The Ring of Fire variety is great for growers hoping to help pollinators.
The Sunfinity is a branching sunflower, meaning it produces flowers on multiple, shorter stems.
Vincent's Fresh is part of a series of sunflowers inspired by the Vincent Van Gogh's paintings.
This year the National Garden Bureau features the sunflower as its annual flower of the year.
Sunflowers originated in the Americas, and domestic seeds dating back to 2,100 B.C. have been found in Mexico. Native Americans grew sunflowers as a crop, and explorers eventually brought the flowers to Europe in the 1500s.
Over the next few centuries, sunflowers became increasingly popular on the European and Asian continents, with Russian farmers growing over 2 million acres in the early 19th century, most of which was used to manufacture sunflower oil.
Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh famously painted a world-renowned still-life series of sunflowers. His sunflower paintings are so famous, the Van Gogh museum has teamed up with the breeder of Sunrich sunflowers to create the “Sunrich-Van Gogh’s Favorite” label of sunflowers.
Sunflowers can be annuals, Helianthus annuus, or perennial, Helianthus maximiliani, but most modern sunflowers are annuals.
Single stem vs. branching sunflowers
Single-stem sunflower varieties are best for high-density plantings and produce consistently beautiful flowers on tall stems. Succession planting will be needed for continuous blooms throughout the season.
Branching varieties produce flowers on multiple shorter stems throughout the season, which makes them ideal for sunflowers all season long.
Single stem: ProCut Series, Sunrich Series, and Vincent Series
Branching: Autumn Beauty Mix, Soraya (AAS Winner), SunBuzz, Suncredible, Sunfinity
Pollen vs. pollen-free sunflowers
Sunflowers that produce pollen are a great option for gardeners focused on supporting pollinators or for those looking for a lower price point.
Many modern sunflower varieties are bred to be male sterile, or pollen-free, to help foster extended vase life and a nice, clean appearance. These also keep your table clean from pollen!
Luckily, there are many varieties of both pollen and pollen-free.
Pollen-free: Moulin Rouge, ProCut Series, Sunbuzz, Sunrich Series and Vincent Series
Pollen: Soraya (AAS Winner), Ring of Fire (AAS Winner) and Valentine
How to grow and care for sunflowers
Sunflower seeds can be direct sown after the risk of frost has passed or started indoors. Seeds should be sown a quarter to a half-inch deep and kept moist. Taller, larger sunflower varieties have a large taproot to keep them rooted and do not do well when they are transplanted, so direct sowing of those varieties is recommended. Choose a site or a container in full sun with average fertility and good drainage.
Extend vase life
If you’re growing sunflowers for cuts, here are some recommendations to extend the vase life of your flower.
• Cut when the petals or ray flowers just begin to open, before they have opened off the disc completely. It is recommended to cut in the early morning before the heat of the day.
• Remove the leaves below the water line and place in freshwater or properly measured fresh flower food solution
• Check water regularly; sunflowers are heavy drinkers and can empty a bucket or vase overnight
• Change water daily; sunflowers have what some call a dirty stem, as the water quickly turns cloudy with potential for bacterial issues
For more information on this year's featured plants, visit the National Garden Bureau. www.ngb.org. The National Garden Bureau recognizes and thanks Garden Trends/Harris Seeds as author and contributor to this fact sheet.
Photos: Robert Becker's award-winning images
Robert Becker won first place in the environment (nature and wildlife) category of The Best of Photojournalism 2012 for "Welcome Visitor," a photo he took of a grasshopper and honeybee in a sunflower field in Southeast Nebraska.
As a grasshopper hangs on, a honeybee flies to the nectar of a bright sunflower in a yellow field west of Adams along Nebraska 41 on Sept. 6, 2011. The National Press Photographers Association named this photo, taken by Journal Star photographer Robert Becker, as the first-place winner in the environment category in the Best of Photojournalism 2012 contest. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
Harlan Essink enjoys horses. On his belt buckle is a horse, of course. (ROBERT BECKER / Lincoln Journal Star)
Becker won first place in the June Features category of the NPPA for a series of photos he took of Harlan Essink and his horses.
Harlan and Rowanna Essink's Belgians exchange glances with the driver of a bigger rig as they head down the road to give rides at the nearby Pella Christian Preschool. (ROBERT BECKER / Lincoln Journal Star)
The Essink farm entrance north of Adams is aptly named. (ROBERT BECKER / Lincoln Journal Star)
Harlan and Rowanna Essink's Belgians share the road as they travel to give rides at the nearby Pella Christian Preschool. (ROBERT BECKER / Lincoln Journal Star)
The team waits for another load of wagon riders in front of the Elijah Filley Stone Barn. (ROBERT BECKER / Lincoln Journal Star)
With passengers young and old, Harlan Essink's team parades down the street next to the Gold Crest Retirement Center. (ROBERT BECKER / Lincoln Journal Star)
Laura Smith on Streakin Ali (left) and her sister Deanna Jo Smith on Ciclone Socks raise and train quarter horses near DeWitt. The sisters will compete this weekend in the Women's Professional Rodeo Association World Finals at the Lancaster Event Center. (ROBERT BECKER / Lincoln Journal Star)
The Union Army 1st Nebraska Company C drilled early before its Civil War re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh on Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
The battle of Shiloh is over. The Civil War re-enactment took place on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
The Confederate Army's 4th Arkansas Infantry readies for a re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
The Confederate Army's 4th Arkansas Infantry Capt. Jim Arbaugh readies his troops for a re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
Eric Lindquist with the Union Army 1st Nebraska Co. C uses wool mitted gloves to keep his hands warm. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
Pvt. John Jordison with the Union Army 1st Nebraska Co. C relaxes before the re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh on Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
In his first Civil War re-enactment, Desmond Brandt, 8, of Kearney, readies with the Union Army 1st Nebraska Co. C for the Battle of Shiloh on Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
The Confederate Army's 4th Arkansas Infantry fires during the re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
Cpl. Phil Lutz with the Union Army 1st Nebraska Co. C readies his cigar before the re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh on Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
The Confederate Army's 4th Arkansas Infantry fires during the re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
The Confederate Army's 4th Arkansas Infantry Capt. Jim Arbaugh almost loses his kepi in strong winds as he readies his troops for a re-enactment of the Battle of Shiloh at the Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. (ROBERT BECKER/Lincoln Journal Star)
Harlan Essink ponders the readiness of the harnesses as the team prepares for a trip to the Pella Christian Preschool. (ROBERT BECKER / Lincoln Journal Star)
Sarah Browning is an extension educator with Nebraska Extension. To ask a question or reach her, call 402-441-7180 or write to her at sarah.browning@unl.edu or 444 Cherrycreek Road, Lincoln, NE 68528.
February 20, 2021 at 10:00PM
https://journalstar.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/sarah-browning-sunflower-is-the-flower-of-the-year/article_30c7f1b9-9149-537e-80d6-fc6e42cc7455.html
Sarah Browning: Sunflower is the flower of the year - Lincoln Journal Star
https://news.google.com/search?q=Flower&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
No comments:
Post a Comment