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Sunflowers are huge plants with bright yellow flowers. They have a longhistory in North America. There is evidence they were used for food and formedicine by Native Americans beginning around 1,000 B.C.
The seeds from sunflowers were likely brought to Europe by Spanishexplorers around the late 16th century. Over time, they found their way toEastern Europe.
Today, Ukraine is the world's leading producer of the plants. Sunflowersare grown for their seeds and to make oil.
The plant has increasingly become popular on social media. That is becauseusers enjoy taking pictures of themselves in bright fields of sunflowers. Thephotos are called "sunflower selfies."
But in recent months, sunflower images are appearing on social media for adifferent reason: to show support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion.
Gardening expert and writer Jessica Damiano recently wrote a story aboutgrowing sunflowers for The Associated Press. It is easy to grow your ownsunflowers, she writes. Small versions of the plants can even be grown incontainers.
How to grow
If you start growing sunflower from seeds, put them in room-temperaturewater for 2-8 hours before planting to start the growing process. Plant eachseed into dirt 2.5 centimeters deep and 15 to 30 centimeters apart. Plant themafter the danger of frost has passed or start indoors three weeks before yourlast frost date. Keep the soil wet, but not too wet, until the seeds begin togrow.
Sunflower plants can be moved outdoors when the danger of frost has passedin your area. Choose a place outside that will provide the plants with at least6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
As the plants grow, they will develop long roots that work their way deepinto the ground. So, before planting, it is important to loosen the soil. Digat least one third of a meter down and remove any rocks.
Mix a large amount of compost into the soil where the plant will grow.Compost provides important, lasting nutrients that will help the plants allseason long.
Water the plants when the soil dries. Aim to provide about 2.5 centimetersof water a week. Pay attention to the amount of rainfall your area receiveseach week. A five-centimeter layer of mulch will help the soil hold water andreduce competition from unwanted plants.
The sunflowers may not need additional nutrients if they were planted withcompost. If compost was not added during the planting process, providenutrients through a slow-release, all-purpose fertilizer one or two timesduring the growing season.
Some kinds of sunflowers can grow up to three meters tall. These kinds ofsunflowers may require protection from strong winds. So, it is best to plantthem against a structure that will protect them from the wind. You can also tiethem to something tall for support.
When the flowers open, you can cut them and bring them inside. Put them ina container of water and enjoy their brightness and beauty.
How to eat
To gather the seeds, wait until the plants die back and the flowers startto fall at the end of the season. The backs of the flowers will be brown. Theseeds will start coming out of the head. Cut the flowers off the plants. Then,put them into a bag or container to avoid spilling the seeds, which will beloose.
Remove the seeds by rubbing flowers with your hands or a hard brush. Dothis over a container. Look through the seeds and remove parts of the plantthat came off. Wash the seeds with water. Set them out to dry overnight.
Sunflower seeds may be eaten cooked or uncooked. To roast the seeds, youneed an oven. Set the temperature to 165 degrees Celsius. Once the oven isheated, cook the seeds until they are brown. The process takes anywhere from 15to 30 minutes. To make salted seeds, boil them in hot salted water for 90minutes to two hours. Let them dry and then roast them in the oven.
I'm Jill Robbins.
Jessica Damiano reported this story for The Associated Press. GregoryStachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.
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