Add Joyful Color to Your Garden with Sunflowers

Sunflowers originated from North America where Native Americans used sunflowers for a variety of uses. Sunflowers are both a beautiful flower and a great vegetable. Healthy, nutritious and attractive, Sunflowers have it all. That is probably why their popularity has spread all around the world.

With a wide choice of sizes, color, and varieties, Sunflowers are easy to grow and add so much to our gardens and yards. They are a good way to attract birds to our homes. Sunflower plants grow well in average to rich soils. They need to grow their roots deep and wide, to enable them to withstand strong winds. Do not plant them in sandy as they are easily uprooted in loose soil. Rich soil is especially important when growing giant varieties. Deep roots also help Sunflowers to withstand most droughts. They grow best in full sun, but are shade tolerant, contrary to what you would think.

They will benefit from a dose of fertilizer when you happen to be applying it to the rest of your garden. This promotes bigger blooms. If you are crowded for space, plant only one or two sunflowers amidst your vine crops. This way they will not seriously shade the vines and add interest with color and shape.

As a vegetable plant, they are high in protein; the seeds are tasty; the oil is great to cook with; and butter can also be produced from the seed. Sunflowers are popular not only because they add warmth to our gardens, but continue to be enjoyed through their many uses. Sunflowers are also great for kids to grow being easy to grow requiring minimal attention. Kids like to grow big things, too. The seeds can also be ground for making breads and cakes. Sunflowers are used to create dyes for clothing, and paint. The plants are medicinally used in ointments and in snakebite remedies.

Sunflower plants can grow over 20 feet tall, and their blooms can reach over two feet in diameter. The most popular giant sunflower plants include Mammoth, American Giant and Skyscraper. Sunflowers are basically separated by size: Giant (varieties grow over ten feet), Regular Sunflowers typically grow from six to ten feet, and Miniatures (gaining in popularity used as bordersor edging).

Space Giant Sunflowers three feet apart in rows three to four feet apart. Regular to intermediate sizes should be spaced two feet apart in rows three feet apart, and space Miniatures one foot apart in rows three feet apart. For individual planting, put the seedling or seeds in just about any sunny location.

Sunflowers always point their blooms or face to the rising sun in the East. Just another reason why they are so named. Some of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous works are his Sunflower series. He painted a total of twelve of these canvases. In many of his letters, Vincent spoke glowingly of the richness of color that he saw in Sunflowers. He really loved the sunflowers for themselves as they appealed to his joy in color, and he certainly left a legacy to enjoy.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.