Sunflower Bouquet Collection
Helianthus annuus. Perfect for bouquets or centerpieces! Direct seed outdoors after danger of frost. Sunflowers require full sun, well-drained soil.
This collection contains 3 seed pkgs, 1 each of Firecracker, Velvet Queen, and Dwarf Pacino Mix.
Firecracker: Rich mahogany petals accented with amber yellow tips and a dark chocolate disc. Flowers have a 4-5 inch diameter with a branching habit that is ideal for cut flowers. Extra early flowers in 50 days. Height 2-3 feet.
Velvet Queen: Dark, velvety, crimson blooms are accented with traces of yellow around a black center. Foliage is distinct and attractive and the plants are free branching, bearing lots of 5-6 inch blooms that are lovely for cutting. Plants are tall, over 5 feet in height.
Dwarf Pacino: An abundance of 5" flowers on dwarf bushy, well branched plants. Mix of Gold, Cola and Lemon Pacino sunflowers. Fun and easy to grow. Height 12-16".
Details
Growing Information
Planting:
Direct seed outdoors after all danger of frost is past. (Dwarf varieties can be seeded inside in peat pots 3 weeks before planting out.) Sow 1 inch deep in light, well-drained soil. Keep moist until seed germinates in 10-14 days. Space in a full sun location 6-24 inches apart depending on variety. Giant varieties should be be planted 20-24 inches apart, while cut flower varieties should be spaced 6-10 inches apart to get smaller heads and slender stems for bouquets.
Growing:
Water regularly but do not over fertilize. Cut flowers last 10-14 days. Drying sunflower heads: If drying outside they should be protected with plastic mesh or brown paper bags. Just cover the heads to keep the birds away. To harvest, cut the seed heads leaving 12 inches of stem attached. Hang in an airy place safe from birds and rodents. Heads should be dry in 2-3 weeks. Remove seeds by rubbing two heads together. You may store the seeds on the heads until you need them.