Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sunflowers In The Vegetable Garden





My sunflowers are growing and growing.  I'm so excited since I had 0 germination last season.  I learned a few things during my endeavor this season:

  • They love lots of compost/manure.
  • They are heavy feeders.
  • They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
  • They grow well with Zinnia, Asters, bush beans, corn, cukes, squash, spinach and lettuce.
  • There's conflicting information on grouping them with tomatoes, which is exactly what I did.  I moved them with the squash and cukes after another gardener told me that they compete with tomatoes for nutrients.  Both are heavy feeders and shouldn't be planted together.  I wasn't sure if they would withstand the shock, but they survived.  To avoid the risk next season I'll plant them exactly where I want them.     
  • You can direct sow seeds through June starting two weeks after the last frost date. 




    Here's my babies weeks after I moved them.  The one with the beautiful face is Autumn Beauty, I believe.  I have no idea where I planted what, so I'll just have to wait for the others to show their pretty faces.  I may try directing sowing a few to see if my luck has changed this season.  What's happening in your garden? 
                                                                   

8 comments:

  1. Love sunflowers. I've always direct sowed mine and had volunteers too. Sometimes they have to be moved. Enjoy their sunny faces.

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    1. I winter sowed mine since I didn't have any luck direct sowing them. Would love to have a few pointers on direct sowing, not sure why mine don't germinate. I planted a few seeds this evening, we'll see what happens.

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  2. I am soooooo glad you did this post! I have a bunch of sunflowers planted with tomatoes this year. I will have to relocate them. Thank you!

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    1. After my gardener friend told me they shouldn't be planted with tomatoes, I researched and I couldn't find many articles that suggested that they be planted together. Good luck relocating them, they don't like to be transplanted. I had to give them extra love. I wasn't sure one in particular was going to make it, but they all look stable now.

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  3. Your sunflowers look great. I planted the fuzzy teddy bear and they didn't germinate. I am still hoping. We went on vacation so I am not sure that the seeds got enough water. Generally I just throw a few seeds in the ground and they come up. I also have a lot of volunteer ones that I just let go. Can't wait to your yellow faces.

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  4. Thanks Ann. I'll have to check out the fuzzy teddy bear. Maybe that's why I haven't had any success direct sowing my sunflower seeds, not enough of water. I planted a few this evening, we'll see what happens.

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  5. They look great. Our sunflowers are doing so well, I think we will add more variety next year. For now all we have are Mammoth sunflowers. We winter sowed a few, but the ones we direct sowed are a lot larger and were planted weeks later.

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    1. Isn't it amazing how some people are successful at one method but have no success at another. I can't get one seed to germinate using direct sowing. My winter sown sunflowers are at least 4 feet now.

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