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Annuals/Sunflowers

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Expert: - 4/11/2011


Question
I am writing an essay in my Eng Comp class on How to grow Sunflowers. I live in Phoenix, AZ and want to know your expert opinion on these flowers and if they are easy to grow. I seem to kill everything I grow outside and these are my alltime favorite flowers. Since you are an expert I can quote you in my essay.
Thanks,
Laurie

Answer
Laurie,
Sunflowers are easy to grow and are best when grown from seed. You plant the seed in the ground after all danger of frost has past. In the Phoenix area I think that's in the second week of February.  Grow Sunflowers in full sun - the more sunshine the better. You want to plant the seeds where the growing plants will get at least 6 hours of straight sun that includes the noon hour.

After planting you'll want to water the seeds and sprouting plants regularly. New seedlings need water frequently and as they grow you'll water less often but for a longer length of time. Sunflowers can be fertilized with an organic fertilizer starting after they've gotten a couple of sets of leaves.  Fish and seaweed emulsion is a good liquid fertilizer for sunflowers.

If you have other questions let me know.
all the best,
C.L.

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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