|
Sunflowers are certainly stars of the gardening world. It is
hard to miss the beauty of sunflowers standing tall, either on
their own or edging a bed of more traditional flowers. Few who
have seen these stunning beauties can deny their stunning beauty
and attractiveness.
The family of sunflowers, known scientifically as genus
Helianthus, includes both annual and perennial varieties of
sunflowers. As their name implies, sunflowers generally prefer
full sunlight, so it is important for gardeners to choose the
sunniest part of their garden when planting these stunning
plants.
It is also important to take the adult size of these plants into
account when planting them, and to space them accordingly. Most
varieties of sunflowers are quite large, so it is important to
space them widely so they will not crowd each other out and
compete for nutrients.
Since sunflowers are so large and sturdy, many gardeners like to
use them to border vegetable gardens, and a vegetable garden
bordered by sunflowers is certainly a beautiful sight.
The blooming period of sunflowers typically extends from late
summer to early fall, and the growing requirements for these
plants are generally easy to meet. Most varieties of sunflowers
require only a well drained, modestly fertile soil in order to
thrive. It is generally a good idea to amend the soil with
either aged manure or a good quality commercial fertilizer. It
is best to sow the sunflower seeds directly where they are
intended to grow, since they set seed quickly and start to
sprout very fast.
While sunflowers may be easy to grow, their seeds are popular
with many unwanted garden visitors, particularly rabbits,
squirrels and insects. Due to this popularly with common garden
pests, it is best to sow three times as many seeds as are
needed. Planting extra seeds will allow the four legged visitors
to your garden to eat their fill while still providing a
beautiful garden full of sunflowers.
Sunflower seeds are best planted about a foot apart. Sowing the
seeds this far apart will allow the adult plants to grow the
largest heads. If you plant sunflowers closer together they will
develop smaller blooms and may never reach their full potential.
If you are growing sunflowers for those monstrous blossoms, it
is important to give them plenty of space to grow.
When working with annual varieties of sunflowers, it is
important to rotate the planting area. This will keep the soil
its healthiest and allow the sunflowers to achieve their best
blooms.
There are many places to buy quality sunflower seeds, including
the internet, mail order houses and local garden centers. As
with any flower seeds, it is important to follow the planting
instructions carefully to achieve the best results from these
spectacular plants.
About the author:
Tony Robinson is an international author and webmaster. In his
busy life he finds time to "Smell the Roses". For geat tips,
techniques and articles visit http://www.rose-bloom.com
|
