Sunflowers - Easy to grow, yummy to eat
Sunflowers (whose official name is Helianthus Annus) are relatively easy to grow and surprisingly inexpensive. Just about anyone can do it! There are different varieties of sunflowers that can be grown either in large pots or right in your yard or garden. They’re not only enjoyable for adults, but for children as well
Before you get started with planting and growing, you’ll want to understand the difference between the varieties of sunflowers that are available. There is the Teddy Bear, which has a very full almost fuzzy look to it. The Teddy Bear will grow to 18” tall and you can plant this in a patio box or pot. If you are limited on space to grow them, this type is perfect for you. The Music Box is another smaller variety which will grow to 28” tall. There are mixes available of these sunflowers so you can grow yellow and cream colored ones. The Autumn Mix colors are rust and yellow, and they can grow over 6 feet tall. The heads alone are 5 or 6 inches wide. The Italian White sunflowers are very small but very pretty. They grow up to 4 feet and are perfect for your garden. The Large Varieties have different varieties to choose from. There are Russian Giant and Kong Sunflowers which can grow up to 10-15 feet tall! Obviously you’ll need space for these!
Some tips to keep in mind once you’ve made your decision on which kind of sunflower to plant. Make sure you plant them in full sun where they won’t shade any other plants and plant them after the last frost! Make sure the seeds are at least 1 inch deep and plant them 6 inches apart. Keep them well watered and fairly moist until your seeds begin to sprout.
Sunflowers usually pop out of the ground about two weeks after planting. Once they start to grow, they will grow much faster. When the head seeds start to turn brown, cut them down to 2 inches off of the stem and hang them to dry in a ventilated area. When they are dry, rub them together to loosen the seeds and soak them in salt water overnight and then drain. Spread them on a baking sheet and roast at about 200 degrees until they’re dry. Don’t forget to save some sunflowers seeds to plant next year!
Growing sunflowers can be a lot of fun and the end result is not only beautiful, but a great snack as well!