Growing Sunflowers

June 5, 2014

This year we are growing sunflowers; ten different varieties–I had no idea so many sizes and colors existed! So far, 6 of the varieties have blooms, can hardly wait to see the rest. The “Teddy Bear” variety looks like a mum, it is about a foot tall and loaded with multiple blooms. This one would probably work just fine in container gardens.

Sunflowers are sometimes considered to be weeds, but I enjoy their addition as ornamentals to the gardens.

 

Seed was purchased from Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg, Texas, planted in peat pellets on March 22 and the seedlings began sprouting on March 26 (see above).

After plants were about 3 inches tall, they were transferred to 4 inch pots. Three plants from each variety were planted in rows between onions (see “Sunflowers in Onion Bed”) on April 26 and the onion harvest began May 9. Large onions were produced throughout the bed, there was no indication that the sunflowers reduced the yield.