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With sharp scissors or pruners, cut the head off the plant (about 6inches below the flower head). Place in a container to catch looseseeds. There are many different types,from the familiartowering giants topped with a large sunny flower, to more compact plants with many smaller blooms. They can rangefrom a mere30cm (1ft) tall up to3m (10ft) or more.
Annual sunflowers are usually grown from seed, sown indoors in spring (see Propagating, below). Keep them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouseuntil late spring or early summer, then plant outside once the soil is warming up and there is no risk of frost. Harden themoff thoroughly first, to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions. Starting sunflowers off indoors gives the plants a head start, which is important if you want to grow really tall ones. However, you need space on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse for a month or more, until you can plant them out in early summer. William Morris (1834-1896), artist, philosopher and political theorist, was one of the most outstanding and influential designers of the Arts & Crafts movement and through his company, Morris & Co. he produced some of the most fashionable and exciting textiles and wallpapers of his era. His legacy continues today with Morris & Co. producing authentic versions of his original designs alongside new interpretations to create up to date fabrics, wallpapers and furnishings with a timeless appeal. On average, I usually get sunflowers 6-8 feet tall with the occasional 10+ footers. The tallest one I ever had came in at 12 feet-2 inches. Indoor sowing generally gives more reliable results, as conditions are reliably warm and the seeds won’t get eaten by mice and squirrels before they can germinate. The seedlings are protected from slugsand snails until they are large and robust enough to be planted outside.SunrichGold’: An excellent flower for bouquets and arrangements, thissunflower grows to be about 5 feet tall and produces a single4- to 6-inch flower. The big, no-mess, pollenless flowers have rich, golden-yellow rays and green-yellow centers. This variety is wonderful forarrangements. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 325 degrees on a baking sheet. Seeds should be spread out in a single layer. Stir frequently during the baking and remove seeds when they look slightly browned. Don’tburn!
The flowers vary in size too, from huge dinner plates to small teacups, and not just traditional yellow, butvariousshades of cream, red, orange and brown too. It’s best to sow sunflower seeds directly into the garden (or outdoor containers) after the danger of spring frost has passed, anytime after soils have warmed to at least50°F(10°C). Strawberry Thief is one of William Morris's most popular designs, inspired by thrushes stealing strawberries from the kitchen garden of his countryside home. This elegant design, re-coloured in a striking brown makes for a stunning addition to any bedroom. Retaining the intricate detail of the original, Strawberry Thief's duvet is available in four sizes: single, double, king and super king. Most of us are familiar with the traditional tall sunflower withits large yellow daisy-like bloom, but there’s far more to sunflowers than that. They come in various forms, both short-lived annuals and longer-lived clump-forming perennials. Medium to tall sunflowers are best planted in a sheltered location, out of strong winds, to keep them upright. Even then, theyshould be supported with sturdy caneas they tend to become top-heavy so are very easily toppledFirst and foremost, find a sunny spot! Sunflowers grow best in locations with direct sunlight (6 to 8 hours per day); they require long, warm summers to flower well. Shelter from strong winds—for example, along a fence or near a building—helps as they mature. Larger varieties may become top-heavy, and a strong wind can topplethem.
If you see birds scratching around for the seeds, spread netting over the planted area until seeds germinate. See more ways to keep birds away from your garden. Cut stems early in the morning. Harvesting flowers during the middle of the day may lead to flowerwilting. Giant sunflowers that will reachover 2.4m (8ft) tall are best planted next to the house, so they can be attached to the wall for support. Bamboo canes won’t usually be long or strong enough to support them
Give plants plenty of room, especially for low-growing varieties that will branch out. Make rows about 30 inches apart. (For very small varieties, plant closertogether.)
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