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Growing Sunflowers

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Sunflowers
Sunflowers are simply magnificent. I think of them as the gentle giants of summertime. Not only are they gorgeous but they provide food for humans and wildlife alike. The one pictured above is a small variety that is only about four feet tall. Last year I had several growing in my yard.

Mammoth variety sunflowers are what you want to grow if you are planning on sunflower seeds for snacks. I also had mammoth sunflowers that were over six feet tall in my garden. The wildlife do not appear to be very particular, I haven’t had any variety that they don’t like.

Planting – Plant after the danger of frost has passed. They prefer dry, well-drained soil. My soil is sandy loam and they love it. The seedlings should be planted right into the ground spaced 2 -3 feet apart. They are happier left where they are planted. Transplanting is discouraged.

Sun – As their name suggests, they need the sun and a lot of it. Plant them in an open spot where they will receive the direct sun for as long as possible.

Water – They can withstand some drought but prefer to be watered regularly. Regular watering encourages the roots to grow. This will help to keep the plant upright. The flowers are very heavy and will start to bend when they are full of seeds. If the roots are too shallow, it is more likely to cause the whole plant to fall over. I mulch around the base of the flowers with dried leaves to help keep the roots moist.

Fertilizer – I haven’t ever had to use fertilizer. However, as I stated above, I do mulch with dried leaves around the base of the flowers. This does add nutrients over time as the leaves compost.

Blooming – They bloom in mid to late summer and last into the fall.

Sun 2

Sunflowers are very easy to grow and require very little attention. Because I feed the wildlife in my backyard sunflowers seeds year round, they repay me by planting some of them all over the yard and garden. I never know what I’m going to get but it is always beautiful. There is nothing like a pleasant surprise.

If you’ve never tried them, I would recommend that you do. They are definitely worth it. There is no choice; you simply have to smile when you see them.

Jen

Morning Glories and Moonflowers

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Morning Glories and Moonflowers have become a symbol of summer for me. They are one of my favorite flower combinations. Both are gorgeous to behold when they are in full bloom. Since they are in the same flower family, both are vines that grab on and grow quickly. They attach themselves to just about anything, filling in an area with surprising speed.

Morning Glory
Morning Glory

Moonflower
Moonflower

I start them both from seeds in my greenhouse in early May and plant them in a container in early June. Using a potting soil with fertilizer gives them a good start. A large container with a trellis works very well. Just train the vines to climb the trellis.

Trellis

Morning Glories come in many colors: pink, white, blue, purple and several multicolored varieties. My personal favorites are the blue flowers with a yellow or white center. The flowers start as long spirals that open in the early morning and close in the early evening. Moonflowers open in the evening and close in the morning. They complement each other nicely.
The Moonflower is a variation of Morning Glory and grows similarly but does not spread quite as far. In my experience, they both require a lot of water. Mulching helps to keep the soil moist. I have to soak mine every evening unless we get a good rain. When they start producing flowers, I give them a dose of Miracle Gro flower fertilizer to give them a boost. They like full sun.

Morning Glories
Morning Glories

As you can see in the picture above, Morning Glories produce a lot of blooms. Once they start blooming, it’s continuous for one to two months. Mine bloom in mid to late summer and last into the fall. The Moonflowers are larger and do not produce as many blooms at one time but they are gorgeous when they open. I have only gotten a maximum of two Moonflowers blooming at the same time. For both of them, each flower only blooms once. Seeing the Morning Glories when I wake up and the Moonflowers when I’m getting ready for bed really enhances my day.

Jen

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