Teddy Bear Sunflower
This dwarf sunflower only grows to 3'-4' feet tall but produces tons of giant, fuzzy blooms that are 5-6” across. Great planted in front of taller sunflowers in the garden or grown in big containers.
JOY MAX QUALITIES:
Easy-to-grow and fun for kids
The petals are completely edible. sprinkle over salads in the summer
At the end of the season, you can harvest the edible seeds, either for planting next year or roasting for a tasty snack.
Open-pollinated
This dwarf sunflower only grows to 3'-4' feet tall but produces tons of giant, fuzzy blooms that are 5-6” across. Great planted in front of taller sunflowers in the garden or grown in big containers.
JOY MAX QUALITIES:
Easy-to-grow and fun for kids
The petals are completely edible. sprinkle over salads in the summer
At the end of the season, you can harvest the edible seeds, either for planting next year or roasting for a tasty snack.
Open-pollinated
Planting Information: Sunflowers are one of the easiest flowers to grow but are difficult to transplant. For that reason, sow seed directly into prepared garden soil once all threat of frost has passed. They are heavy feeders, so prepare the soil with lots of manured compost prior to planting. Direct sow when temps are around 70º, 1/2” deep, 12-18” apart. Pinch to create sturdier plants.
JOY MAX SUNFLOWER TIPS
• Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep, strong roots.
• Protect from squirrels! This will be the most frustrating part of growing sunflowers. I keep a birdfeeder full all summer to attract them elsewhere. Consider placement where you can watch them from a window.
• Pollen is an issue with sunflowers in arrangements, as they can ruin a tablecloth with a yellow mess. Teddy Bear is a low-pollen, but not pollen-less sunflower. Varieties with the words “Procut” are bred to reduce pollen.
• Make sure you know where the sun is when planting sunflowers. Many varieties follow the sun with their blooms, so if planted in the wrong location, they may face your neighbor’s side of the fence instead of yours.
• To prolong vase life, cut as soon as the first petals on a bloom start to unfurl, and strip the bottom 3/4 of the leaves from the stem. No flower food is necessary.