Grow your own sunny blooms.
Blooms can be red, chocolate, peach, lemon, or burgundy.
it’s possible for you to even buy multicolored selections.
Credit:Robbie Caponetto
Depending on the variety, mature sunflowers grow to nearly 10 feet tall with minimal maintenance requirements.
This occurs only in young flowers– the mature flowers only face east.
The flower os a sunflower is actually a pseudanthium, or flowerhead, made up of many small flowers.
The outer petals are known as ray flowers and are made up of multiple petals fused together.
If growing sunflowers in a container, provide enough drainage and loose soil.
Assun-loving plants, wait until the last frost passes to plant seeds.
These flowers need fertile, nutrient-rich soil that does not remain wet.
Well-draining soil is critical for flourishing blooms.
Light
Sunflowers love daily sunlightat least six to eight hours.
Regions with long, warm summers have ample blooms with healthy, sturdy stems because of the plant’sheliotropic nature.
Soil
Plant seeds in fertile, well-drained soil either in the ground or in raised beds.
Sunflowers dislike competing for space, so avoid weed growth where possible.
Water
Sunflowers are relatively drought-tolerant but are healthiest when receiving regular wateringwater younger plants around the roots.
Also, sunflower heads will droop if they do not receive enough water.
Established plants need watering about once a week, depending on rainfall in the region.
Temperature and Humidity
Sunflowers tolerate a range of temperatures.
Plant in an area with proper air circulation, but don’t expose tall stems to windy conditions.
These flowers thrive in moderately warm climates.
As long as sunflowers have routine care, these flowers can tolerate excessive heat and humidity.
Waiting until after the last frost is crucial for successful planting.
Sunflowers have expansive root systems that can acquire moisture from deep within the ground.
Types of Sunflowers
Sunflowers are available in a variety of sizes and colors.
However, perennial sunflowers can be grown from cuttings.
Propagating perennial sunflowers from cuttings is more challenging than from seed, but different varieties require different methods.
Depending on your area, start sunflowers indoors to help prevent an unexpected cold snap from harming the seeds.
Use biodegradable containers that can be directly planted in the garden, as sunflowers dislike root disturbance.
Purchase seeds at a garden center or harvest from existing sunflower plants.
The seeds should appear somewhat loose.
Keep the drying flower away from birds so they don’t remove the seeds before you could.
Separate the seeds from the debris, and place on a paper plate to dry thoroughly.
Place seeds in a paper envelope, labeled with harvest date and varietal name.
Store seeds in a cool, dark, dry location until the following spring.
Start by spacing seeds about eight inches apart and one-half of an inch deep.
Depending on the selection, the time between sowing and blooming is around 50 to 70 days.
Keep the soil moist and not soggy until plants establish and sprout.
Sunflowers bloom for about three weeks.
Mulching around the sunflower garden bed is also not required.
Protective barriers or netting can prevent animals from eating these flowers.
Use a garden fungicide spray at the first sign of these diseases to prevent them from spreading.
These relatively easy-to-grow flowers still have some problems to be aware of that signify disease.
Leaves Turning Black/Brown
Without proper water balance, sunflowers can develop fungal wilting.
This soil-borne disease appears in underwatered sunflowers causing dark brown spots on the foliage and stem.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Too much water causes sunflower foliage to turn yellow.
Consider rainfall when watering sunflowers because their expensive root system allows them to access moisture.
Additionally, improper nutrient balance can cause yellowing leaves.
Add a nitrogen-based fertilizer to amend the soil contents or mulch with organic compost.
University of Missouri Extension.Sunflower: an American native.
