Evening Sun Sunflower History

Stunning when planted as a screen or back drop in your garden. Multiple heads, long bloom period, excellent for cutting. Plants grow 6-8′ tall. 75 days to first blooms.

Growing Evening Sun Sunflowers

you can plant multiple seeds and thin them to the strongest contenders when the plants are six inches tall.  Give plants plenty of room, especially for low-growing varieties that will branch out. Make rows about 30 inches apart. A light application of fertilizer mixed in at planting time will encourage strong root growth to protect them from blowing over in the wind. Experiment with plantings staggered over 5 to 6 weeks to keep enjoying continuous blooms. If you see birds scratching around for the seeds, spread netting over the planted area until seeds germinate.

Preserving And Storing Sunflowers

Re-soak seeds overnight in salted water. Run through a strainer and dry on a layer of paper towels. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 325 degrees on a baking sheet. Stir frequently during the baking and remove seeds when they look slightly browned. Don’t burn. You can add some olive oil, salt, spices to your roasted seeds if you wish. Or, you can also make suet cakes for the winter birds!

Evening Sun Sunflower Care

While the plant is small, water around the root zone, about 3 to 4 inches from the plant. To protect the plant, it may help to put snail or slug bait around the stem. Feed plants only sparingly; overfertilization can cause stems to break in the fall. You can add diluted fertilizer into the water, though avoid getting the fertilizer near the plant’s base; it may help to build a moat in a circle around the plant about 18 inches out. Tall species and cultivars require support. Bamboo stakes are a good choice for any plant that has a strong, single stem and needs support for a short period of time.

Are Evening Sun Sunflowers Edible?

Sunflowers are edible, with a bittersweet flavor. The petals add a pretty pop of color ion salads and desserts. The young, sunflowerbuds are edible, with a flavor similar to artichoke hearts.

Sunflower Uses

The sunflower is native to North America and was used by the Indians for food and oil. Some farmers use it to feed their livestock. Seeds are typically used to make oil, bird seed and for snacking.

Sunflower Nutrition

Sunflower seeds are excellent sources of several nutrients — including vitamin E and selenium — and beneficial plant compounds that can help prevent chronic diseases. Seeds contain nutrients and plant compounds that help reduce your risk of inflammation, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Measure sunflower seed portions to avoid excessive calorie intake and potentially high exposure to cadmium. Though uncommon, bacterial contamination of sprouted seeds, sunflower seed allergies and intestinal blockages may occur.

Other Sunflower Varieties Worth Checking Out

 The Velvet Queen Sunflower is a lovely red-orange sunflower native to the western United States. Produces multiple 5 – 6” heads on a 7’ plant making it an excellent cutting sunflower for floral decorating. Very drought tolerant, deer resistant and hard to find amongst the yellow sunflowers typically seen in American gardening. 80-100 days. Annual.

Arikara was originally grown by the Arikara Indians. Seed collected by Melvin Gilmore. Very sturdy and tall plants grow 10-12′ tall. A mixture of single and multi-headed plants. A great historic variety for your garden.