Sunflower 'Black Russian'

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water often. Keep in mind when planting that Black Russian is thought of as half hardy, so although it can survive a small mild cold snap, it is wise to ensure that this plant is protected from frost damage. Ideally plant in loamy and clay soil and try to keep the ph of your soil between the range of 5.7 and 8.1 as Black Russian likes to be in weakly acidic soil to weakly alkaline soil.

Sow 0.49 inches (1.25 cm) deep with a guideline distance of 4.68 inches (12.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 13°C / 55°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Black Russian about 21 days before your last frost date.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Black Russian is a half hardy plant.

The botanical epithet is from the Latin annuus meaning “annual”.¹

¹ Latin Dictionary