Desert Sun – (F1) Sunflower Seed

New! Radiant bicolor flowers with strong stems.
Vigorous plants and strong stems support high-quality, bicolor blooms. Rich red petals shift to lemon and gold hues at the petal edges. 5–7″ wide blooms. 18–24″ long stems are very straight and strong for use as cut flowers. Pollenless. Branching. Compared to Strawberry Blonde, Desert Sunrise is slightly later to bloom and with a flower color that is richer and more vibrant. Edible Flowers: Flower buds can be fried and the petals used as a garnish in salads and desserts; the flavor is bittersweet.

Specs:

• Plant Height: 70–80″
• Packet: 50 seeds
• Avg. 700 seeds/oz

DAYS TO GERMINATION: 7-14 days at 70-75°F (21-24°C)
SOWING: Direct seed (recommended) – After last frost, sow ½” deep. Transplant – Sow into 72 to 50-cell flats 2-3 weeks prior to planting out. Plants dislike root disturbance but sowing indoors and then transplanting the first crop outdoors can be a successful way to get first-early sunflowers. Pinching branching varieties is recommended to encourage branching and longer stems. Succession-sow every 2-3 weeks and/or plant multiple varieties for continued harvest.
LIGHT PREFERENCE: Sun.
PLANT HEIGHT: Varies.
PLANT SPACING: 18-24″.
HARDINESS ZONES: Annual.
HARVEST: Flowers can be harvested tight, when color first shows, or when almost completely open, depending on your market and preferred use. Dried – Flowers are completely open. Hang or use silica gel.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Light, well-drained soil. Excessive nitrogen may cause plants to grow too vigorously with abnormal flower shapes.
USES: Excellent cut flower. Single stem sunflowers can make a beautiful and reliable display in the garden but please note that they will only provide one bloom form each plant.
NOTES: Flower size and stem diameter are controlled by plant spacing, temperature, soil type, and day length. For early and late season production, select varieties that are day-length neutral or are noted as suitable for flowering under short days.