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Managing Multi-Branching Sunflowers: Deadheading vs. Seed Saving

Basal shoots on sunflowers are normal—healthy plants branch. You have two choices:

Deadhead the spent top flower to redirect energy into more blooms.
Leave it to harvest seeds for eating, birds, or replanting.

Sunflowers benefit more from fungal mycorrhizae than fertilizer. See www.thelongislandgardener.com and a YouTube demo: www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-enRFMXLXU.

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