80-90 days to harvest/ready to dehydrate. Height 1 foot to 3.5 foot. Direct seed Mid-May. Thin plants to 6″ to 12″. Harvest when seed head begins turning light green, or yellowing on the back side of head. Dehydrate to finish, and reduce seed moisture. Select best well formed heads for saving seeds. Cull out flowers that develop misshapen heads, plants with more than one head on it, and small flowers. Attracts beneficial insects, pollinators, and honey bees work the flowers for pollen, and nectar. one study hypothesizes that bees that work, and consume sunflower pollen may benefit positive for control of nosema. Birds, and Squirrels Makes great cut flower. May be planted in succession for ready supply of cut flowers, or to provide honey bee forage for a longer period verses only one planting. Blooms over a 2 week period.
Developed by UAF University of Alaska Fairbanks Experiment station for over 20 years to finish from a May direct seed. Robert Van Veldhuizen Retired, but still selecting, and developing the strain in three locations, Mat-Su, Fairbanks, and Delta. 2021 will be my third season selecting seed production from a about one ounce I received from Robert in the spring of 2019.
1/4 ounce for sale for $5.00
Contact AK Honey Bee owner Keith Malone at; P.O. Box 671092, Chugiak, AK 99567
Or call 907-242-0588 / email klm@gci.net