Sunshine Field Mix Sunflower Seeds, Nine Open-Pollinated Varieties

Some fields need a little more than one color. The Sunshine Field Mix is a hand-curated blend of nine open-pollinated sunflower varieties chosen for range, from towering Mammoth Greystripe heads that stand shoulder-high to compact Teddy Bear blooms, rich burgundy Autumn Beauty, pale Lemon Queen, and the deep-hued Midnight Rouge. Together they fill a row or a whole bed with color from mid-summer straight through first frost.

Every variety in this mix is open-pollinated. That means you can save seeds from the plants you love, replant them next season, but nearby varieties can cross-pollinate. Isolate varieties or control pollination if you want saved seed to stay true to type. A single packet of seeds becomes a self-sustaining garden tradition.

Grown and selected for Kansas conditions (full sun, heat, and wind), these varieties are resilient growers that reward low-maintenance gardening. They draw pollinators hard all season, make excellent cut flowers, and the oil-type Peredovik variety provides a natural seed source for songbirds in fall.

What's in the mix: open-pollinated varieties
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* Mammoth Greystripe: Classic giant, 10 to 12 ft tall, heavy seed heads
* Autumn Beauty: Deep burgundy-red petals, striking and unusual
* Velvet Queen: Warm orange-red with a dark center
* Lemon Queen: Soft pale yellow, exceptional pollinator magnet
* Evening Sun: Multicolor mix of gold, bronze, and mahogany
* Midnight Rouge: Near-black petals with gold tips, conversation piece
* Teddy Bear: Fluffy double-petal, compact 2 to 3 ft, great for borders
* Dwarf Sunspot: Short-statured, large 10-inch heads on 2 ft plants
* Peredovik: Russian oilseed type, high-fat seeds loved by birds

Growing notes
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Direct sow after last frost when soil reaches 50F. Kansas gardeners: sow mid-April through early June. Plant 1 inch deep, 6 to 12 inches apart in full sun. Thin to 12 to 18 inches for largest heads. Drought tolerant once established: water deeply but infrequently. No fertilizer needed in average garden soil; excess nitrogen pushes foliage over flowers.

Sunflowers are allelopathic, meaning they suppress nearby plant growth. Plant them at the edge of beds or in a dedicated row, not mixed into vegetable gardens.

All varieties are open-pollinated. Dry seed heads fully on the stalk before cutting, then store in a cool dry place. Your best plants become next year's seeds.