West Coast Seeds (Sunrich Lemon)
West Coast Seeds (Sunrich Lemon)
The Sunrich series of hybrid sunflowers was bred with the florist trade in mind. These are highly uniform annuals that mature in 60 to 70 days from direct sowing, producing a single, upright stem, about 1.2-1.5m (4-5') tall. The flowers are very round with dense numbers of petals, but the flowers produce no pollen, so they won't make a mess when they're cut and brought indoors. They make really excellent, long-lasting cut flowers, with blooms 10-15cm (4-6") across.
Sunrich Lemon sunflower seeds produce flowers that attract bees and other pollinating insects, so they serve an extra function in the garden. Then they can be cut and enjoyed indoors as long lasting cut flowers that won't make a big mess. The dense yellow petals surround a dark central disk.
Latin Name |
Helianthus annuus |
Difficulty | Easy |
Exposure |
Full sun |
Timing |
Direct sow repeatedly after the last frost date. Starting indoors is possible, but does not gain much time. If sunflowers are allowed to get root-bound, they will lack stability at transplant time, and will require staking. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 21-30°C (70-85°F). Seeds should sprout in 10-14 days. |
Starting |
Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep. Space dwarf varieties 15cm (6″) apart, but give the giants lots of room at 1m (3′) between plants. |
Growing |
To grow really big plants with really big flowers, enrich the soil with organic matter and incorporate 2 cups of balanced organic fertilizer per 3m (10′) of row, and irrigate regularly. When the plants are 30cm (12) tall, dissolve 5ml (1 tsp) of borax (for boron) in 350 ml (12 fl oz) of water and spread the solution over 5m (15′) of row. Be careful not to over-apply this solution. This application of boron will produce bigger seeds and flower heads. Do not apply boron to other garden plants. When the back of the flower head turns yellow, it is ready to be cut from the plant. |