Sunflower

sunflower.

Sunflowers have a large flower head, usually with a large, almost black central part which is made up of thousands of tiny florets that later become seeds set in a spiral pattern. The petals are typically bright yellow, although some varieties are orange or red. Its stem is rough and hairy while the leaves large and rough with coarse jagged edges. Sunflowers typically grow to between one and a half and three and a half metres, with some giant variants reaching up to eight metres.

The strong sunflower is a recognized worldwide for its beauty, it is also an important source of food. Sunflower oil is a valued and healthy vegetable oil and sunflower seeds are enjoyed as a healthy, tasty snack and nutritious ingredient to many foods.

CLASSIFICATION :

—Kingdom  Plantae – Plants 

—Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants 

—Superdivision  Spermatophyta – Seed plants 

—Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants 

—Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons 

—Subclass  Asteridae 

—Order  Asterales 

—Family  Asteraceae – Aster family 

—Genus  Helianthus L. – sunflower 

Sunflowers say “summer” like no other plant. American natives, sunflowers are grown for beauty and harvested for seed

An annual plant, sunflowers have big, daisy-like flower faces of bright yellow petals (and occasionally red) and brown centers that ripen into heavy heads filled with seeds.

Tall and coarse, the plants have creeping or tuberous roots and large, bristly leaves. Some sunflowers grow to over 16 feet in height, though there are also varieties today that have been developed for small spaces and containers

How to plant a sunflower?

PLANTING

• Sunflowers grow best in locations with direct sunlight (6 to 8 hours per day); they prefer long, hot summers to flower well.
• Sunflowers have long tap roots that need to stretch out, so the plants prefer well-dug, loose, well-draining soil; in preparing a bed, dig down 2 feet in depth and about 3 feet across to ensure the soil isn’t too compact.
• Find a well-drained location, and prepare your soil by digging an area of about 2-3 feet in circumference to a depth of about 2 feet.
• Though they’re not too fussy, sunflowers thrive in slightly acidic to somewhat alkaline soil (pH 6.0 to 7.5).
• Sunflowers are heavy feeders so the soil needs to be nutrient-rich with organic matter or composted (aged) manure. Or, work in a slow release granular fertilizer 8 inches deep into your soil.
• If possible, put seeds in a spot that is sheltered from strong winds, perhaps along a fence or near a building.
  

CARE TIPS :

Sunflower seeds should be sown in fertile, moist, well-drained soil that contains heavy mulch. They need full sun to grow properly and develop best in summer. They thrive when grown in large clusters, as they shade the ground and keep the roots cool and the ground damp for longer. These groups afford protection from the wind and can help support each other.Sunflowers are generally hardy plants and can withstand short dry or wet spells. It’s important that they are not overwatered, as this loosens the soil to the point that they cannot support the weight of the large flowers heads.