Here's how to grow sunflowers in your garden

The sunflower has a rich history as a North American native plant.

Records show that as early as 3000 B.C., Native Americans cultivated sunflowers as food and pressed seeds to make oil. Although still used for these purposes today, gardeners also employ sunflowers as ornamentals, either in the landscape or as cut flowers, and to attract birds or squirrels.

Are there different varieties of sunflowers?

Breeding has developed varieties that range from 15 inches to 12 feet in height and colors of yellow, white, red, and bronze. This selection gives even the smallest garden a chance to grow a sunflower. Dwarf varieties including Pacino, Big Smile, and Music Box Mix are bushy, with multiple flower heads on each stem, and grow less than 3 feet tall. These are great for planters or mixed borders.

If you have more space, try growing the 8 feet tall H. bismarkianus, and H. citrinus, or the 12 feet tall H. giganteus as a background screen. As a bonus, the taller varieties generally offer the widest color palette.

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Sunflowers also make great cutflowers. Because they produce plentiful pollen, some pollenless varieties including Moonbright, Sunbright, and Sunrich make great selections.

Other favored varieties, regardless of the pollen shed, include Velvet Queen, Autumn Beauty Mix, and Italian White. Double-flowered varieties like Lion’s Mane, Teddy Bear, and Tohoku Yae are favored for bouquets.

Though all these produce seeds, confectionery types, Mammoth being the most often used, is recommended for edible seeds.

How can I grow sunflowers?

Sunflowers have only a few basic needs for growth: well-drained soil, water, fertilizer and weeding.

Seeds can first be planted in the spring when soil temperatures reach 42 to 50 degrees F and air temperatures above 50 degrees. Depending on variety and the environment, germination should occur in seven to 12 days. Plant your seeds in a full sun site. Thin seedlings to 3 feet apart for giant and 1 foot for dwarf varieties. Keep the soil moist during germination. Sunflowers need a regular application of low nitrogen fertilizer from germination through the development of the flower head.

As a general recommendation, apply about a cup of 5-10-10 per 50 foot row every two to three weeks. Sunflowers will mature between 65 to 90 days. After plants are established they are generally very drought resistant, however they must receive adequate water during their critical seed development period about 20 days before and after flowering. If rainfall is lacking, supplement water during this period.

Weeds can also be a problem for sunflowers during the first four to five weeks after germination. Hand pulling and mulching is a must.

What pests should I look out for?

Pests of sunflowers are few. Diseases of concern include white mold, which causes the stalk and head to rot, mildew, verticillium wilt, and leaf spots. Rotate your sunflowers to different areas of the garden each year to reduce disease problems or select new varieties that have resistance to diseases.

Stem borers and stem maggots that tunnel in the stalk and cause damage can be reduced by removing stalks from the garden after harvest each year.

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Birds are likely to be your biggest pest near harvest time. The large seed heads make a perfect perch where birds can relax as they dine. This may not be a problem if you are growing the seeds for the birds, but if you planned to eat a few yourself you may need to cover the flower heads with plastic netting or cheesecloth.

Also, consider staking taller varieties. More than once people have had large, heavy seed heads snap off the stalk during heavy winds before they have a chance to ripen. Secure the stalk to the stem every six inches with soft ties.

When should I harvest the sunflower heads?

Sunflower heads are ready for fall harvest when the florets in the center of the disk are shriveled, heads are downturned, and the back of the head turns greenish-yellow to yellow.

Pull a few seeds from the center of each head and split them open to check if the meat has filled. If the heads are ready, cut the seed head leaving about a foot of stalk attached. Cover the seed head in cheesecloth and hang upside down in a warm, protected place with low humidity. Allow the heads three weeks to dry. Directing a fan toward the heads may speed up the drying time. Seeds are ready to store when the back of the head turns dark brown.

Remove the seeds by rubbing two heads together or by rubbing your palm across the seeds. Store the seed in well-tied bags as jars and tins may encourage mold development. If you are growing sunflowers for wildlife, you can keep the seeds in the head and during the winter months, nail dried heads to a post to create an instant feeding station.

How should I roast sunflower seeds?

Some people prefer their seeds roasted.  You can roast your own by placing a layer of dehulled kernels in a shallow pan.

• Roast in a 300-degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes until brown and crisp, stirring occasionally.

• Remove seeds from the oven and add one teaspoon of melted margarine to each cup of seeds, stirring to coat.

• Place seeds on absorbent paper and salt to taste.

• Store roasted kernels in a tightly covered container.

• For salted sunflower seeds in the shell, cover unhulled seeds with salted water (two quarts water to 1/4 cup salt).

• Bring to a boil and simmer for two hours or let seeds soak in salt water overnight instead of boiling. Drain and dry on absorbent paper.

• Then roast seeds as described for dehulled kernels.

The benefits of sunflowers

Sunflowers contain Vitamin E, iron, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, Linoleic acid and Oleic acid. Though they may have high calories, they are also believed to improve cardiovascular health, lower high blood pressure, and reduce serum cholesterol.

Add to that their variety in height and color and you have an attractive plant that is not only good for you but fun to grow.

Growing sunflowers can be healthy for you both mentally and physically.

P. Andrew Rideout is the UK Extension Agent for Horticulture and can be reached at pandrewrideout@uky.edu.

This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: How to grow sunflowers and cook sunflower seeds