Helianthus annuus ‘Russian Giant’ seeds – (Sunflower)

Description

Picture thanks to www.hazzardsgreenhouse.com

This sunflower is the largest and tallest sunflower to grow. It has large golden flowers surrounding a brown/black centre.  For a striking accent to your garden try growing them against a wall or a fence . They actually don’t take up too much room as they spend all of their strength growing skywards. When it has finished flowering it produces wonderful black and white  striped seeds which the birds love , so if you don’t want to eat the seeds yourself ( you can roast and bake them ) , leave the plant in its place and let the birds perform their acrobatics on the sunflower ‘s face eating the seeds. Otherwise protect them from birds for your own consumption!

Sowing advice

The seeds should be planted in spring in a pot in a glasshouse with a good seed raising mix  in spring  ,  or direct , after the last frost  in  a sheltered, well drained site in full sun.  Plant in September after the last frost in southern districts and august/sept in northern areas.  Prepare a good seedbed with plenty of humus dug into it .  Sow   seeds about  40 cm apart . Cover them to their own depth with soil, and keep them moist.  They should germinate in about  7-14 days. Scatter snail bait around them to protect them, and get ready to stake them when they start to grow tall.