First Sunflower Succession-Spring Sunflower Succession with Hoops and Agribon Northlawn
video description
While my last frost date is technically May 15, there are very few frost dates. The first outdoor planting was done March 1st and there have only been two nights below freezing since then, both nights I lightly covered them and my bach buttons with drop sheets, my sweet peas are under bottomless milk jug domes.
I have no problem with white flowers, suns or dahlias so I am starting with White Night, White Lite, Lemon and something called Razzmatazz. ProCuts are available in Canada at Vesseys, 1/2 bought there and 1/2 from Sunflower Selections which are indeed the breeders of ProCuts.
I was not expecting much top growth on any of my early planting until we hit 12hrs of sun per day from sunrise to sunset which we hit a couple of days ago. Instead, the roots will have gotten well established, although all the plants have grown one inch in height, now the plants should start to grow quickly, this is what my sweet peas did with this same experiment last year, turning into prolific and healthy adults. That is why I am trying it out with the suns and Bach's this year.
I'm waiting for the next nice day that I have time so that I can also get my snaps in the ground. I don't fertilize my seedlings either but I do use garden soil rather than store bought soil. I am on my fifth garbage can full of soil and have almost used it up. Used most of it on my 200+ dahlias of which some are now 18- tall from the bottom of the pot to the top. They will start getting hardened off mid April and planted May 1st-ish with approximately 60 of them being sold. I love gardening season.
Date: 2022-08-07
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Comments and reviews: 19
Michele
Danielle, you're entirely right about flower choices being totally individual to your personal situation. You're working on a small plot to sell, so space is of primary importance. Climate, pest pressure and your roadside selling and buyers' preference is all singular to your situation. Growing what works for YOU seems to be not only practical but the most satisfying. Your bouquets & bouquet choices are well researched & elegant. No wonder your customers keep coming back! And I absolutely agree, Lisa Mason Ziegler is a treasure trove of info & encouragement!
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Danielle, you're entirely right about flower choices being totally individual to your personal situation. You're working on a small plot to sell, so space is of primary importance. Climate, pest pressure and your roadside selling and buyers' preference is all singular to your situation. Growing what works for YOU seems to be not only practical but the most satisfying. Your bouquets & bouquet choices are well researched & elegant. No wonder your customers keep coming back! And I absolutely agree, Lisa Mason Ziegler is a treasure trove of info & encouragement!
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Green
Danielle, the worst pests that I deal with in my garden is an overabundance of squirrels. Last year, they chewed on every sunflower head in my garden and actually chewed entire flower heads off of the plants. Have you had squirrels eat your sunflowers? I would be grateful for ideas or suggestions to keep this from happening in 2022. I planted 4 different sunflower varieties last year, and I didn't end up with a single flower that wasn't damaged. If anyone has an effective way to solve this problem (other than repellants, please share. Thanks.
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Danielle, the worst pests that I deal with in my garden is an overabundance of squirrels. Last year, they chewed on every sunflower head in my garden and actually chewed entire flower heads off of the plants. Have you had squirrels eat your sunflowers? I would be grateful for ideas or suggestions to keep this from happening in 2022. I planted 4 different sunflower varieties last year, and I didn't end up with a single flower that wasn't damaged. If anyone has an effective way to solve this problem (other than repellants, please share. Thanks.
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Ahava
I sowed some Sunflowers 2/27 and 3/8 so far. Zone 8b north central Florida. All are outside. 1st succession planting in the garden, and had 27 degree weather and a torrential rain without row covering. They are doing great so far, I have to see if they get stunted in any way?
Starting 3rd succession on the week of the 22nd. I plan to continue until October as do Lisa Ziegler. I'm trying Sunfill green and purple and Serena -You can't eat the grass using her Sunfill after they open up? I will try that as well!
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I sowed some Sunflowers 2/27 and 3/8 so far. Zone 8b north central Florida. All are outside. 1st succession planting in the garden, and had 27 degree weather and a torrential rain without row covering. They are doing great so far, I have to see if they get stunted in any way?
Starting 3rd succession on the week of the 22nd. I plan to continue until October as do Lisa Ziegler. I'm trying Sunfill green and purple and Serena -You can't eat the grass using her Sunfill after they open up? I will try that as well!
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Joyce
Looking forward to seeing your beautiful sunflowers. They do seem a lot sturdier than we think. I had some come back from seed that had fallen when we did some fall cleanup - no mulch of any kind for protection- and they were up and a couple of inches tall by the first week of May, which was much earlier than I would have planted them. They even tolerated some cold weather and did very well. So always fun to test out the limits of a plant and see how it does.
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Looking forward to seeing your beautiful sunflowers. They do seem a lot sturdier than we think. I had some come back from seed that had fallen when we did some fall cleanup - no mulch of any kind for protection- and they were up and a couple of inches tall by the first week of May, which was much earlier than I would have planted them. They even tolerated some cold weather and did very well. So always fun to test out the limits of a plant and see how it does.
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Carey
Started watching your videos quite a few years ago and have just now saw all the progress that has happened. I'm so excited to be able to watch again. I love the choice of plants you use and how you place them. Also that you take advantage of pass along plants and keep them. It has always filled me with a love and admiration of those that shared with me. Thank you so much for continuing with this in your garden and sharing. -- happy spring.
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Started watching your videos quite a few years ago and have just now saw all the progress that has happened. I'm so excited to be able to watch again. I love the choice of plants you use and how you place them. Also that you take advantage of pass along plants and keep them. It has always filled me with a love and admiration of those that shared with me. Thank you so much for continuing with this in your garden and sharing. -- happy spring.
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Kathryn
I appreciate your showing many varieties of sunflowers which I didn't. know existed, especially the plum since it complements other spring flowers. In Central Texas 8b, we have wild sunflowers, which are difficult for a city gardens because they grow so tall. My neighbor has some that make it hard for me to see oncoming traffic when I back out of my driveway. It's great to know that there are lots of sunflowers to grow.
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I appreciate your showing many varieties of sunflowers which I didn't. know existed, especially the plum since it complements other spring flowers. In Central Texas 8b, we have wild sunflowers, which are difficult for a city gardens because they grow so tall. My neighbor has some that make it hard for me to see oncoming traffic when I back out of my driveway. It's great to know that there are lots of sunflowers to grow.
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Betsy
I am so excited, I finally got a plot in our community garden and in anticipation I ordered Pro Cut Plum, Gypsy Charmer and Strawberry Blonde. I can't wait to try this out in my new raised bed this year! I'll have to go back to your old videos. I don't want to order anything fancy to cover my seedlings in frost cloth, I think I just need some strong gauge wire? As always, thanks for sharing great information.
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I am so excited, I finally got a plot in our community garden and in anticipation I ordered Pro Cut Plum, Gypsy Charmer and Strawberry Blonde. I can't wait to try this out in my new raised bed this year! I'll have to go back to your old videos. I don't want to order anything fancy to cover my seedlings in frost cloth, I think I just need some strong gauge wire? As always, thanks for sharing great information.
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Alison
Have you ever tried overwintering sunflowers? I mean, i know it sounds nuts, but I wonder if it could be done. I've got a greenhouse (unheated) and might give it a go this winter in Australia, so I'd need to sow the seeds now and pot them up for winter. Then warm up the soil in early spring (using clear plastic) to plant them into, under a tall structure with double layer row cover etc etc.
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Have you ever tried overwintering sunflowers? I mean, i know it sounds nuts, but I wonder if it could be done. I've got a greenhouse (unheated) and might give it a go this winter in Australia, so I'd need to sow the seeds now and pot them up for winter. Then warm up the soil in early spring (using clear plastic) to plant them into, under a tall structure with double layer row cover etc etc.
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Flower
I am enjoying Lisa's podcast and learning a lot. I like how you not only mention your zone but your last frost date as that is an important thing for people to be aware of. My last frost date is a full month after yours even though I am in zone 8 but I do have a greenhouse I can get started in with the sunflowers, which does help a lot.
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I am enjoying Lisa's podcast and learning a lot. I like how you not only mention your zone but your last frost date as that is an important thing for people to be aware of. My last frost date is a full month after yours even though I am in zone 8 but I do have a greenhouse I can get started in with the sunflowers, which does help a lot.
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Monica
Thanks for the heads up. A few sunflowers did self sow in my backyard in the fall or winter. One massive branching type started flowering last week. It is 6. 5 feet tall and too many buds to count. I have a feeling that I should of started my own sunflowers from seed some months ago. Zone 10b. As you said every garden is different.
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Thanks for the heads up. A few sunflowers did self sow in my backyard in the fall or winter. One massive branching type started flowering last week. It is 6. 5 feet tall and too many buds to count. I have a feeling that I should of started my own sunflowers from seed some months ago. Zone 10b. As you said every garden is different.
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Nicole-s
I-ve been really thinking about doing this, I always notice -volunteer- sunflower seedlings in my garden as early as 6 weeks before last frost and they always survive! I was considering direct sowing but I don-t want to risk wasting seed. I think I-ll do as you are doing and play it safe --
Here-s hoping for an early crop!
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I-ve been really thinking about doing this, I always notice -volunteer- sunflower seedlings in my garden as early as 6 weeks before last frost and they always survive! I was considering direct sowing but I don-t want to risk wasting seed. I think I-ll do as you are doing and play it safe --
Here-s hoping for an early crop!
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Laura
Great info on starting sunflowers! Thank you. I love the Pro Cuts and I think the Plum is beautiful. But I haven't grown it yet because a flower farmer made a comment that they loose their petals quicker than other varieties. Do you find this to be true? I'm not a farmer so I should just grow Plum and enjoy it LOL.
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Great info on starting sunflowers! Thank you. I love the Pro Cuts and I think the Plum is beautiful. But I haven't grown it yet because a flower farmer made a comment that they loose their petals quicker than other varieties. Do you find this to be true? I'm not a farmer so I should just grow Plum and enjoy it LOL.
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Carolyn
Love sunflowers in an arrangement. but I have never met a bloom in cut arrangements I didn't love. I consider arrangements an art design. Unfortunately, they don't last as long as any of us would like. Thank you for another wonderful video Danielle. so excited for the Spring and seeing your stunning garden.
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Love sunflowers in an arrangement. but I have never met a bloom in cut arrangements I didn't love. I consider arrangements an art design. Unfortunately, they don't last as long as any of us would like. Thank you for another wonderful video Danielle. so excited for the Spring and seeing your stunning garden.
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Gardening
Thanks to you and LM Ziegler, I did this last year and had Pro Cuts early June! Since I don-t sell my cut flowers, it-s not as crucial for me but I wanted to give it a try.
Like you, I didn-t like the Sunfills at all. They didn-t grow well. Thanks for all you do for our gardening community! -
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Thanks to you and LM Ziegler, I did this last year and had Pro Cuts early June! Since I don-t sell my cut flowers, it-s not as crucial for me but I wanted to give it a try.
Like you, I didn-t like the Sunfills at all. They didn-t grow well. Thanks for all you do for our gardening community! -
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Garden
I've been binge watching Lisa's videos and had made a note to start my sunflowers a bit earlier this year. Really appreciate your reminder to hoop and cover them. I haven't done that in the past, but will do that this year as they will be going out ealier (hopefully. Thank you!
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I've been binge watching Lisa's videos and had made a note to start my sunflowers a bit earlier this year. Really appreciate your reminder to hoop and cover them. I haven't done that in the past, but will do that this year as they will be going out ealier (hopefully. Thank you!
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Kunatum
Oh, this is interesting! I also notice that my white echinacea was also be eaten by Japanese beetle but the native purpurea is not. Good to know to avoid white petal sunflower.
What about Dahlia and other hardy annual? Do they get beaten by Japanese beetle too?
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Oh, this is interesting! I also notice that my white echinacea was also be eaten by Japanese beetle but the native purpurea is not. Good to know to avoid white petal sunflower.
What about Dahlia and other hardy annual? Do they get beaten by Japanese beetle too?
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The
Danielle, have you every considered winter sowing your sunflowers? I put mine out in a solo cup terrarium in January, they sprout early March. They survived below freezing temperatures in their containers. I didn't have to harden them off. (I'm in Southern NJ;
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Danielle, have you every considered winter sowing your sunflowers? I put mine out in a solo cup terrarium in January, they sprout early March. They survived below freezing temperatures in their containers. I didn't have to harden them off. (I'm in Southern NJ;
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Gayle
Hi Friend
As always- YOURE AWESOME! Thanks for all you do to help us to be as successful as you.
Question
Do we cover the seeds once we put them on the mat, under light to germinate then remove the cover once they germinate? TIA
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Hi Friend
As always- YOURE AWESOME! Thanks for all you do to help us to be as successful as you.
Question
Do we cover the seeds once we put them on the mat, under light to germinate then remove the cover once they germinate? TIA
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Stauffer
Hi, Danielle! I also had trouble with the Sunfills. they had weak necks for me (even before cutting. I didn't know if I planted them too close together (4-6 inches? Thanks for the great tips on getting early sunflower blooms!
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Hi, Danielle! I also had trouble with the Sunfills. they had weak necks for me (even before cutting. I didn't know if I planted them too close together (4-6 inches? Thanks for the great tips on getting early sunflower blooms!
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