В Эспаньоле объявили о старте сентябрьского конкурса на самый высокий подсолнух

Espanola Gardeners schedule September Sunflower Contest Lots of sun makes sunflowers reach 10 feet in height or higher Article content Sunflowers love the sun, and the Espanola area has been getting a fair share of heavy rains lately. But throughout July and August, the sun has been strong and abundant, and local gardens with sunflowers are reaching new heights. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, sunflowers need six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day. The more sun, the taller they grow. The sunflower is an annual plant that dies after making seeds but can reseed itself when the seeds drop down and grow next year. Recommended Videos “They track the sun when they are young, clean toxic metals from polluted soil, and are made up of up to 2,000 tiny flowers packed into a single head,” the Almanac continues. The seeds of a sunflower are full of healthy fats, vitamin E, and magnesium, and can be pressed to make cooking oil. The birds and bees love sunflowers because they produce large amounts of nectar and pollen. Sunflowers are originally from North America and have been around for more than 4,500 years. “Sunflowers were grown as food long before other crops such as corn became commonplace,” the Almanac reports. Spanish explorers brought sunflower seeds back to Europe from North America in the 1500s. The Spanish people loved the flowers so much they became popular as a decorative flower. On average, sunflowers can reach a height of six to 10 feet, and even bigger. “The tallest sunflower ever recorded was 30 feet, and needed some rather elaborate scaffolding to keep it stable,” says appleyardflowers.com. Espanola Gardeners will hold the annual ‘Sunflower Growing Contest’ in September. “There are three categories: tallest plant, largest seed head, and most blooms on one plant and a bud with colour counts as a bloom”, said Grant Lewis of the Espanola Gardeners Club. The contest has two age categories as well – ages 13 and under and over 13. To enter, call Kathy or Grant at 705-869-5798 to book a time to have sunflowers judged, either on Saturday, Sept.12 or Sunday, Sept. 13.