Sunflowers

The sunflower is an annual flowering plant, native to the Americas. The plant is known for its extreme height, ranging from 3-15 feet, and is characterized by a large yellow inflorescence, or flowering head. http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/grow-sunflower.html

The sunflower is native to Central America, first being domesticated in Mexico around 2300 BC. The seeds of the sunflower were roasted and eaten as a snack, or ground and used as a thickener in soups and stews. http://www.essortment.com/all/sunflowershisto_rnis.htm Dyes were extracted from the hulls and petals of the plant, and the stalks were dried and used as building materials. There were a number of uses for the oil of the sunflower, including: cooking oil, hair oil, and medicines used to treat a variety of ailments. http://www.essortment.com/all/sunflowershisto_rnis.htmz,/

Sunflowers continue to be an important agricultural crop in the U.S., with major producers in the Dakotas and Texas. Sunflowers are regarded as an important source of food, providing healthy oils used in cooking and sunflower seeds enjoyed as a snack. http://www.sunflowernsa.com/all-about/

Sunflowers are popular in gardens, as they are easy to grow and sprout quickly, so long as enough room is provided for them to flourish. http://www.essortment.com/all/sunflowershisto_rnis.htm

Binomial name: Helianthus annuus

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Asterales

Family: Asteraceae

Subfamily: Helianthoideae

Tribe: Heliantheae

Genus: Helianthus

1. Autumn Beauty
2. Black Oil
3. Aztec Sun
4. American Giant Hybrid
5. Mongolian Giant
6. Evening Sun
7. Giant Primrose
8. Orange Sun
9. Red Sun
10. Ring of Fire
11. Arikara
12. Titan
13. Velvet Queen
14. Lemon Queen
15. Italian White

• The first step in growing sunflowers is selecting the right variation. There are over a dozen types of sunflowers available, that grow to varying sizes, and come in a variety of colors,

• Sunflowers need full sun, so it is important to plant them in an area that will receive 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. The more sunlight a sunflower receives, the better it will grow to its full potential.

• Sunflowers grow better in nutrient rich soils, especially when growing giant varieties. The soil must be prepared by digging to a depth of approximately 10 inches, and removing any rocks or debris. Slowly mix in a granular fertilizer that contains trace minerals. Make sure that each sunflower has enough space to grow, allowing approximately 20 inches or larger seed heads.

• Water soil and press seeds directly into the soil in clumps of about 5-6 seeds.

• Cover the area with a loose netting to protect the emerging seeds from birds and other animals.

• Seedlings should appear within 5-10 days.

• As the plants grow to about 3”, they can be thinned by selecting the most vigorous 3 or 4. This thinning can continue as the plants continue to grow.

• Sunflowers should be fed and watered regularly.

• Fertilizer can be poured into the soil directly around the plant, but pouring it on the stems should be avoided as it could cause the plant to rot.

• Avoid watering sunflowers if heavy winds are expected, as this can cause the plant to fall over

Once the flower begins to die, the sunflower seeds can be harvested. To check the seeds to see if they are ready for harvest, pull a seed out and open it to see if it is full. Cut the head from the rest of the plant, leaving a few inches of stalk. Hang the flower, allowing it to dry completely. Once the flowers have dried, rub the flower heads together to extract the seeds.