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Post by gianna on Apr 18, 2022 13:45:52 GMT -5
Over the years I've planted mostly vegetables (As my father used to say, if you can't eat it, why grow it?  ), and only recently have delved into flowers more than superficially. So...Sunflowers are now a group if interest. Not only are they pretty, but they produce a seed that I use. And they are easy to grow over a range of conditions. in the past, I've never planted them intentionally. I let the birds do that, and occasionally a sunflower from a neighbor's birdseed would come up and bloom. Then a couple years ago I decided to plant some birdseed sunflowers myself, with spotty results. Mainly they did not get consistent moisture. Some were single stemmed, others had side shoots. Nothing to rave about or inspire additional plantings. More recently I've been introduced on YouTube to more of the florist types of sunflowers - the single stem, one-and-done types. I've planted some of these and they indeed are very nice - consistent, uniform, and very pleasant. Most are pollenless hybrids and if they produce any seed from out-crossing, the offspring can be quite variable, though I admit I don't monitor them that carefully. I want to try some of the branching types too. These continue to bloom over time, and are reported to have flowers with stems long enough for cutting. You just have to pinch the main stem of developing plants to encourage the branching. I also want to grow some sunflowers to collect the seeds for microgreens. These seeds are in the cells now. These will be grown from an F1 striped seed variety (not black oil type) and produce larger seeds. I'll plant the seedlings in not in the best garden beds, but rather a somewhat steep clay slope. Anyone else grow sunflowers? |
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Post by pepperhead212 on Apr 18, 2022 15:52:45 GMT -5
No sunflowers grown here, though this year I'm growing some Mexican sunflowers - something totally different. I saw too many bugs attracted to sunflowers, when a lady I used to know grew them.
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Post by desertwoman on Apr 18, 2022 16:30:36 GMT -5
I love sunflowers! They always make me happy. I have the branching type (yellow) that re-seeds each year , so I never have to plant those. They require little water too. I don't have any seed from last year or I'd send you some, but if you don't find any this year, let me known and I can send some in the Fall.
I also grow mammoth- the single, huge flower. And this year I am growing a rust colored one (collected seed from a neighbors's plant and Red Sun- red to orange red , branching - from Baker Creek (I have extra and would be happy to share).
I often grow cosmos at the base of the sunflowers. They have similar water needs. I have also grown morning glories with them and the MG climb up the stalk
And at least it can be argued that sunflower seeds are food!
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Post by gianna on Apr 18, 2022 23:40:00 GMT -5
desertwoman, Thank you for the kind offer of seeds, but I will decline. At the moment, I'm sticking with only shades of yellow. I've hesitated on getting any of the various red ones because I want to save seeds and am not sure how a darker color would influence color of future generations. Bees will be bees. As for branching sunflowers, without fully realizing what I was ordering, I already have some. Remember the intervention thread? I really do need one... I have a yellow branching one, and another called Lemon Aura, which I am particularly interested in trying.
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Post by emmsmommy on Apr 19, 2022 8:35:41 GMT -5
The first year I participated in the university gardening program I received seven sunflower seeds as microgreens. I didn't figure seven seeds would provide much nourishment, so I planted them and several others and they were beautiful! Last year's were all volunteers but have plenty of new varieties for this year.
One mistake I did make that first year was to intentionally plant them as support for the half-runner beans. I ended up putting stakes around the bed and running twine along the perimeter to keep them standing. Last year I planted another bean variety the university sent at the base of some of the volunteers. I did manage to get about four times as much seed as I planted but they did poorly.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Apr 19, 2022 13:34:04 GMT -5
Didn't plant sunflowers last year and they were missed, by us and the bees and goldfinches. So we dug out a packet of Mammoth from our hoarder's seed bank, plus ordered "Short Stuff" (a short yellow), and "Chocolate Cherry" (a brown-red bloom), both from Baker Creek.
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Post by Latitude33 on Apr 19, 2022 23:23:18 GMT -5
Planted "Mammoth Grey" sunflowers near the hen-house...kind of one sided at the moment, but they will survive.
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Post by Mumsey on Apr 20, 2022 5:38:27 GMT -5
I have some seed for one called "Teddy Bear", they only get about 3 feet tall. May toss some seeds in somewhere!
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Post by gianna on Apr 20, 2022 9:02:37 GMT -5
One of the things I'm also doing with sunflowers is using them for soil improvement/cover crop of sorts. They form a significant root ball, and are said to be a mineral accumulator. For this I'm using the black oil sunflower seeds found in bird seed. I plant in cells, and just stick them a few inches apart into the ground that needs improvement. When they are done, or I need the bed, I'll just clip them off at soil level and leave behind all the roots to decompose for easy organic matter.
There is one bed in back that currently has half, 'rot-gut' birdseed sunflower seedlings in, and the other half of the bed has self-saved zinnia seedlings of unknown parentage. Who said small plantings of cover crops can't be pretty?
In the house I currently have a small bouquet of 3 sunflowers - two golden yellow with dark centers, and one pale yellow with a pale center. Very cheerful.
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Post by emmsmommy on Apr 20, 2022 10:46:31 GMT -5
I have some seed for one called "Teddy Bear", they only get about 3 feet tall. I grew that one a few years ago and hubby and I were awed by it. Of course all we'd ever grown before was the mammoth ones. Adding some red and a lemony yellow to the mix this year. |
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Post by waynesgarden on Apr 25, 2022 8:00:44 GMT -5
I've also grown the mammoth gray for many years, saving seed each season. Last year was my first try with single-stem hybrids. (Procut Series.) This year I'm growing them for market, starting the first 350 in trays this week for set out in two weeks and the same amount each week for for the next 14 weeks or so. Various colors, more pastel shades to start, brighter for mid-summer and some darker shades towards fall. (Per more experienced growers.) Also planting some branching varieties at the fence along the road, just for longer season color. The Procuts are one and done and bloom for such a short time. Unfortunately, the seeds of the Procuts are very expensive and being hybrids, can't be saved for next year. I plant a patch of my old Mammoths for seed out at another farm where they can't cross cross with the hybrids.
(Yes, I'm still around. Semi-retired from the building design world, and first year selling cut flowers with a new business, Workingfolk Microfarm.)
Wayne
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Post by binnylou on Apr 25, 2022 9:04:07 GMT -5
Glad to hear that you’re still diggin’ in the dirt, waynesgarden.  |
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Post by desertwoman on Apr 25, 2022 21:07:43 GMT -5
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Post by gianna on Apr 25, 2022 22:09:38 GMT -5
Last year was my first try with single-stem hybrids. (Procut Series.) This year I'm growing them for market, starting the first 350 in trays this week for set out in two weeks and the same amount each week for for the next 14 weeks or so. Various colors, more pastel shades to start, brighter for mid-summer and some darker shades towards fall. Sounds like you've been watching some of Lisa Mason Ziegler's videos.  Just for home use,I did a few procuts last year and liked them. This year I have first-time blooms of White Lite www.johnnyseeds.com/flowers/sunflowers/procut-white-lite-f1-sunflower-seed-3386.html?cgid=sunflowers#start=1 and just love the way it looks. I gave some to a friend this week - a mix of yellows and white lite, and she remarked how pretty the white lites are. I'm a home grower and don't intend to sell any, and continue to look for a single stem sunflower for bouquets, and from which I can collect the seed. I'm currently trying a hybrid with striped seed, but intend to grow them very close to keep the size of the plant and flower smaller. This is one I'm trying. www.johnnyseeds.com/flowers/sunflowers/royal-hybrid-1121-sunflower-f1-sunflower-seed-2603.html?cgid=sunflowers#start=1 It is a hybrid, but is not pollenless and will set seed. I don't care if the off-spring are variable. And I like the cost - $5 for 250 seeds. Good luck with your efforts selling them. |
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Post by desertwoman on May 17, 2022 23:20:59 GMT -5
Does anyone have success transplanting volunteers? I'm always trying to spread from where they have abundantly self sowed to another area. They rarely make it- though occasionally they do. Is there a trick I don't know or is it the nature of these sprouts to mostly croak?
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), and only recently have delved into flowers more than superficially. So...Sunflowers are now a group if interest. Not only are they pretty, but they produce a seed that I use. And they are easy to grow over a range of conditions. 
