This is often said of one of the most impressive flowers, which is surely worthy of a place in any garden or allotment. It is the Sunflower(Helianthus annus) which is also a favourite for children of all ages!
When I was chosing what seeds to grow I found that there were plenty of varieties to choose from, with Chiltern Seeds listing around 20. I’ve gone for Autumn Beauty 
which grows to 6 feet tall and has branching stems freely producing flowers 6 inches across in colours including bronze, cream, lemon, mahogany and old gold.
During the week I was given a packet of Giant Singles which are likely grow over 12 foot high!
One bonus of Sunflowers is that the attractive seed heads are loved by the birds.
Another favourite flower has to be the Sweet Pea(Lathyrus odoratius) of which there are numerous varieties. Among the seeds that Nikki was kind enough to send me were three different packets. They are Early Multiflora Blend which has dainty flowers on long stems; Heirloom which is the original sweet pea that can be traced back to the 1690’s, is purple & deep blue bicolour and very fragrant, and Bouquet Blend which has heavier, longer stems and larger flowers ideal for cutting.
I’m assured that sweet peas are a sow and forget, easy to grow flower. I’m told that all I need to do is insert my forefinger an inch into the soil, cover and that’s it. I shall grow mine two each at the base of four 6 foot canes tied into a wigwam.
I’ve always said that I intended to sow all my seeds direct on the plot however I have sown some into plastic containers as I was given a bag of seed compost a couple of weeks ago. Among these are some sweet peas which after less than two weeks look like this 
The seedlings on the left, which appeared in a couple of days, are Eucharidium breweri ‘Pink Ribbons’ which Nikki may well recognise as it’s from California. It has narrow leaves and in summer bears countless, beautifully scented, deep glowing pink flowers with narrow, ribbon-like petals. It’s a sow and forget annual which makes a delightful little pot plant.
Happy gardening!
22 responses so far ↓
Glo // March 30, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Can you just imagine how glorious a stand of those Autumn Beauty sunflowers will be? I have grown some tall yellow ones and they seem to shoot up very quickly. As you say, the seeds are perfect for birds. I remember drying out the heads, and also was amazed at how strong the stalks were.
Now sweet peas have to be one of the most wonderfully fragrant flowers there is. I have buried my face in bunches of them. Another flower that I love the scent of is the wallflower, especially the yellow onces. Well, now I’m all excited about getting out in the garden and planting sweet peas. Yours are coming along nicely, Flighty. Thanks for the inspiration
Louise // March 30, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Hi Flighty, I can’t wait to see all these pretty annuals growing on your plot. An allotment is such a good place for growing the larger varieties of sunflower, I only grow fairly dwarf ones in my garden. I may not get around to sweet peas this year, I haven’t sown any yet! I must say I don’t trust planting my seeds straight into the soil, because of my slug problem, I usually grow most in pots, until they are large enough to plant outside, and have a better chance of survival? x
princessfairytoes // March 30, 2008 at 7:39 pm
the nice people from Ross-Garden Store will be delivering our potting compost this week to fill up all the tubs to make our container veg garden, the children want one after going to the eden project, we are hoping for sweeet corn carots toms and all sorts for our garden. (one for the blog)
midwifemuse // March 30, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I never have any success with sweet peas, they start off fine but then start looking mottley and dry. I love growing sunflowers, I do the old germinating in a glass with blotting paper so that the children can see how a small, dry seed will burst into action.
joan // March 30, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Hi Flighty I also grow sunflowers for the birds, summer 2006 great display from the giant sunflowers, but last year very poor!
yesterday morning I woke to 2 mallard ducks in our front garden! the kids next door thought it was great they didnt have to walk over the park to feed them! for a couple of years now we end up with the ducks walking across from the park, normally stopping the traffic as the casually walk across it!
We normally do the bird count but was working all over that weekend so missed it, but have been looking at the results,
take care
joan
flighty // March 30, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Glo I’m really looking to seeing these grow. When I cleared the plot last summer there were three sunflowers from the year before and what surprised me was the stalks.
As you say sweet peas are great for fragrance. My plot neighbour is growing wallflowers .
I’m glad you think so. You’re welcome. xx
flighty // March 30, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Louise nor can I! There were certainly plenty of sunflowers on the site last year. Looking round the plot today at first glance it’s seems to mostly bare earth but on closer inspection there are plenty of signs of growth even before I start sowing.
I shall keeping a good look out for slugs! xx
flighty // March 30, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Princess I know someone who does all her gardening in containers, and always has lots of flowers and vegetables. It’s great that the children want to do that. Do let us know how you get on. xx
flighty // March 30, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Midwifemuse hello! I hope mine will be okay, there were plenty to be seen around the allotment site last summer so fingers crossed.
It’s amazing that a pin-head sized seed grows into such a large plant so quickly, it’s miraculous really.
Take care xx
flighty // March 30, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Joan hello! I hope that you have better luck with growing them this year.
What a good way to start the day seeing ducks like that!
Shame you missed the count. The results make interesting reading showing what we’re likely to see,or not, nowadays. Thanks, you too. xx
mylozmom // March 31, 2008 at 1:10 pm
WOW those sunflowers are just gorgeous! I too love them and think they are a stunning flower. I did not realize however that they got so tall. Amazing really!
daffy // March 31, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Hello Zebra Head! ;o)
(I’m still laughing at that!!)
When my two were little puppies they used to grow sunflowers and compete with eachother as to see whos’ could grow the tallest. They would get some bamboo off their Grandad and secure it to the stem with pipe-cleaners… also courtesy of Grandad.
We had some really good and tall results. They do smell bad when they all grown though… have you noticed that?
flighty // March 31, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Mylozmom they’re certainly very a impressive flower. The height record is around 25 feet, which is amazing as they grow from a seed to that in just a few months! xx
flighty // March 31, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Daffy perhaps it was the way the barber was cutting my hair that made me say that!
It’s a great children’s plant to grow. I’ve seen some over 15 feet. I didn’t know that. I’ll have to sniff one come the summer when they’ve grown. xx
nikkipolani // April 1, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I remember visiting my uncle’s house in the French countryside where we kids would bike along fields and fields of sunflowers (never did notice any strange smell!). Your darling little pearly bloom is so sweet and brave! And I hope those sweetpeas do well for you. I have some that reseeded from a couple of years ago but not in very good places
flighty // April 1, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Nikki I remember seeing fields of them like that. I’ve never heard mention of the funny smell.
I’m sure the sweet peas will be lovely! Can you not move the reseeded ones to where you want them? xx
Liv // April 1, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Calling them sunflowers is nice enough in English, but I prefer the French word “tournesol” because they turn towards the sun.
I’d love to see a field of them - we had one (just one!) in Tx, which of course was the usual stray seed we stuck in the ground to see what happened.
xx
flighty // April 2, 2008 at 6:17 am
Liv most flowers do that but these must be so more apparent due to their height and size.
I think that fields are often the shorter varieties, which still have large flowers. xx
nikkipolani // April 2, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I’ve found that sweetpeas do better if they’re not moved. But I may have to risk it for these reseeded ones as they are right in the middle of a path!
flighty // April 2, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Nikki try it as you’ve nothing to lose seeing as where they are! xx
Ellie // April 4, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I love seeing the sunflowers follow the sun.
And I too have found that sweet peas hate root disturbance, so if you sow them under cover, I find it is better to use toilet roll inner tubes as root trainers. I also find it helps to soak the seeds overnight before sowing.
flighty // April 5, 2008 at 5:20 am
Ellie hello! I look forward to seeing mine do that.
My sweet peas are doing well, but I will do that next time, and I did soak them as it said on the packet. xx
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