Mammoth Sunflower
Growing the Mammoth Sunflower
There is no ignoring the Mammoth Sunflower as it is an extremely large plant. If you want to grow them you need to have lots of open space for them. They can look amazing though if they are well cared for. Like all sunflowers, it has bright yellow petals that are long and thin with a point at the top of them. They also have a brownish center.
Planting them starts with seeds that you should be able to get locally. You can also transplant them from pots into the ground but this can be a more difficult and time consuming process. These are very easy types of plants to grow so don’t worry if you don’t have much experience. Plant them after the risk of the last frost for the year has passed. You also need for the nighttime temperatures to be 50 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
Since they are going to need room, you want to plant those seeds about 18 inches from each other. They will turn towards the East though so you need to plant them in a location that allows them to do so. These sunflowers do very well in the heat; in fact they thrive on it. At least 6 full hours of sunlight daily is necessary for them to grow properly. They will fully grow in about 80 days.
The more direct sunlight they get, they larger they are going to grow. As your Mammoth Sunflower project is doing well, you may need to help ensure those stems remain strong. If your area is prone to heavy winds it can destroy them. You can use stakes though along the backside of each sunflower to offer them support. Use string to tie them to the stem and that will help them survive the winds.
The biggest need for them is lots of water. You need to be sure you take the time to offer that water every day. For the best results, water in the evening so that as much of it as possible can soak in. When you offer the water during the day, a large amount of it can be lost due to the process of evaporation.
One of the benefits of growing the Mammoth Sunflower is that you can enjoy the seeds from them. You won’t have to go buy packages of sunflower seeds anymore. You need to allow the sunflowers to grow to a height of 10 or 12 feet though before you begin to harvest those seeds. If you don’t harvest them they will eventually start to fall out of the plant and onto the ground below.
If you don’t mind sharing the sunflower seeds, you will find plenty of birds coming to your yard to enjoy them. This is a great meal for them and your chance to get to see lots of varieties of colorful birds in your yard. Offering a bird bath for them can also make your yard look amazing.
When you are growing the Mammoth Sunflower you do need to keep an eye on them when it comes to pests. They can destroy all of the hard work you have put into them. They can also cause the plants to look weak and unhealthy. They can also attract bees to your yard so don’t plant them if anyone in your household is allergic to bees.
The Mammoth Sunflower is a type of plant that can’t be missed or ignored. If you want to dramatically change the way your yard looks this is a very simple and fun way to do it. The details on the blossoms of these plants are really amazing. You can only fully appreciate them though if you get the pleasure of seeing them in person.