Comments on: Sunflowers to the Rescue!

By: Lela Wakely

Lela Wakely — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:49:30 +0000

Thank you for the information. I grow sunflowers as a pollen source for my honeybees. Has anyone studied the effects on hive populations? I would be interested in any information you have on honeybee health and sunflowers.

By: citizen montag

citizen montag — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:22:34 +0000

They planted tomatos in gasworks park in seattle for the same purpose. The tomatos were not consumed of course but its nice to know that nature can clean up some of our mistakes.

By: Jaime McLeod

Jaime McLeod — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:21:46 +0000

Tim, Yes, it would be dangerous for birds or animals to eat the seeds. You can solve this problem by draping bird netting over the sunflowers once they start to develop seeds. Some evidence also suggests birds and other animals naturally avoid seeds from contaminated flowers.

By: Jaime McLeod

Jaime McLeod — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:17:30 +0000

Grace – I’m not clear on what you’re asking. If you are already using soil to grow food, have you already tested it to see if it is free of lead? You would need to plant the sunflowers in the spring or early summer and not plant any food there – which you shouldn’t be doing anyway if it is contaminated.

By: Jaime McLeod

Jaime McLeod — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 15:11:48 +0000

Norma – Paul Berg is correct. If you are planting sunflowers in lead-contaminated soil, you should not consume any part of them.

By: Paul Berg

Paul Berg — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:02:59 +0000

No, Tim and Nora, you or your animals do not consume sunflowers if you are planting them for phytomediation. (If you don’t know what’s in your soil, get a soil test before you plant food crops; talk to your nearest university extension office.) As the article says, dispose of the contaminated plants–the author took her “lead” sunflowers to the dump, labeling them “hazardous waste”. Great article, and a useful green cleaning method.

By: Norma

Norma — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:15:48 +0000

Thanks for good information. We love to eat sunflower seeds and wondered if we plant some sunflowers are they edible since they are decontaminating the soil with lead?

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:50:05 +0000

Lillian – if you right click on your mouse a menu should appear with a print option.

By: Lillian

Lillian — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:21:11 +0000

I would like to print some of your articles, but can not find
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