Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Tips from Gardener’s Companion

With ten vibrant varieties to choose from, The 2004 Summer Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardener’s Companion shows you how to grow sunflowers for bouquets that are sure to add that country summer feel to any home. Here are some tried-and-true tips for growing and cutting these bright, beautiful blossoms.

Most sunflowers are heat and drought tolerant, and very easy to grow. Related to Native American prairie plants in the daisy family, they need full sun and prefer well-drained soil.

• Plant the large seeds no more than one inch deep and three to four inches apart in well-dug, loose soil after it has thoroughly warmed, from mid-April to late May. Experiment with plantings staggered over five to six weeks after your last frost.

• Give plants plenty of room, especially for low-growing varieties that will branch out. Make rows 30 inches apart and thin seedlings to 12 to 18 inches, leaving just the strongest plants.

• If you see birds scratching around for the seeds, spread netting over the planted area until seeds germinate.

• Water plants deeply but infrequently to encourage deep rooting, and feed plants only sparingly; overfertilization can cause stems to break in the fall.

• Cut the main stem before its flower bud has a chance to open to encourage side blooms.

• Gather flowers for bouquets early in the morning, when the buds first start showing color and are just beginning to open.

• Arrange sunflowers in tall containers that provide good support for their heavy heads, and change the water every day to keep them fresh.

The summer 2004 issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardener’s Companion is on sale wherever books and magazines are sold. For more information on the Almanac’s line of products, visit www.almanac.com.