Sunflowers are certainly stars of the
gardening world. It is hard to miss the
beauty of sunflowers standing tall, either on their own or edging a bed of more
traditional flowers. Few who have seen
these stunning beauties can deny their stunning beauty and attractiveness.
The family of sunflowers, known
scientifically as genus Helianthus, includes both annual and perennial
varieties of sunflowers. As their name
implies, sunflowers generally prefer full sunlight, so it is important for
gardeners to choose the sunniest part of their garden when planting these
stunning plants.
It is also important to take the adult
size of these plants into account when planting them, and to space them
accordingly. Most varieties of sunflowers are quite large, so it is important
to space them widely so they will not crowd each other out and compete for
nutrients.
Since sunflowers are so large and
sturdy, many gardeners like to use them to border vegetable gardens, and a
vegetable garden bordered by sunflowers is certainly a beautiful sight.
The blooming period of sunflowers
typically extends from late summer to early fall, and the growing requirements
for these plants are generally easy to meet.
Most varieties of sunflowers require only a well drained, modestly
fertile soil in order to thrive. It is generally a good idea to amend the soil
with either aged manure or a good quality commercial fertilizer. It is best to sow the sunflower seeds directly
where they are intended to grow, since they set seed quickly and start to
sprout very fast.
While sunflowers may be easy to grow,
their seeds are popular with many unwanted garden visitors, particularly
rabbits, squirrels and insects. Due to
this popularly with common garden pests, it is best to sow three times as many
seeds as are needed. Planting extra
seeds will allow the four legged visitors to your garden to eat their fill
while still providing a beautiful garden full of sunflowers.
Sunflower seeds are best planted about
a foot apart. Sowing the seeds this far
apart will allow the adult plants to grow the largest heads. If you plant sunflowers closer together they
will develop smaller blooms and may never reach their full potential. If you are growing sunflowers for those
monstrous blossoms, it is important to give them plenty of space to grow.
When working with annual varieties of
sunflowers, it is important to rotate the planting area. This will keep the soil its healthiest and
allow the sunflowers to achieve their best blooms.
There are many places to buy quality
sunflower seeds, including the internet, mail order houses and local garden
centers. As with any flower seeds, it is
important to follow the planting instructions carefully to achieve the best
results from these spectacular plants.
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