Sunflowers: Summer’s Icon!

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaPlant Health Care
Written By Peter Morris

an endless field of sunflowers - a happy place

Helianthus

 One of summer’s most popular plants - they are easy to grow and quick to boom.  They love the heat of summer and are mostly insect and disease free.Usually in yellow, they also come in all sorts of hues of red, maroon, brown and orange. Some of the taller varieties can get big - 16 ft - but who few of us have that much space in our gardens!   There are plenty of smaller, shrub like, and dwarf varieties available.

Which to Grow

There is a rather large range of sizes and colors available.  You should grow only those you have the space and soil for. Dwarf teddy bears do great in a container on a rooftop.

But if you have the room - go big!  The giants include the yellow Mammoth at 12 ' tall.  Great choice if you want to collect seeds to feed the birds ! Russian Giant is another big one. There are many !!!Midsize ones like Sunrich Gold, Red Sun, Valentina, or Autumn Beauty range between 5-6' and have flowers in all colors. I like Red Sun with its almost black centers ! 

Red Sun !

Mini and dwarf ones like Teddy Bear, a Dwarf Yellow Spray rarely get over 2' and are fantastic for small spaces.

Teddy Bear

Growing from seed

 It is easy !Sunflowers grow best in sunny spots, filled with direct lots of direct light. Make sure your container has lots of drainage holes in the bottom and is clean from both pests and dirt. Your chosen spot should also have some shelter from the wind.Dig the soil over to help loosen the soil and add lots of organic matter such as composted manure or slow release granular fertilizer. Sow the seeds directly into the garden or containers once the soil is at least 50 ℉.  Plant the seeds one inch deep at least 6 inches apart.After planting, water and apply a light dose of fertilizer to help encourage root production. When the plants are young keep the soil around them weed free.

germinating can take a week !

Care

 Sunflowers need lots of water - don’t allow the soil to dry out. Water evenly around the root zone when the plants are small.Don’t over fertilize your plants - otherwise the stems get brittle and break.  Once a month is plenty.  If you want to grow a really tall plant - use a Nitrogen rich fertilizer.  Keep in mind this can also delay flowering.If planted in a sunny place they are usually problem free plants. However, birds and squirrels will target the seeds. 

an American Goldfinch picking seeds

Many people grow sunflowers to cut the blooms for indoor displays. If you want to do this try to cut the stem just before the bud opens.  Cut your flowers early in the morning. This helps to prevent wilting.

Their bright blooms also add color and attract lots of helpful pollinators to your space. Suitable for both large gardens and small spaces, these are the ideal summer plant.

Bright and cheerful why not learn how to grow sunflowers in your garden?

Or we can grow them for you !

For a garden full of sunflowers - Call Plant Specialists today!!!

PLANT SPECIALISTS

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 52 YEARS !

  Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK 

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

Previous

Agastache: Anise Hyssop
Next

Edible Flowers: A Culinary Delight