Sunflowers in the Garden

Children love them. Adults love them. We adorn our gardens with them. We attract birds and other wildlife with them. We enjoy eating their seeds and cooking with their oil. Sunflowers are some of the easiest and most enjoyable garden plants to grow. In fact, sunflowers often plant themselves, springing up nearly anywhere their seeds have been dropped, making for a wonderful surprise. Sunflowers have been around for centuries and were first cultivated as a source of medicine, fiber, seeds, and oil. Today, sunflowers are still grown commercially for production of vegetable oil; however, home gardeners typically enjoy them more for their ornamental appearance in the garden.

Unbeknownst to many, a sunflower is not just a sunflower. Sunflowers are varied by size and color. There are giant varieties, which can grow over ten feet tall. There are your typical sunflowers (the ones we are accustomed to), which grow anywhere from six to ten feet tall. And then there are the miniature sunflower varieties, which only grow two to four feet tall. There are sunflowers that produce only one large flower head, and there are varieties with smaller, multiple flower heads. While sunflowers may bring about thoughts of big, yellow blooms, you can find them in many other colors as well. These include anything from creamy pale yellows, white, and lime green to rich oranges, vibrant reds, browns, and bicolors.

Sunflowers require plenty of sun in order to produce stronger stems and colors that are more vibrant. During active growth, the sunflower heads face and follow the path of the sun. In fact, once they are fully mature, most sunflowers face east. Sunflowers are best sown directly into the garden. If you're planting sunflowers in rows, you should space the seeds approximately six inches apart in a shallow, 1- to 2-inch deep trench. Once they develop their second leaves, thin the seedlings out every 2 to 3 feet. To enjoy more blooms, sow a new row every couple of weeks. Succession plantings will ensure continual blooms throughout the summer season and on into fall. This, of course, is dependent on the variety of sunflower grown too, as different sunflowers have different needs, including spacing. For example, the giant varieties may require more spacing, like 3 to 4 feet. The smaller varieties, however, may only need to be spaced about a foot apart.

Sunflowers do well in many types of soil conditions, but keep in mind that the better the soil is, the better the plants will be. Therefore, amend the soil with compost and apply organic mulch for better results and healthier sunflowers. Although sunflowers do not require fertilizing, keeping the soil rich in organic matter will help provide much-needed nourishment. A layer of mulch will also help retain moisture and keep the sunflower plants cool, especially during heat spells. Once established, sunflowers are extremely tough, even tolerant of drought-like conditions. However, water them regularly during their growing period. Regular, thorough watering encourages stronger, deeper root growth. Sometimes harsh winds and downpours can take their toll on sunflowers, especially the taller varieties. Tie the plants loosely to stakes with soft material, such as panty hose, to prevent toppling over.

Sunflowers can also be planted individually, in groups, or in patterns. When planting a variety of sunflowers of varying heights, place the taller sunflowers at the back, working down from medium to small, which should be nearest the front. In confined spaces or perhaps just for fun, try growing sunflowers with vine crops. I have used them many times in the garden as interesting poles for beans. Another fun planting idea is a sunflower house for the kids to play in. For better results, choose a tall, multi-branching variety. Locate a sunny area of the lawn and use flour to shape the outline of the sunflower house. Remove the sod, making it about twelve inches wide. Mix in some compost and sow the seeds directly into the ground about three feet apart. Arrange the seeds in groups of three, spaced two inches, in the shape of a triangle. Once the plants reach about a foot or so high, grab some morning glory seeds (any color) and sow them between the sunflowers, every three to four inches. Before you know it, you're kids will have a big, beautiful, safely enclosed play area.

Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamins, proteins, and minerals, making them great, healthy snacks for kids. Harvest the seed after the flowers begin to die back and the petals have fallen off. Cut off the flower head, leaving a few inches of stalk for easy hanging. Hang the stalks in a well-ventilated area for drying. As soon as the flowers have dried, extract the seeds, which should come out easy. Sunflowers are not only dried for eating, however. They are also used as dried flowers in vases and for craft projects. They can be cut just before the flowers die off and dried over a few weeks. For craft projects, such as bouquets, it is important to leave a sufficient amount of stalk attached. Cut spent blooms since these can weigh the plants down. Also, when removing old plants, do not pull them out, as this can disturb the roots of neighboring plants. Instead, cut the stalk at the base with a knife or cutting shears.

Sunflowers are virtually carefree. However, they are sometimes infected with fungal diseases, such as mildews and rusts. When either of these problems occur, it's usually best to simply remove and destroy the affected plants. Wildlife, such as birds, squirrels, and rodents, also enjoy devouring the bounty of sunflowers and generally begin feasting on the seeds prior to fully ripening. Therefore, if you wish to guard against their invasion, cover the flower head with any type of covering that allows for both light and air to filter through with ease. Avoid the use of plastic materials, as this will harm the plants instead. Deer will also feed on newly planted sunflower patches, preferring to eat the young shoots as opposed to the flower heads. Insects are usually not a problem; however, on occasion ants do enjoy lapping the nectar from sunflowers.