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What can you grow with sunflowers?
The answer is just about anything with a few exceptions.
Sunflowers are a workhorse in the garden.
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Want more gardening tips?
Are sunflowers allelopathic?
Allelopathic plants release toxic substances into soil that can inhibit the growth of other plants growing nearby.
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This is not always a negative, especially when those toxins kill weeds.
Climbing vines add stability to these stately flowers which can flop or topple in strong winds.
A tall, single-stemsunflower varietyworks best.
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Choose dried or butter bean varieties and avoid vining green beans which can be stunted by sunflowers.
Beans add nitrogen back into the soila benefit for heavy feeders like sunflowers.
Choose a tall, single stem sunflower for best results.
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The roots of lima beansadd nitrogento the soil renewing depleted nutrients.
Choose an average to tall sunflower punch in, either single stem or branching.
Lettuce
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Timing is important when interplanting lettuces with sunflowers.
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For early lettuce, choose a shorter, faster-growing sunflower variety.
it’s possible for you to successionsow late-season lettuceunder tall sunflowers.
The goal is to protect tender lettuce from the hot afternoon sun.
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Consider choosing a summer variety lettuce for interplanting with sunflowers.
Tall, branching sunflowers can also stunt tomato plants by creating too much shade.
They also bring in lady beetles to devour the aphids.
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Both plants like hot, sunny conditions, so grow them 2 to 4 feet apart instead of interplanting.
Sunflowers also attract pollinators to boost the pepper harvest.
Any variety can pair well.
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Sunflowers attract bees which help pollinate corn for full, uniform ears.
Plant them at the base of your sunflowers to help keep the soil moist and cool.
Sunflowers draw bees and other pollinators squash plants rely on to fertilize their flowers.
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They also attract big-eyed bugs that feed on the squash bugs that damage your crop.
Taller varieties of sunflowers work best and allow room for the large, upright leaves of squash plants.
This works more effectively than interplanting pumpkins in among your sunflowers.
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Both are heavy users of nutrients and planting them together can cause stunting in your pumpkin crop.
Pumpkins are often planted later in the season which gives sunflowers time to establish beforehand.
Any variety of sunflower works with pumpkins when planted properly.
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These plants have the same watering needs but don’t attract any of the same insect pests.
The strong scent of alliums also discourages animal pests like deer and rabbits.
Work well-rotted compost into the soil before planting to supply plenty of nutrients for sunflowers and onions.
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Carrots
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Carrots are considered resistant to sunflower allelopathy.
Their roots pull nutrients from deeper in the soil than the roots of sunflowers which alleviates competition for nutrition.
Beets
Like carrots, beets are resistant to sunflower allelopathy.
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Beets are often started early in the garden and succession sown for an extended crop.
Later crops also benefit from some afternoon shade provided by sunflowers.
Interplant to save space or plant sunflowers, any variety, on the western side of your beet crop.
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Turnips
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Turnips are the third vegetable crop resistant to sunflower allelopathy.
Once onions are harvested consider pairing a late turnip crop with your sunflowers.
Dill
Fern-like leaves of dill add interest around the base of sunflower stalks.
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This fragrant herb attracts ladybugs that feed on aphids that damage your sunflowers.
Lacewings and tachinid wasps also feed on dill pollen and help control other insect pests in the garden.
Dill has a deep taproot and minimal nutritional needs so it doesn’t compete with sunflowers.
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They have a shallow root system and minimal nutritional needs which makes them a potential companion for sunflowers.
Pairing basil with sunflowers may also provide some shade to discourage basil plants from early flowering.
These flowers also repel aphids attracted to your sunflower crop.
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Nasturtiums
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Nasturtiums repel a number of insect pests attracted to sunflowers.
These cool weather flowers benefit from shade provided by sunflowers which can extend the bloom season into autumn.
Branching plants add interest and beautywhen planted alongsidetall, single-stem, or branching sunflowers.
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Work well-rotted compost into soil before pairing these two flowers as both have heavy nutritional needs.
However, grow your sunflowers far enough away to avoid shading blueberries which can cause stunting.
Choose a variety of sunflower and pair these plants so that both receive plenty of sun.
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