Calhoun County, AL –Every spring I focus on my pollinator zone. Why? Because I need bees and butterflies to be active early so my vegetables zoom. In my list of seeds that I treasure for pollinators, I always include annual Torch Mexican Sunflowers. Their blooms are orange to bright orange like a glowing color. The more sun the plant receives, the deeper orange the blooms will be. Some of my semi-shade Torch are lighter orange when blooming. Their stalks can grow vertically from 6-9 feet based on soil quality. These blooms continue until frost. I never deadhead except to create bouquets. Twice weekly, I lay the water hose on the area for 5 minutes. They are carefree plants – giant tall stalks with lovely orange blooms. When every other annual has played its last summer tune, the Torch’s will still be blooming up to the first frost. I usually plant Torch’s with companion tickseed, zinnias, and sunflower varieties. I’ve noticed hummingbirds visit daily because Torch’s offer wide open, easily accessible nectar. I never need to spray any organic spray for fungus, mites, or pests when growing Torch. If you seek an easy plant, buy some Torch seeds sold at any home garden center.
Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She has been an organic gardener since 1998. The signature flower she grows is Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, a raised bed garden, and an in-ground garden. Both her surnames are from agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies include ancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions, including expos. To contact Betty Clark with gardening questions: [email protected]
