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Rich orange petals surround a dark brown center on these 10-15cm (4-6") wide, flowers. Single, pollen-less flowers are borne on sturdy stems to a height of 1.5m (5'), making them superb for florists and market growers.
Zohar Organic sunflower seeds are perfect for spring and summer planting. Rich orange petals surround a dark brown centre on these 10-15cm (4-6") wide, flowers. Single, pollen-less flowers are borne on sturdy stems to a height of 1.5m (5'), making them superb for florists and market growers. Mark has grown Zohar sunflower seeds at our Kirkland House demonstration garden for years, and they are always a standout favourite for visitors. The intensely golden petals look just like little flames licking around the inner disk. While the flowers do not produce pollen, they do produce lots of nectar, so the bees love this variety. Be aware that Zohar is an F1 hybrid, so it does not produce viable seeds.
Hardy Annual
Latin
Helianthus annuus
Family: Asteraceae
Difficulty
Easy
Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun
Timing
Direct sow repeatedly after the last frost date. Starting indoors is possible, but does not gain much time. If sunflowers are allowed to get root-bound, they will lack stability at transplant time, and will require staking. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 21-30°C (70-85°F). Seeds should sprout in 10-14 days.
Starting
Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep. Space dwarf varieties 15cm (6″) apart, but give the giants lots of room at 1m (3′) between plants.
Growing
To grow really big plants with really big flowers, enrich the soil with organic matter and incorporate 2 cups of balanced organic fertilizer per 3m (10′) of row, and irrigate regularly. When the plants are 30cm (12) tall, dissolve 5ml (1 tsp) of borax (for boron) in 350 ml (12 fl oz) of water and spread the solution over 5m (15′) of row. Be careful not to over-apply this solution. This application of boron will produce bigger seeds and flower heads. Do not apply boron to other garden plants. When the back of the flower head turns yellow, it is ready to be cut from the plant.
Companion Planting
Sunflowers planted near rows of corn are said to increase yields. Sunflowers can be used to draw heavy metals, toxins, and even radiation from soil, but should be burned at the end of the season if grown for this purpose. Plant sunflowers amid squash plantings to improve pollination and overall production.