Tips For Growing Sunflowers

From delicate miniatures to towering giants, sunflowers are totally awesome. While often admired as ornamentals, sunflowers have an amazing variety of uses. They make a good fodder for poultry and livestock, dyes come from the petals, and paper can be made from the stalk pith. Its seeds and seed meal feed countless people, animals, and birds; sunflower seed-oil is used in cooking and in soaps and cosmetics. In the garden, you can grow sunflowers as windbreaks, privacy screens, or living supports for pole beans.

Sunflowers also come in a wide assortment of sizes. Some cultivars grow as tall as 15′, and the flower heads can be as big as 1′ across; dwarf types, however, are only 1′- 2′ tall. There are also early, medium-height sunflowers that stand 5′-6′ tall but have heads that are 8″-10″ across. Some cultivars produce a single large flower; others form several heads.

If possible, choose a site in full sun on the north side of the garden, so the tall plants won't shade your other vegetables. Sunflowers aren't fussy about soil. Seedlings are cold-resistant, so short-season growers may want to get a head start by planting several weeks before the last frost. In most areas, though, it's best to wait until the soil is warmer, around the last frost date. Sow seeds 1″ deep and 6″ apart. Thin large types to 1 1/2′ apart and dwarf or medium-sized cultivars to 1′ apart. Water well after planting.

Apply a 3″-4″ layer of mulch to conserve moisture and keep down weeds. Sunflowers are drought-resistant, but they'll grow better if you water regurlarly from the time the flowers begin to develop until they're mature.

Sunflowers are remarkably trouble-free. Rotate crop if leaf mottle, a soil fungus that produces dead areas along leaf veins, becomes a problem. An early autumn may interfere with pollination and cause the plant to form empty seeds; plant earlier the next year. To protect seeds from birds, cover flowers with mesh bags, cheesecloth, old pantyhose, or perforated plastic bags.

Harvest as soon as seeds start to turn brown or the backs of the seed heads turn yellow. The heads usually droop at this time. Cut them along with 2′ of stem and hand upside down in a dry, well-ventilated place, such as a garage or attic, until fully dry; store in plastic bags for birds and animal food. To eat, soak overnight in water, drain, spread on a shallow baking sheet, and roast for 3 hours at 200°F or until crisp.

flowers to fan the flames

Going on a first or second date is always a little nerve-wracking - from coming up with the perfect outfit to deciding what to order at the restaurant, you want everything to be perfect. Of course, dates aren't limited to new couples! Even married folks who have been together for years can enjoy spending an intimate evening together, and what better way to make your partner feel loved than with a beautiful bouquet of flowers? As with anything, you're probably going to be thinking a lot about what blooms you want to be giving, so here's a quick primer on some of the many choices available to you and what they might signify.
Though you may want to simply bring a dozen roses and be done with it, don't you think that idea is a little tired? Use your imagination! There are so many different flowers out there that can help you bring something unique to the table.
1. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are one of the most pleasant sites to behold, if only because they hearken to vast expanses of green grass, bright rays of sunshine and endless fields of yellow blooms. These will look great on their own, but if you really want to go for the gusto, try pairing them with some purple flowers for an extra burst of color!
2. Tulips
There's something about these modest little flowers that absolutely captures the child heartfelt imagination. They make a great gift, if only for the fact that they practically explode out of the vase. You can fit dozens of tulips into one container, and they come in a wide variety of colors, so you can create a veritable rainbow of flowers without much effort at all!
3. Irises
A properly-arranged bouquet of irises is sure to capture anyone's heart the moment they lay eyes on the flowers golden center against exotic blue. They're absolutely gorgeous and sit in a vase in a way no other flower is able. The deep coloring and lazy droop of the petals creates a truly unique visual effect that you're simply not going to find anywhere else. If you'd like to bring something new to the table, the iris may be right up your alley.
Of course, presenting the flowers is a whole different story. You can choose to either start the evening off with them or finish up dinner with a romantic flower bouquet. Whatever you decide, make sure it's a surprise!

Give the gift of sunflowers

Whether you're looking for a fun and festive birthday present, a centerpiece for an outdoor party or a charming anniversary gift, you simply can't go wrong with sunflowers during the summer. Not only are these summer flowers aesthetically brilliant, but they have an uncanny ability to combine with other floral varieties to create some thing truly special. Sunflowers can bring cheer to any setting and they can be a wonderful choice for any occasion this season.
For the person that can't seem to get enough of sunflowers, the Deluxe Sunflower Radiance bouquet is a wonderful option that includes 10 bright and colorful sunflowers that are handpicked, budding and ready to ship to your loved one. The flowers will arrive in a specially designed gift box and are placed with some lush greenery to give it the greatest aesthetic impact. When you combine this bouquet with a brilliant garden green glass vase, you will have the perfect mix of warm summer hues and bright summer vibes.
If you'd like to put a romantic spin on your sunflower bouquet, the Sunshine and Roses floral arrangement is just the thing you'll need to wow that special someone. The bouquet features seven yellow sunflowers, five pink rice flowers, seven pink roses and three ruscus for a bountiful mix of summer flowers and cheery pink flowers. A blush pink glass vase is a wonderful choice for this arrangement, and it will frame the flowers perfectly to allow the larger sunflowers to shine through.
Purple flowers have a chic way of combining with just about anything, and that's certainly the case with the Deluxe Purple Petals arrangement. This gorgeous collection features six sunflowers, six purple carnations, four lavender lisianthus, and a whole selection of colorful stock flowers and greenery to create a jaw-dropping display. An amethyst trumpet vase is the ideal option for this floral arrangement, and it will provide a chic backdrop that she can use again and again with future gifts.
Sunflowers are charming gift options for any occasion, and your significant other will be astounded at just how beautiful they can be when added to other summer flowers. Give your loved one a last reminder of summer with your wonderfully bright and cheerful gift that will fill her home with bountiful color.