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Helianthus annuus Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses Cultivation Notes: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils[1, 34, 117] but grows best in a deep rich soil[1, 200]. It prefers a sunny position[1, 34, 117] though it also tolerates light shade[1]. Requires a neutral or preferably calcareous soil[200]. Established plants are drought tolerant[117]. The young growth is extremely attractive to slugs, plants can be totally destroyed by them[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233]. The sunflower is a very ornamental plant that is widely grown in gardens and also as a commercial crop for its edible seed and many other uses[1, 4]. It grows well in Britain, but it does not ripen its seed reliably in this country and so is not suitable for commercial cultivation at the present[K]. It is the state flower of Kansas[85]. There are two distinct types of commercial crop, one with smaller black seeds which is grown mainly for the oil in the seed whilst the other has larger striped seeds and is grown more for its edible seed[117]. There are a number of varieties of each type[183], good edible seed forms include 'Grey Stripe', 'Hopi Black Dye', 'Mammoth Russian' and 'Sundak', good oil-seed types include 'Peredovik', 'Progress' and 'Rostov'[200]. Some forms are being bred for greater cold tolerance and should be more reliable in Britain[117, 141]. Plants tend to grow better in the south and southwest of England[4]. Most forms require a four month frost-free growing season[117]. When plants are grown in cooler latitudes the seed contains higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty oils[117]. Sunflowers grow badly with potatoes but they do well with cucumbers and corn[18, 20, 201]. A very greedy and vigorous plant, it can inhibit the growth of nearby plants[20]. Plants tend to impoverish the soil if they are grown too often in the same place[117]. A good bee plant, providing large quantities of nectar[18, 34, 244]. The flowers attract beneficial insects such as lacewings and parasitic wasps[238]. These prey on various insect pests, especially aphis[238]. For further Helianthus annuus gardening information |
