The Sunflower – A Down-Home Warm And Fuzzy Flower

Who does not know the beauty of the sunflower? Children love to grow them simply because they are so simple to grow from seeds, and because they just grow so amazingly quickly! If you have ever driven by the vast sunflower fields of Spain, you know that a sunflower – or a collection thereof – is an experience you will most likely never forget. Truly, the sunflower is a down-home, warm and fuzzy flower with many memories attached!

Here are some fun facts about this annual plant, including some great growing tips!

Sunflowers may grow as tall as seven feet!  Others may remain shorter and only reach about three feet. The petals of the sunflower may be bright yellow, which is most common, but orange and even red petals have been seen.

What is commonly referred to as the flower head itself, is actually a collection of numerous florets which mature upon pollination into the sunflower seeds that are coveted by children but also birds and other animals.

Sunflower seeds are considered a very healthy snack – if eaten raw and not processed with salt – since they contain a lot of dietary fiber and phytosterols which have long since been associated with the lowering of bad cholesterol. Some have actually dubbed the little seed to be the world’s healthiest food! If you are growing your sunflowers to provide some tasty winter treats for your wild birds, be sure to place some mesh over the flower head as the seeds are ripening to prevent the birds from getting their treats a few months early!

Before sunflowers bloom, they belong to the kinds of plants that show heliotropic behavior. This simply means that the face of the unopened flower will turn itself toward the sun and slowly move along with the moving sun.

If you are ready to plant some sunflowers this year, start them inside. Use a small container that will hold your potting mix – commercially available potting mixes are your best bet – and moisten the mix thoroughly. Then put one seed about one and one half inches deep into the mix. The pointy end should be facing up. Once your seedling is growing and sturdy, go ahead and harden it off. When this is completed, you may plant it outside in full sun, picking a spot with well drained soil. Mulch around the seedling, taking good care not to actually touch the seeding or its stem, as this will cause the little flower to rot!  Keep an eye out for garden pests who love the little sunflower – especially snails and slugs! When growing more than one sunflower, make sure you have enough room to support the five to six foot tall plants! Put the little seedlings about three feet apart to ensure that the adult flowers will not crowd one another.

Smaller varieties of sunflowers will make beautiful container plants, and when combined with small ornamental grasses as well as a few ornamental rocks, you will have an interesting accent to your entrance way.

Grow several different dwarf varieties for some stunning centerpieces for Thanksgiving and before. They will make for a visual focal point of any bouquet of lowers, and you can even craft a bouquet with just a large sunflower head (which has not yet matured) and several ornamental grasses and twigs.

So go ahead and try your hand at growing this versatile and visually pleasing plant in your yard. Do it as a project with your child, who will love this foray into easy gardening. Additionally, make the birds in your yard your very best friends this winter as you treat them to the dried flower heads filled with tasty seeds!