The sunflower has lengthy been admired for its magnificence, its means to show its face towards the solar and observe its journey throughout the sky, and for the harvest of seeds. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has come to imply much more.
Sunflowers, Ukraine’s nation flower, have began exhibiting up on posters, as memes on social media, in hand-crafted gadgets and clothes, and painted on the perimeters of buildings — all quiet and exquisite acknowledgements of the beleaguered nation and its amazingly brave folks.
If you wish to plant a sunflower backyard — a single plant in a pot or a cacophony of blooms that rise in regards to the ramparts — to proclaim your assist, right here’s what you might want to know.
Janet Miller, a Contra Costa Grasp Gardener, says sunflowers, regardless of their generally large dimension, are very simple to develop from seed. You want a sunny spot and a few water to get the plant began. After it’s up and rising, it doesn’t require a lot in the way in which of water or fertilizer.
Sunflowers choose wealthy soil, however they’ll develop in virtually any soil circumstances, Miller says, however the soil temperature must be no less than 60 levels earlier than planting.
The varieties accessible are mind-boggling, from towering sunflowers with vivid yellow fringes to multi-stemmed sorts that produce dozens of blooms all through the summer time and into early fall.
If planting by seed, learn the directions on the seed packet. You possibly can plant them shut collectively, however as soon as they’ve germinated, you would possibly have to skinny them out so the crops are no less than 6 inches aside.
Miller says should you’re planning on rising the sunflowers to chop for bouquets, select a range that's pollen-free or that places out little or no pollen.
Rising sunflowers additionally is sweet in your backyard. The colourful flowers appeal to many pollinators, and should you’re battling heavy clay soil, the massive faucet roots the flowers put down assist to interrupt up the clay, making your beds extra workable.
Sunflowers are also an excellent compost crop. The stem, which regularly is the dimensions of a small tree trunk, is a superb supply of nitrogen, and sunflowers are one of many few crops you possibly can develop as a summer time cowl crop.
Sunflower blooms might be lower for floral shows, or you possibly can let the seeds mature. Squirrels and birds will eat the flower heads, however sufficient seeds will drop that they may turn out to be self-seeding for the subsequent season. You can also harvest seed for extra planting or to roast for snacks.
Birds, principally finches, are more likely to peck at and eat holes within the leaves, however that doesn’t hurt the plant and gives the birds with a supply of meals.
Listed here are a few of Miller’s favourite varieties:
‘Autumn Magnificence’ is a multi-stemmed sunflower, producing blooms in fall hues of yellow, orange, bronze and crimson. The plant can develop to about 6 ft tall, and the flowers are about 6 inches throughout.
‘Teddy Bear’ grows to simply 2 ft tall, however the golden yellow rosettes it produces are thick and fluffy, giving it the looks of teddy bear. This can be a good one for lower flowers.
Moulin Rouge or Rouge Royale have burgundy petals round an ebony middle. These pollenless, branching varieties have 3- to 6-inch blooms and look nice within the backyard and in bouquets combined with contrasting colours.
‘Goldy Double’ produces a very full flower, 5 to 7 inches huge, on 18-to-24 inch lengthy stems that department of a plant that may rise as much as 6 ft tall.
For those who’re searching for taller varieties, starting from 10 ft to 16, embody ‘Giraffe,’ ‘Pikes Peak,’ ‘American Big’ and ‘King Kong.’ These must be planted alongside a fence or different construction that can give them some assist.