Annuals - Sunflowers
Back to Annuals

  Can you please identify this plant for me? It is a volunteer that grew to a height of twelve feet until the wind blew it over. It continued growing until it reached eighteen feet. It was blooming for about a month before some of the flowers started fading. They look like sunflowers, but they are only three inches across.

  They are sunflowers. Sunflowers come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Some new varieties have some outstanding color displays. There are dwarf varieties that will stay shorter, but there are numerous plants with smaller flowers and large plants. They thrive in full sun.

  I love to grow various species of sunflowers. But, in the past I have started them inside and put them outside when they are about six inches tall, and bugs have eaten them down to where they are about one inch tall. What can I do to prevent this? I am desperate. 

  Are you sure that bugs are the culprit and not deer, rabbits or the like? Animals love tender, new vegetation. You have several options. One is to start some plants indoors for early planting, and then plant new seeds every two to three weeks outdoors after all chances of frost have passed. When you put out the new seedlings, use a protective covering until they become well established–options include floating row covers called Remay, milk cartons or jugs or even fabric netting. If it is insects, you can also use insecticides if you know what is at work, or the Remay will help to keep them out. Hopefully, once they become well-established, you will have less problems, and will be able to enjoy the resulting flowers.

  I have a row of sunflowers that were blooming great, and now the flowers are falling over and dying. I thought they liked sunlight and hot weather, but has this summer been too intense? What can I do to prevent this?

  Sunflowers are not an all season flower. They bloom and then the flower head dies to produce sunflower seeds. Harvest the sunflower head when the back of the head is brown and dry. Most of the petals will have dried and fallen, and the seeds should be plump and striped. When it looks like you are getting close, you may want to enclose the seed head in a paper bag to prevent birds from beating you to the seeds. When you harvest, cut the main stem about one foot below the head. Rub the seeds loose by hand, dry them and store them for future use. The seeds may be eaten without processing, dehulled, and roasted or salted in the hull.

Back to Annuals