Sunflower Companion Plants

Sunflower companion plants

Nasturtiums are always a good companion for sunflowers. Firstly, they sprawl over the ground, acting as a cooling mulch, shading the soil, and suppressing weeds. Secondly, the flowers attract good pollinators such as bees and butterflies, while repelling bad ones like cucumber beetle and whitefly.

Are sunflowers toxic to other plants?

However, the beautiful bright blooms do hide a nasty secret: sunflowers are allelopathic, that is, they give off toxins (terpenes and various phenolic compounds) from all their parts (roots, leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, etc.) that impede the growth of other plants or even kill them.

Can you put sunflowers in a vegetable garden?

Sunflowers are fast-growing annual plants that are best located in full sun. They can be planted individually in landscape beds, but they are also frequently planted as rows in vegetable gardens. While sunflowers can be started indoors for transplanting, they are easy to establish by direct seeding into the soil.

Can you plant sunflowers and tomatoes together?

Tomatoes make great sunflower companion plants. I am so happy that they go together so very well in a garden.

What should you not plant near sunflowers?

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.

Can you plant flowers under sunflowers?

Flowers bring beauty into our landscapes but may also have pest repellent properties. When certain blooms are planted around sunflowers they can keep away bad bugs and encourage pollinators and good predatory insects.

Why do farmers plant sunflowers?

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.

Do sunflowers deplete the soil?

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.

Do sunflowers take lead out of soil?

Many gardeners know that plants like sunflowers can remove harmful contaminants from soil. Recent findings suggest that they are not effective at removing lead as previously thought. Exposure to lead causes over 400,000 deaths per year in the US.

What vegetables benefit from sunflowers?

Sunflowers are also a favorite of pollinators like bees and butterflies. Other tall, sun loving plants such as corn and tomatoes are good sunflower companion plants. Cucumbers, melons, and squash grow well alongside sunflowers, too. Shade loving vegetables, such as lettuce make good companions for sunflowers, as well.

Where should sunflowers be planted in a garden?

Sunflowers are sun worshipers that grow best in spots that get six to eight hours of direct sun per day. They have long tap roots that need to go several feet into the ground, so sunflower plants prefer loose, well-drained, somewhat alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

Why do people plant sunflowers around a garden?

Sunflowers attract pollinators, provide shade, act as a living trellis and can even assist in the cleaning of contaminated soil. Sunflowers make a surprising and flavourful addition to your culinary creations and are a true must have for every garden.

Can you plant 2 sunflowers together?

Plant sunflower seeds one to one and a half inches deep, and at least six inches apart in warm soil. Keep sunflower rows about 30 inches apart (though smaller varieties of sunflowers can be planted closer together) so the plant has room to grow. 3. Lightly fertilize.

Do sunflowers prevent other plants from growing?

Of all the issues with sunflowers, perhaps the most interesting and dire is their tendency to repress the growth of other plants. This is because sunflowers are allelopathic – they exude toxins that stop nearby plants from growing.

Can you plant sunflowers too close together?

Small sunflowers may require only 6 inches between each plant, while large varieties might need up to 3 feet. Closer spacings are possible for garden aesthetics, but crowded plants will produce smaller flowers. Indoor sunflower seedlings should be reduced to one seedling per cup.

Should you mulch around sunflowers?

Mulching: Mulching sunflowers is not necessary; however, those dealing with dry climates may choose to do so. Wait until your sunflowers are established and apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of straw or bark mulch, leaving a ring of bare soil around the stalk so that the mulch does not make contact with the plant.

Do sunflowers shade out weeds?

Sunflowers can win out against weeds when they're mature, which is one of the reasons they make such a good cover crop, but they can only do this if they get a good head start.

Can you plant sunflowers in the same field every year?

Regardless of whether they are grown as a single crop or double crop, sunflowers should not be planted in the same field more than once every three to four years. Sunflowers, like soybeans, do not leave very much residue, so on erosive fields consider seeding a fall cover crop after sunflowers.

Can you plant zinnias with sunflowers?

So don't hesitate pick your spot nice and sunny and put in an instant flower border. You'll love it

Can you plant roses and sunflowers together?

Mix and match roses and sunflowers. While sunflowers and roses make an incredible combination, these flowers are bold enough to look great on their own. Just because you use sunflowers and roses, doesn't mean that they need to reside together.

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