pittsburgh’s winters, Ringham grows indoors using hydroponics, meaning the flowers are grown in water, not soil. This method allows her to grow thousands of specialty tulips, including fringe and double-bloom varieties not typically found in grocery stores.”That was a goal of mine — to have fresh, locally grown flowers available for customers for Valentine’s Day. There is definitely a science and a technique behind it, which I have been working on for the past three years, but I think we have a spectacular offering this year, so we really nailed it,” Ringham said.She also tends crate-grown bulbs that will be ready for Easter. Her flowers are sold through the Eleven Mile Farm website and at local retail shops.”There’s nothing like locally grown flowers, really, truly,” Ringham said. “The things that are shipped in are beautiful, but when you know your grower, where they source things — I have touched every single one of these flowers from start to finish — it is such an extra-special availability.”If you are looking for a gift beyond a traditional bouquet, Ringham suggests dried flowers that last longer, a flower subscription for ongoing deliveries, or a flower workshop.”People love experiences. The favorite part of what Eleven Mile Farm offers are our workshops, where customers can come work alongside me. I teach them elements of how to grow these flowers, how to work with them, how to arrange with them,” she said.Ringham’s tips to keep flowers fresh longerBuy fresh, high-quality flowersAlways use the flower food packetRefresh vase water at least every other day. Drain the old water and replace it with cool water. Re-trim the stemsKeep flowers in a cool spot out of direct sunlight
Despite the snow still blanketing the fields at Eleven Mile Farm in Allegheny County, flower farmer Becca Ringham is busy forcing spring to arrive a little early.
“People love getting flowers. People love seeing and smelling flowers. As soon as you walk in and see this display, our bodies are responding to it — and really, flowers are magical in that sense,” Ringham said.
To survive Pittsburgh’s winters, Ringham grows indoors using hydroponics, meaning the flowers are grown in water, not soil. This method allows her to grow thousands of specialty tulips, including fringe and double-bloom varieties not typically found in grocery stores.
“That was a goal of mine — to have fresh, locally grown flowers available for customers for Valentine’s Day. There is definitely a science and a technique behind it, which I have been working on for the past three years, but I think we have a spectacular offering this year, so we really nailed it,” Ringham said.
She also tends crate-grown bulbs that will be ready for Easter. Her flowers are sold through the Eleven Mile Farm website and at local retail shops.
“There’s nothing like locally grown flowers, really, truly,” Ringham said. “The things that are shipped in are beautiful, but when you know your grower, where they source things — I have touched every single one of these flowers from start to finish — it is such an extra-special availability.”
If you are looking for a gift beyond a traditional bouquet, Ringham suggests dried flowers that last longer, a flower subscription for ongoing deliveries, or a flower workshop.
“People love experiences. The favorite part of what Eleven Mile Farm offers are our workshops, where customers can come work alongside me. I teach them elements of how to grow these flowers, how to work with them, how to arrange with them,” she said.
Ringham’s tips to keep flowers fresh longerBuy fresh, high-quality flowersAlways use the flower food packetRefresh vase water at least every other day. Drain the old water and replace it with cool water. Re-trim the stemsKeep flowers in a cool spot out of direct sunlight