Growing helianthus in Wisconsin is a enceinte way to summate color and beauty to your garden . Sunflowers are easy to grow and supply a cheerful and vivacious plus to any outdoor space . Sunflowers are long - lasting , need little maintenance , and are perfect for any garden size . They grow best in full sun and bloom from other summer to early fall , making them an excellent selection for Wisconsin gardeners .
Sunflowers are hardy flower that is able-bodied to resist the inhuman Wisconsin winters and provide beautiful blooms during the warmer months . They can be plant in a variety of grunge , and the sunny yellow petals brighten up any garden . Growing sunflowers in Wisconsin is a cracking way to append peach and color to any outdoor space .
Wisconsin climate and growing zones
In zona 3 , the cold winter temperatures are between -30 and -40 degrees Fahrenheit . Summers here are normally modest and the growing season is about 120 day long . The area is typically nose candy - covered from mid - November to mid - April . industrial plant metal money that thrive in this zone include juniper , pines , spruce , flowering crabapples , and other inhuman - hardy trees and shrubs .
geographical zone 4 is meek than zone 3 and experience cold winter temperatures between -20 and -30 degrees Fahrenheit . Summers here are warm , and the growing season is about 150 day long . tree and shrubs such as American hornbeam , American holly , and beldame hazel are well - suited to this zone .
Finally , zona 5 has insensate winter temperatures between -10 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit . summertime here are hot and humid , and the growing season is around 180 days . Trees and shrub such as dogwoods , red oak , and redbuds are well - suited to this geographical zone .
Growing sunflowers in Wisconsin
For those wanting to develop sunflowers in Wisconsin , the good time to do so is during the summertime months . The warm weather and ample sun provide ideal conditions for a successful crop . sunflower are typically planted in the early springiness , ordinarily around March or April . It is important to choose varieties that are cold - tolerant , as temperatures can knock off below freeze during the wintertime calendar month .
Sunflowers require a lot of sunshine , so it is important to choose a position that get full Sunday throughout the day . It is also important to ensure that the ground is well - draining and has a electroneutral pH. Sunflowers favor a land pH of 6.5 - 7.5 .
piddle is essential for any successful sunflower crop , and Wisconsin ’s climate can be irregular . During the summer months , it is important to keep the soil moist but not soggy . During the winter calendar month , the soil should be allowed to dry out somewhat between lacrimation .
It is also of import to consider the likely plague and diseases in the area . Common pests that may dissemble sunflower in Wisconsin include aphid , Japanese beetle , and earwigs . Common disease include rust , powdery mold , and downy mildew .
Some of my favorite varieties of sunflower admit :
When to start sunflowers indoors in Wisconsin
Sunflowerseeds should be started indoors 4 weeks before your last frost day of the month . In Wisconsin , the final Robert Frost date are :
You should also think the size of the variety of helianthus you are planting , as shorter varieties can be planted later and taller form will call for to be started a week or two earlier . sunflower should be pop out indoors :
Starting helianthus from seed is a comparatively sluttish unconscious process that can be done both indoors and out of doors . To get down , you will take to buy sunflower semen from a garden center or online . When selecting seeds , verify to count for the trust variety you need to grow . Once you have your seed , you’re able to choose to start them indoors 4 weeks before the last hoarfrost engagement for your area .
Fill a seed tray with starter grease and moisten it with a atomizer nursing bottle . Place your seeds on top of the grease , spread over them lightly with starter grunge , and irrigate them gently . target the tray in a warm and gay situation , and keep the soil moist . Once your plants have produce 2 - 3 sets of leaves , you’re able to transplant them outdoors .
Planting sunflowers outside in Wisconsin
Sunflower seeds should be planted outdoors after the last average frost date for your sphere . Planting helianthus seeds too ahead of time can leave in miserable germination and seedling increase and potentially demise if there ’s a hard freeze .
When engraft outdoors , ensure the area has plenty of fair weather and well - debilitate soil . Dig a muddle that is twice the size of it of the antecedent ball , and fill up the mess with compost or aged manure . Place the seedling in the hole and backfill with soil , then water deeply .
For the remainder of the helianthus ’s life sentence , make certain to keep the soil moist and fertilise on a regular basis . With right care , you should have beautiful helianthus in no time !
When to harvest sunflower seeds in Wisconsin
When helianthus seeds are quick to be glean , the back of the flower caput will be wry and start to move around brown . The single seeds will be ironic and solid . The fleeceable husks ring the seeds will have turned yellow or white and begun to dry out out . To confirm whether the seed are quick to be harvest , light nip the cum head between your thumb and forefinger . If the husks get out open well , the seed are quick to harvest .
Harvesting helianthus seed is easy . Cut the flower manoeuver off the stem and unfold it out on a clean surface . To take the seeds , expend your hands to scratch the bloom point and loose the seeds . Collect the seeds in a large bowling ball or container . Once the seeds are harvested , store them in an airtight container in a nerveless , teetotal place . Make trusted the container is well seal to keep the seeds from going bad . Sunflower seeds can last for up to a twelvemonth if stored properly .
helianthus seeds are delightful and nutritious snack food . They can be eaten stark naked , salute , or sprouted . helianthus seeds are also used in salads , cereals , granola , and energy bar . They are loaded with essential vitamin and minerals like Vitamin E , phosphorus , magnesium , and atomic number 30 . Sunflower source can also be used to make sunflower germ butter , which is a great alternative to peanut butter .
In addition to being a level-headed bite , sunflower seeds are also used to make birdseed . you could will your sunflowers intact out of doors well after the bloom have died to give your local boo a tasty collation !
