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I wanted so much for this to be easy, but nothing came up last year. I'll try again in another location this year. I'll also sow a few in peat pots, inside.
Our growing conditions: zone 6, average soil, full sun. We grow this giant plant from seed both indoors and outside. It is a reliable, easy to grow annual. Each plant we've had has achieved 6-8 feet in height and can get 2-3 feet wide! Each plant has many bright orange blossoms that can get 3-5 inches across. It blooms nonstop July-October. Attracts bees and butterflies all day long. Like all sunflowers, it benefits from the best possible compost you can find, both in the planting hole and used as a top dressing around each plant. We also mulch to better control moisture and temperature of the soil. They are beautiful planted with sunflowers and other sun-loving plants. They even tolerate a morning glory growing on the main stem! Highly recommended for pollinator support.
Same results here, Central Texas, zone 8B. Direct sowed around the edges of a 25x45 raised bed area for pollinators. Peaked in July at 8’ tall amazing nearly fluorescent red color. Self seeded, ( plus I gathered alot), and plants grew into 3-4’ tall abundant flowering specimens before first frost Mid Dec. Amazing plants!!! just give em some room!