Summer Sunflowers Scatter Garden

Cheerful, carefree heirloom sunflowers gladden both the eye and heart! Grow our blend of multicolored, branching Autumn Beauty and giant Mammoth sunflowers to offer nectar and pollen to foraging bees, butterflies and native pollinators, armfuls of blossoms for bouquets and oil-rich seed heads to sustain songbirds through winter.
 
NOTE
Seeds in this canister are packed with a larger quantity of organic rice hulls to help space them. Before opening, shake canister thoroughly to mix.

HOW TO PLANT AND GROW
When spring weather is warm and settled, and nights are reliably above 50°F (10°C), prepare the planting area by removing all weeds, grass, large clumps and stones. 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. Water thoroughly with a gentle mist.
Keep weeded and watered; protect tiny seedlings from birds by using netting or ribbons of shiny, reflective flash tape at planting time. When 3-4 inches tall, remove covering and thin seedlings to 10-12 inches apart. This spacing is critical for sturdy, windproof plants with good root systems and large flowers.
 
HARVEST AND USE
For bouquets, cut when flowers just begin to open. Many diverse pollinators will busily visit the florets in each flower head and seeds will begin to mature. When the center disk florets have dried, birds will happily snack on ripening seed heads.
Harvest for winter feeding by covering ripening heads with paper bags until kernels are plump and hard shelled. Cut entire heads; store until cool and dry, then remove seeds. Store in closed containers to feed as needed.