Tips for Growing Belleezza D Autuno Sunflowers

I've always loved sunflowers as they remind my of giant daisies kissed by the sun. A few years ago, I decided to break with traditional and try something a bit new - a variegated sunflower. I'd seen them in pictures and thought it was time I find out for myself how these unusual flowers would look in my yard. I ordered a package of Belleezza D Autuno and planted them at the back of my garden.

They grew like any ordinary sunflower, but didn't come into bloom until into September. To be honest, I almost given up on them and assumed that by the time they bloomed frost would threaten my little patch of Maine and dull their blooms. I was wrong.

These delightful sunflowers produced a mass of color on the six-foot, multi-branched stalks. Colors ranged from cream and pale yellow to deep mahogany and every shade in between. While some flower heads were solid colors, others blended perfectly from one shade to another creating variations in color that I hadn't expected. Bloom size ranged from three to eight inches, with one or two large central blooms and an assortment of smaller blooms on each stalk.

If you love sunflowers, you owe it to yourself to give Belleezza D Autuno a try.

Location:
Choose a location that receives full sun for six to eight hours a day. The back of the garden is an excellent choice, but keep in mind that even though young sunflowers tend to follow the sun's path during the day, mature sunflowers typically face east when in bloom. Making the mistake of planting sunflowers on an eastern border results in them turning their backs on you when blooming time arrives.

Planting:
Sow seeds in late spring as soon as the soil has reached a temperature of 47 degrees F. Plant to a depth of ½ inch in loamy soil and cover to secure the seeds. These hardy plants can survive light frosts and germinate best in cool soil.

Thinning:
Thin plants to 12 to 18 inches apart once they are two inches tall. With care, you can transplant the "thinned" seedlings to a new area.

Watering:
Keep the soil evenly moist, as sunflowers are heavy feeders. Watering deeply once a twice a week is typically sufficient, but check the soil often and water when it feels dry one inch below the surface.

More work by this author:
Five Old-Fashioned Favorites for the Flower Garden
Sunflower Houses Bring Magic to Your Garden
Moon Gardens: Designing and Planting