SunflowerThe sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a living annual plant in the family Asteraceae, with a large flower head (capitulum). The stem of the flower can grow up to 3 metres tall, with a flower head that can be 30 cm wide.https://simple.wikipedia.org › wiki › Sunflower
The sunflower is native to North America and was first grown as a crop by indigenous tribes over 4,500 years ago. Native Americans cultivated the sunflower from its original bushy, multi-headed type to produce a single-stemmed plant bearing a large flower.
There are 52 species of sunflowers, all native to North America and Mexico.
Wild Sunflower can be considered invasive in a highly disturbed soil area. In fact, the state of Iowa lists Wild Sunflower as a noxious weed – which is strange as the plant is native to the state!
Northern New South Wales, Southern Queensland and Central Queensland are the key locations for sunflower production in Australia. Strong interest from growers in the southern NSW and Victorian irrigation areas has seen an increase in hectares planted in southern regions.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a summer-growing plant native to North America and grown over large areas throughout the USA, Eastern Europe, China and South America. It has also been grown for many years both under irrigation, and in summer rainfall areas of Australia (Queensland and New South Wales).
As the shortage of sunflower oil ripples through the global food sector, retailers are moving to replace sunflower with alternatives like canola, grapeseed or soybean oil. At the same time, Australian farmers are being urged to consider planting sunflowers to relieve the shortage.
Sunflowers are heavy feeders and deplete the soil more than many other crops – especially if you are growing them to reach a massive height so the nutrient supply must be replenished each season. Work in a slow release granular fertilizer – one that also contains trace minerals – about 8 in. deep into your soil.
“[Sunflowers] are able to take heavy metals from contaminated soil in a way that's completely natural and un-harmful to the soil and its surrounding ecosystems,” Kitrinos said. “They're called 'phytoremediators.
Loosen the top 2 inches of soil with a digging fork or shovel, then smooth with a flat rake. Scatter mix thinly and evenly. Using your rake, work to cover the seeds with 1/2-1 inch of soil, then use planting mix or compost to cover any exposed seed mix.
The flower petals and pollen were used to make dyes for face paint, cloths and baskets. Medicinal uses of sunflowers back in the day included everything from treating coughs by putting the oil in tea, wart removal to snake bite treatment to sunstroke treatment.
The sunflower is among the most iconic of wildflowers. The distinctive shape of its inflorescence both resembles the sun and has become the default flower shape for most kindergarten artists around the country.
Native Americans used sunflowers in many ways, including making bread and cakes from crushed, ground seed; mixing the meal with vegetables such as corn, beans and squash; and eating the cracked seed as a snack, much like we do today.
Ukraine had the highest production volume of sunflower seeds of any country in the world in the 2021/2022 crop year.
Sunflowers symbolise loyalty, adoration thanks to the myth of Clytie and Apollo. And, because of their association with the sun, sunflowers are well-known for being a happy flower and the perfect bloom for a summer flower delivery to brighten someone's mood!
Facing east allows sunflowers to warm faster and affects development of florets, promoting pollination and reproductive success.
There are a few common garden crops that make poor companion plants for sunflowers. This includes potatoes, hyssop, and both herb fennel and Florence fennel.
To keep mice out of the garden, do not plant corn or sunflowers. They love the kernels. Grass seed and grains are also favorite snacks for mice and rats.
They make beautiful cut flowers and their seeds (and oil) are a source of food for birds and people! See our Sunflower Guide for information on everything from planting to growing to harvesting.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lists sunflowers as a non-toxic plant, meaning that your dog can eat an entire sunflower and not experience any health risks due to toxicity.
Tomatoes are one such plant, benefitting greatly from being planted with sunflowers. In fact, sunflowers are like tomato-defenders, repelling aphids and ultimately saving your harvest. Tomatoes may get the biggest benefit out of the partnership, but they do attract some pollinators which will help the sunflowers too.
While this may seem detrimental in the garden, allelopathy (the inhibition of germination) actually has many beneficial aspects. Allelopathic sunflowers can actually help suppress weed growth.
Australia has limited identified conventional oil resources and large undiscovered prospective unconventional oil resources. Australian oil production has been in decline since 2009 as new reserve developments have failed to match the rate of depletion in existing fields.
Australia has proven reserves equivalent to 2.9 times its annual consumption. This means that, without imports, there would be about 3 years of oil left (at current consumption levels and excluding unproven reserves).
It is possible to run a vehicle on cooking oil – if you process it into biodiesel first. As a renewable and clean-burning alternative to petroleum, biodiesel is paving the way to a healthier planet with more sustainable fuel practices.