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.
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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?
Love sunflowers. I've always direct sowed mine and had volunteers too. Sometimes they have to be moved. Enjoy their sunny faces.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
DeleteI 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!
ReplyDeleteAfter 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.
DeleteYour 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.
ReplyDeleteThanks 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.
ReplyDeleteThey 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.
ReplyDeleteIsn'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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