Sunflower - Evening Sun

OH Sunflowers originated in the Americas and wild cultivars are still present. The first area to domesticate them was thought to be what is now the south eastern USA, but recently it came to light that the first place of domestication was in fact, Tobaccos, Mexico in 2600 BCE. Native Americans grew sunflowers as what is referred to as the 4th sister in the fields with the more famous 3 sister crops planted on the north edge of their fields. They used the seeds to make dried cakes which were an important winter food. This variety is a glorious multi-bloom flower with all the shades of the setting sun. From Yellow, orange to bronze to red hues with dark centres, you will have beautiful blooms in your garden as well as great cut flowers with a long harvest period. Most people know the seeds to be edible but the flower buds are also edible with a bittersweet flavour similar to artichoke hearts. As with the multi-colour blooms, the seeds are also muti-coloured with white and black seeds in the mix. Annual, frost tender. 2m height with 10-15cm blooms.  

Sow in September in glasshouse and prick out to 4cm diagonal spacing when true leaves appear. Transplant to 50cm diagonal spacing in fertile soil in direct sunlight after last frost. These are great grown in companion with beans and pumpkins, melons or squash, as in the Three Sisters Garden.

40 seeds.