Planting the Plains: Sunflowers

By Anthony Reardon

Published July 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM CDT

Looking for a plant that'll provide you with seeds and pollinators, AND help you remove heavy metals from your soil? What you're seeking is the sunflower, and this week, we'll talk about which types to grow (they're not ALL tall and thin...), and how to get the most out of your crop!

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Planting the Plains Planting the Plains

Anthony Reardon

Anthony Reardon is the Horticulture – Small Farms Extension Agent for Johnson County, Kansas.

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HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Herbs in the Summer

Anthony Reardon

It's nice to have your own herb garden...having fresh spices is one of the delights of growing your own. But summer brings heat, and not every herb you grow will handle that heat well. This week, we'll discuss some steps you can take to help keep your herbs from overheating during the warmest months!
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Compost in the Summer

Anthony Reardon

We've all heard of composting, and many of us have bins or pits near our gardens to help build a little microbe factory for our soil. But HOW you make your compost pile, how often you churn it, and other factors can affect the quality of your composted material. We'll talk this week about some ways to keep your rotting organic pile cranking out nutrients for your garden!
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Early Garden Rejuvenation

Anthony Reardon

Lots of folks prefer to do their garden rejuvenation in the fall, after harvesting. But sometimes, your soil is depleted and needs some nutrients, and the hotter weather of summer does bring some speedy benefits to this process. We'll talk this week about how you can spend the warmer months preparing for next year's garden.
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Post-Harvest Handling

Anthony Reardon

You spend so much time and effort for the best growth in your garden, why risk damaging your vegetables just before you eat them? How you handle your cut vegetables immediately after harvesting can make a big difference in flavor and longevity. This week, we'll talk about the best ways to cut them, and how best to store these different items afterward.
HPPR Features

Planting the Plains: Summer Heat

Anthony Reardon

Spending time in the garden is such a joy, it's sometimes easy to get lost in your work. But here on the High Plains, the summer heat is merciless, and because perspiration can evaporate right off of you in arid conditions, you may not notice yourself losing fluids and beginning to develop signs of heat exhaustion, or worse. This week, we'll talk about ways to stay safe AND keep your garden in great shape!