Giant Sunflower
This is a giant amidst the sunflowers with tall stems up to 3.6m (12’) tall. At the top grows a monumental flower crown up to 45cm (18”) wide that hangs heavy with edible seeds. They grow well in just about any well-drained soil and are drought tolerant which makes them very easy to grow!
Directly sow seeds in mid-April to late May in an area with full sun exposure in order for seed heads to mature before the wet weather arrives in September. |
Timing: Direct sow mid-April to late May although starting indoors is possible(but this does not gain much time). Sunflowers will require staking if they are allowed to get root-bound, and they will lack stability at transplant time. The temperature for germination is 21-30°C(70-85°F), and seeds should sprout in 10-14 days. Sowing: Sow seeds generally 5 mm - 1 cm (1/4-1/2″) deep, and space dwarf varieties 15cm (6″) apart while the giants should be given lots of room at about 1m(3'). Growing: The flowers are ready to be cut from the plant when the backs of it turns yellow. "Sunflowers planted near rows of corn are said to increase yields." Use sunflowers to attract pollinators to other crops that require insect pollination, like squash and pumpkins. There magnificent flowers also attract bees and ladybird beetles, which prey on aphids. |