(Helianthus annuus); 15 grams per packet (80 to 100 seeds)
Mammoth Grey-Stripe type selected for nice plump seeds on large heads with strong stalks. As you can tell from the photo, I started years ago with several seed sources as I create this Homestead Series. I select for:
- Big plump seeds (I find them easier to split open and eat)
- Strong stalks to avoid lodging
- Heads larger than a foot in diameter as all my harvesting activities are manual so I'd rather have 1 big vs 3 small heads to process
Plants reach 9-12 feet and tolerate a broad range of growing conditions but prefer full sun. When seeds are mature, birds flock to the blossoms. I only save seeds from heads that meet my criteria by covering with mesh.