All about the sunflower

Sunflower, heliantemum, stone flower and tenderloin are all names of one plant. In nature, it is found in America, North Africa, Asia and Europe. Many backyard owners grow this plant, which can be either a flower or a shrub.

Helianthemum or heliantemum is the generic name for annuals and perennials of this type. Belongs to the Ladannikov family. There are more than 80 varieties in nature, but only the most spectacular varieties are subject to cultivation. They differ from each other only in appearance (stem length, shape of leaves and inflorescences, their color). The care is identical, it involves a minimum set of actions: periodic watering, loosening and weeding. In some cases, the application of organic fertilizers under the root is required.

Most often the leaves are oval, but sometimes you can find specimens with a linear-lanceolate. The inflorescence is racemose, most often presented in a yellow shade, but can be orange or pink. Due to some similarity, the flower is also called the Korean chrysanthemum. The fruits are presented in the form of three-celled or single-celled capsules, which contain seeds. They can be used for subsequent reproduction.

As already mentioned, currently only certain species of sunflower are being cultivated.

• Heliantemum fickle - is a perennial that does not need to be covered for the winter. Plant height is about 25 cm, it has a lot of lanceolate foliage. On the seamy side, there is pubescence on the leaves. Inflorescences are presented in light pink color, the most active flowering period occurs at the end of May and June.

• Alpine sunflower - it is resistant to temperature extremes, but in order to preserve it for the winter, it is better to use a covering material. The height is only 10 cm, the inflorescences are yellow. This option is a favorite for landscape designers, since the flowers themselves resemble a carpet.

• Apennine Is a perennial large-flowered shrub that will calmly survive even a harsh winter without shelter. The stems reach a height of 20-25 cm, the flowers are pink.

• Coin-leaved or coined - the height sometimes reaches 40 cm. The shape of the leaves is oval or lanceolate. Flowers are yellow.

• Arctic - refers to endangered species, occurs in nature mainly in the Murmansk region. A perennial shrub, the stems of which vary in height from 10 to 40 cm. Differs in an abundance of shoots. In diameter, bright yellow inflorescences reach 25 mm.

• Hybrid - this species includes all garden varieties and forms: Gold Coin, Baja, Lorenson Pink, Amabil Plenum, Zhigulevsky, Mountain Rose, Cerise Queen and some others.

The sunflower is grown outdoors. He feels great both in an individual and in a common flower bed. In order for the plant not to hurt, to have an attractive appearance, it must be properly cared for. And you should start with a favorable location.

For planting, it is necessary to select an area where the sun's rays are present throughout the daylight hours. In this case, it is better if the place is protected from drafts. The plant can grow in a short period of time, so the distance between two plantings should not be less than 30 cm.

If we talk about the most suitable soil, then it should be either alkaline or neutral. It is better if the composition contains sand and fine gravel. Can also be grown on loamy soil. But before taking out seedlings or planting seeds, it is recommended to dig up the allocated area and add dolomite flour.

Sunflower is not grown as seedlings. Sowing seeds is carried out directly into open ground. But if for some reason you want to first grow seedlings, then theoretically this can be done. In this case, the seeds are planted in plastic pots filled with fertile soil. The most suitable dates are the first days of March. If possible, you can use special peat pots. They will preserve the root system. The fact is that the roots of the sunflower interact with fungi. If this is violated during transplantation into open ground, the plant may become ill or even die. When landing in plastic cups during a dive, it is important to be as careful as possible.

In the selected container, it is necessary to sow 2-3 seeds for 1 place. The soil should be moderately moist. It is recommended to sprinkle it on top with a small layer of sand or vermiculite. It is imperative to create a greenhouse effect. For this, containers are covered with glass or plastic wrap. The air temperature should be between +18 and +24 degrees Celsius. The first shoots appear about 5-7 days after sowing. But you should not panic if this has not happened, since they can germinate in 30 days. As soon as the shoots appear, the film or glass must be removed, and the seedlings themselves must be moved to a cooler place.

After the seedlings get a little stronger, it must be thinned out. To do this, using scissors, you need to remove the weakest shoots. As a result of this treatment, only one strongest seedling should remain in each pot. Now, in order for it to get stronger and take root, you need to carry out the most thorough and timely care. It consists in regular and sufficient watering, as well as periodic loosening of the substrate.

It is necessary to plant seedlings or sow in open ground in late May or early June (depending on weather conditions). If this is a seedling, then it needs to be hardened - two weeks before the intended planting, take it out daily. You should start with a few minutes, gradually increasing this time to 2 hours. Seeds in the open field are germinated according to the same principle as seedlings. First you need abundant watering and a greenhouse effect. Then you need to get rid of the film, how to water and loosen the soil.

The sunflower is drought-resistant, so it can hold out without watering for several days or even weeks. If the summer is rainy, then artificial watering is generally recommended to be canceled. In the spring and autumn, watering should be reduced to a minimum. In the case of a dry summer, watering should be done as the soil dries out.

The plant does not require special feeding. Fertilizers can and should be applied only when necessary, some time before the appearance of inflorescences. The best option is organic fertilizers in liquid form. It is very important not to overdo it here, since excessive fertilization stimulates the growth of foliage, while this will be reflected in the flowers in the most negative way. If the plant was originally planted in nutrient soil, then any fertilizers should be excluded altogether. Otherwise, they will be harmful.

Sunflower propagates by seeds or vegetatively. In terms of time costs, the latter is more profitable. Of course, the seeds can be purchased at the store. But you can collect it yourself from the boxes, which are formed at the end of the flowering period. The disadvantage of seed reproduction is duration. The fact is that seeds for propagation can only be harvested for 2 years after planting. If you do not want to wait, you can use the fastest method - cuttings. The procedure is carried out in mid or late July. For this purpose, choose the strongest shoot, which is cut into short cuttings with 3-4 internodes.

With these cuttings, you need to leave only two leaves, and remove the rest. Next, the end is dipped in a special solution, which stimulates the emergence of roots, and planted in a nutritious soil. Here, too, it is important to create a greenhouse effect. This breeding method is relevant for annuals and those species that do not set seeds well (terry). Care is almost the same as for seedlings.

The sunflower is common as an ornamental plant. It is used with pleasure by landscape designers to decorate flower beds, as well as ordinary summer residents as decoration for their personal plots. Popularity is based on attractive appearance, as well as unpretentious care.

As a confirmation, it is recommended to pay attention to the most successful examples of using the sunflower in landscape design.

• It is often used to decorate hanging flower beds or pots.

• Sometimes this plant is planted along the walls of houses or some kind of fences, structures, which can be seen in this example.

• If you want to add bright colors, then a stone flower with thick pleasant greenery and pink inflorescences would be an ideal option.

• With the help of such flowers, alpine slides are successfully decorated.

• You can alternate different types and colors of plants in one flower bed.

In fact, there are many different design options. This plant can rightfully be called universal, since it will become a worthy decoration for any flower bed, regardless of the specific type.

Flowers, in general, can be arranged in a chaotic order, they will still look attractive. The main thing is to carry out correct and timely care so that the greens are saturated, and the inflorescences themselves are vigorous and bright. Only in this case the flower bed will be truly well-groomed.