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Growing Sunflowers



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Ah, one of the joys of summer is looking out onto the green spaces and seeing the cheerful heads of sunflowers brightening up the landscapes of Texas. The dainty multi-branched varieties that grace our highways are only one version of this giant family of flowers. There are many versions of sunflowers that you may want to grow to add a whimsical touch to your garden.

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The sunflowers that reach massive heights are fun to grow with children. Varieties such as Mammoth, American Giant, and Giganteus top out between 12-16 feet. These large versions also produce massive amounts of seeds which are great for harvesting and roasting. We will learn how to harvest seeds in the next post. If you’d like to try some colorful versions Moulin Rouge, Firecracker, ProCut Red, and Little Becka are just a few types that feature beautiful shades of burnt oranges, golds, and reds. For the allergy sufferers out there, there are pollen-free flowers just for you! Moulin Rouge, ProCut Bicolor, and Vincent Fresh are just a few pollenless flowers you can grow. If you really want something different try Giant Sungold. This unique beauty looks like a giant yellow powder puff. It is a true show stopper for any landscape and sure to start many conversations. The hardest part about growing sunflowers is choosing which ones you want to grow. After that it’s super easy.

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To start your own patch of golden beauties, select a spot that gets full sun. This is very important because as their name suggests, sunflowers love the sun and heat. Their heads actually track the sun in the sky, turning throughout the day to face the sun as it moves. Poor soil is not a deterrent, so there is no need to do much soil prep. A bit of compost or any other organic matter is more than sufficient to get them started. Our season for growing sunflowers is really long, stretching from March through September, making now a perfect time to plant seeds that can actually make it through the summer heat. Plant seeds about an inch deep and about a half to a foot apart. Water in well and wait a week or two for seedlings to emerge.

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