I'm considering planting sunflowers in my garden this year, but I've heard mixed things about their impact on soil health. Some people say they deplete nutrients in the soil, though I've read they can return nutrients when they decompose. Has anyone experienced issues with other plants in the same area after planting sunflowers? I'm mostly worried about shading as well since I had plenty of Mexican sunflowers last year and didn't notice any problems. I'm curious if the big yellow sunflowers have different root systems or if they'll also be okay with my other flowers. Any insights?
2 Answers
It might affect plants like brassicas and some nightshades, but if you're growing cucumbers or zucchinis, they actually pair well with sunflowers! Just make sure to keep tomatoes away since they won't like being shaded too much.
I had similar worries when I planted a row of sunflowers last summer, but honestly, I didn't see any big issues with my veggies. The only real challenge was the shade they created. I added some compost before replanting the next season, and everything turned out fine!
Good tip! I'll make sure to space them out from my tomatoes then; they don't need the extra shade!