| How to Grow a Sunflower in a Pot Posted: 17 Jun 2018 01:00 AM PDT Sunflowers are native American plants with many uses. Their oil is used for biodiesel and cooking oil, and their seeds can make tasty snacks. A sunflower also makes a bright and happy addition to any sunny window or balcony. Growing a sunflower in a pot is an easy project that even small children can enjoy.[1] EditChoosing Your Sunflower and Container - Buy sunflower seeds for growing. You can buy sunflower seeds from your local nursery or garden center, or you can order them online. If you want rarer varieties, you may have better luck online. Dwarf varieties are best-suited for container growing.[2]
- Sunflower seeds are also sold in grocery and convenience stores, but these are for eating, not for growing. After being roasted, a sunflower seed won't sprout.
- If you already have a fully grown sunflower plant, put the seeds from the flower in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. Try to plant the seeds as soon as possible. Older seeds may be harder to grow.
- Choose your sunflower variety. A packet of sunflower seeds (or a listing on a website) will clearly state the name of the variety, the type of sunflower it is, and how tall the sunflower will grow. If you're shopping at a local nursery or garden center, you can also ask an associate for help.[3]
- Single-stem sunflowers only grow one flower from one seed. If you want to keep sunflowers all summer, you'll have to replant every 10 to 14 days. However, single-stem varieties are pollen-less, so they won't drop pollen on your porch, furniture, or clothes.
- Branching sunflowers produce many flowers over the course of the season without having to be replanted. Branching sunflowers also have some of the more unusual colors, including burgundy and chocolate.
- Find the right size container. Choose the size of your container based on the height of the flower you want to plant, as well as how many flowers you want in each container. Generally, most dwarf sunflowers can be planted in a pot.[4]
- Mammoth sunflowers need a container that holds at least .
- If you're repurposing a container that was previously used for something else, make sure it's clean and sterile. You may also have to make drainage holes in a repurposed container. Without them, your seeds may rot.
- Include a plate or saucer under the container to catch run-off water.
- Add potting soil and compost. Choose a high quality, nutrient-rich topsoil or potting soil to plant your sunflowers. Mixing in compost provides a source of food for your sunflowers as well.[5]
- Quality topsoil will have a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5, and have more than 3 percent organic content. These figures will be listed on the bag.[6]
- As long as you use high quality topsoil, you don't need to add any drainage material, such as sand or rocks, to the bottom of the container. Doing so actually hinders water movement and can prevent your pot from draining properly.[7]
EditPlanting Your Sunflower - Push each seed about into the soil. If you're planting more than one seed in your container, sow the seeds apart.You may want to add a thin layer of compost to the top of the soil after your seeds are sown.[8]
- Make sure you have a radius of around all sides of each seed. Don't sow them too close to the edges of the container.
- Water the seeds daily. Sunflowers need more water than most plants as they are growing. Make sure the soil remains moist and well-drained. Give your sunflowers at least of water a week while the seeds are germinating.[9]
- Sunflowers that don't get enough water during these early stages will have thin, weak stems that are unable to hold the heavy flower head upright.
- Your soil is well-drained if water flows through it relatively quickly. Puddling or standing water in your pot indicates a drainage problem.[10]
- Watch as the seeds germinate. Within a week to 10 days, your sunflower seeds should start growing into small seedlings. During this time, continue to water the seeds every day and make sure the soil is moist, particularly around the seeds.[11]
- If your sunflowers are outside, you may want to cover the seedlings with baskets or netting to protect them from birds.
EditCaring for Your Sunflower - Add fertilizer if desired. While sunflowers don't necessarily need additional feeding to grow, fertilizer can make the colors on your flower heads brighter and bolder. Start with a high-nitrogen liquid plant fertilizer, then switch to one with more phosphorus when the bud begins to bloom.[12]
- You can also add diluted fertilizer to your sunflower's water. Take care not to over-fertilize your sunflower – the stem may break.[13]
- Keep your sunflower in direct sunlight. As the seedlings grow, they need as much direct sunlight as possible so the stems will be thick and strong and able to support the large flower head. Once grown, your sunflower should have 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.[14]
- The heliotropic heads of sunflowers follow the path of the sun. If not in direct sunlight, they will bend towards the sun, which may damage the stem over time.
- Water your sunflower several times a week. Expect to water your sunflowers more often than you do other plants. Check the soil every day or two – it should be constantly moist. Generally, give your sunflowers about of water a week.[15]
- If your sunflowers are outside, they should be fine with rain water after they reach in height.[16] You may need to compensate if you have a very hot, dry day.
- As the flower grows, water the root zone in a radius around the plant itself.[17]
- Keep a spray bottle handy and spritz the flower head with water regularly.
- Stake your sunflower if necessary. Some dwarf varieties may not grow tall enough to need support. However, if your sunflowers reach a height of or taller, they should be anchored to something to keep the flower head from drooping.[18]
- Don't anchor your support within the pot itself. When your sunflower reaches full size, it may tip the pot over. Tie the stake to a drainpipe, wall, or other object.
- Harvest the seeds. If you have a sunflower variety with edible seeds, let the flower die on the stem. The seeds will ripen and dry as well. If your sunflowers are outside, cover them with netting or a paper bag to keep the birds from eating all your seeds.[19]
- Generally, sunflower seeds that are black or gray with white stripes are edible.
- When the back of the flower head turns brown, the seeds are typically ready to harvest.[20]
- Once dried, you can keep the seeds in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 4 months. You can also freeze them if you need them for longer.
- Sunflower buds can be eaten as well. Blanch them first to remove bitterness, then steam or boil them for 3 minutes. They are delicious tossed in garlic butter.
- There are several nonprofit organizations, such as Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org), that sell rare, heirloom varieties of sunflowers.[21]
- Though most people roast sunflower seeds before eating them, you can also eat them raw. Sunflower seeds are excellent sources of several B vitamins and vitamin E, and are high in protein.[22]
- Sunflowers don't like to be transplanted, so start with a container large enough for the fully grown flower.[23]
- Not all sunflower seeds can be eaten. If you plan to harvest the seeds for snacks, make sure you've purchased an edible variety.[24]
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| How to Determine the Fair Market Value of a Vehicle Posted: 16 Jun 2018 05:00 PM PDT Before you donate or sell your car, it's important to calculate its fair market value (FMV). The FMV will tell you how much your car is worth on the private market or for tax purposes. While it's not an exact science, entering your car's details in an automobile industry website, such as Edmunds, will give you the most accurate valuation. You can also browse the local car ads to see what similar cars are selling for in your area. EditCalculating Your Car's FMV - Go to Edmunds (www.edmunds.com) or Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com). On the main page of each site, look for a tab or icon that states "Price My Car" or something similar. After you click on this tab it will take you to a brief form to fill out. The website will then use the information that you supply to come up with a market value estimate for your car.[1]
- These sites will give you an estimate free of charge in most cases. If you choose to list your vehicle for sale on their site, there may be additional fees.
- Enter in the exact year and model for your vehicle. After you leave the main website and head into the used car category, one of the first pieces of information that you'll need to supply will be the date of creation for the vehicle and the model (or type of body) for the vehicle. This information should be listed on your owner's manual or may even appear on the inside of your driver's door.[2]
- If you are uncertain of the year, enter in a date range. If you are uncertain about the model, look up similar vehicles online until you find one that looks that same as yours.
- Provide your car's mileage. Look at the odometer on your car and you'll see a series of numbers that shows the car's mileage. You may need to turn on your car to see this display on newer vehicles. Then, enter in this number where prompted on the FMV website. Put simply, cars with fewer miles are almost always worth more than those with many miles.[3]
- Plug in your zipcode or city name. This information allows the website to tailor your car's FMV to your particular area. This is important because the FMV of a vehicle can shift according to supply and demand. If the demand for your type of car is high in your area, then your FMV will reflect this.[4]
- For example, if you live in a city area, then smaller vehicles may be in demand and could end up with high FMVs.
- List out all of your car's options and amenities. Walk around your car from bumper to bumper and write down everything that makes it unique compared to other vehicles. Many of these options will be for a driver's convenience or comfort, such as power windows and locks. You might also list chrome bumpers/mirrors, AC, window tinting, sunroof, leather interior, sound system extras, and any guidance systems.[5]
- Be honest about your car's condition. It sometimes helps to assess your car in terms of exterior, interior, and mechanical condition. Note any flaws in these separate areas. Then, read over the levels provided by the website and chose the one that most closely fits your vehicle.[6]
- For example, a car that no longer runs might be assessed as "Poor" or "Not Running" in the mechanical category.
- Save or print out copies of your final report. After you've entered in all of the requested information, click the tab on the bottom to get your pricing report. When the report pulls up, read over it. Then, save a PDF to your computer and print out a few copies for your reference.[7]
- Potential buyers might also want a copy of the FMV estimate. This lets them know that your asking price is fair and reasonable.
EditMaking Other FMV Comparisons - Recognize that FMV is different than trade-in value. According to the Internal Revenue Service, a FMV is an estimate of the sales amount that a private seller and buyer would agree to for a vehicle. In contrast, a trade-in value is what a dealership would offer. It's also important to note that the FMV is calculated based on the actions of willing buyers/sellers, not ones under duress.[8]
- Trade-in values for used cars are also often altered by dealers to boost vehicle sales. An FMV estimate is more consistent.
- Enter in reasonable comparison details if you don't know the exact information. If you are looking up an estimate for someone else or if you are researching an older vehicle, you may not know every detail requested by the website. That's okay. Enter in a number of years or a series of options to create a workable value range.[9]
- For example, if you know that the car was made in the late 1990s, enter in 1996, 1997, 1998, and, 1999. Note how the values differ with each year.
- Compare your car to others currently for sale. Look at the automobile listings in your local newspaper. Or, go to a used auto sales website such as www.autotrader.com, enter in your zipcode, and search for similar cars in your area. Make note of the asking prices for cars that are similar to your own.[10]
- For example, if you are selling a 1999 Mustang and see a 2000 model in your local paper, note the price. It's probably a bit higher than your car's FMV, but may be pretty close to it.
EditChanging Your Car's FMV - Adjust your FMV if you take a while to sell your car. Your car's FMV is time-specific, meaning that it can change if you take months or even years to donate or sell your vehicle. Every month or so re-visit the estimate websites and enter in your car's information to get an up-to-date FMV. You may also want to change your car's asking price based on this new estimate.[11]
- For example, you may find that the FMV for a convertible might actually go up during the warmer months, as they are more in demand.
- Clean your car on the inside and out. You can do this yourself or you can take it to a detailing place. If you can remove any imperfections, such as stains on the upholstery, then this will increase your car's value. If you have a few dings on the exterior, buy touch-up paint and make these corrections, too.[12]
- Professional detailing can be costly. Weigh the benefits of a boosted FMV versus the out-of-pocket cost for cleaning.
- Pay a mechanic to assess and fix any mechanical problems. If your car is newer or collectible, take it a local, trusted mechanic and ask them to evaluate it for any issues. Then, decide if the cost of fixing these problems will boost your FMV up enough to warrant the expense. Even making minor repairs, such as replacing the window wipers, might pay off if you can report a higher condition rating for your vehicle.[13]
- If you choose to donate your vehicle for a charity, make sure to get a receipt showing their name, the date of the donation, and the good description of your car. This will make it easier to deduct the FMV of the car from your taxes.[14]
- Only a donation to a "qualified charity" can be deducted from your taxes, according to the IRS. Check the IRS website for a list of approved organizations.[15]
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| How to Plant Seeds in a Basic Seed Tray Posted: 16 Jun 2018 09:00 AM PDT Planting seeds is a great way to start plants indoors for your garden. Using seed trays helps your plants grow easily and with minimal effort. By getting your seeds ready for the spring, you'll have seedlings ready to go outside in no time! EditCreating a Grow Area - Plan to start planting seeds between 6-12 weeks before the last frost date. Actual growing time for seeds will depend on what plants you've decided to grow. Planning around the last frost date for your area will help you determine when to start germinating the seeds.[1]
- Read the packaging on the seeds you are planting to see if additional steps, such as soaking or chilling, need to be taken before they are planted.
- Check the Old Farmer's Almanac for growing dates specific for your region.
- Purchase a cell tray with drainage holes for an easy option. Using a cell tray allows the seeds to grow without interfering with one another. Opt for cell trays that have drainage holes at the bottom if you can. They can be purchased at any gardening store.[2]
- If your cell trays do not have drainage holes at the bottom, use a knife to poke holes in the bottom of each cell.
- Make a seed tray out of a cardboard egg carton for a free alternative. This biodegradable option has perfect sized cells for planting and you may already have one in your home. After you've used all the eggs in a carton, poke a few holes at the bottom of each cell so the soil has good drainage.[3]
- Place the cell tray inside a large, flat plastic tray. The flat tray will make it easier to transport and water your seedlings. Since you'll want your seeds to establish roots, you'll be watering in the flat tray to promote downward growth. The plastic trays can be purchased at any gardening store.[4]
- A baking pan is an alternative that you may already have in your home.[5]
- Fill each cell to the top with a seed starting mix. Seed starting mix is a sterile alternative to potting soil that will help promote germination for your seeds and can be purchased in stores or online. It's okay if you overfill since the mix will set further once it is wet.[6]
- Potting soil can be used, but it may be more coarse and the seeds may not grow as well as they would in a fine seed mix.[7]
- Wet the seed starting mix with a watering can. Push your finger into the soil to your first knuckle and make sure it is damp. Excess water should drain through into the tray underneath your cells.[8]
EditSowing the Seeds - Submerge old seeds for 15 minutes in water to see if they are still viable. If you have old seed packets you are hoping to plant, you'll want to test if the seeds are still good to grow. Some seeds can last for years, but others will have a shorter shelf life. If any seeds float, then they will most likely not grow. If the seeds sink, they should still be good to plant.[9]
- Alternatively, you can run a germination test by wrapping at least 10 seeds in a damp paper towel. Keep the paper towel in a resealable plastic bag in a warm place for 10 days. Check the seeds to see if they've germinated or sprouted. If 5 or more sprout, the rest of the seeds should be viable.
- Poke a deep hole in each cell with your finger. The measurement doesn't have to be precise, so half the length of a fingernail is a good estimate. Be gentle as you press so you don't pack the soil firm.[10]
- Some seeds may need to be set shallower or deeper, so follow the instructions on the seed packages for each plant.
- Plant at least 2 seeds in each hole. This helps make sure at least one of the seeds will germinate in each cell. If both of the seeds start to grow, you can always cut back or remove the weakest looking plant.[11]
- Plant 4 seeds if they are small. This gives more chances for them to grow.
- If you're working with small seeds, pour the seeds into the crease of a folded piece of paper and use a pencil to push the seeds into the hole.[12]
- Cover the seeds with seed starter mix and press it down with your finger. This makes sure the seed has complete contact with the starter mix. Be gentle as you press down. You do not want to push the seed in deeper; you just want to pack the soil closer.[13]
- Label the seeds if you plant more than one kind. Make garden labels for your plants, listing what is growing in the cells as well as the date you planted them. Stick the labels at the end of each row.[14]
- Using toothpicks and masking tape is an easy alternative for garden labels that you can make at home.
EditCaring for Your Seedlings - Cover the tray with plastic wrap. Plastic wrap will help keep the moisture in the tray for longer and create a humid environment that promotes germination. Leave small openings on the sides of the tray so air can still circulate to your seeds.[15]
- You can also purchase a humidity dome from a gardening store for the same effect. If the dome has an air vent, keep it open for air flow.
- Fill the flat tray with of distilled water. The cells will soak up water from the tray so you do not have to water your seeds from the top. Check the levels of the water in the tray daily.[16]
- Fill the tray back to of water when levels are below deep.
- If you overfill the tray, the roots of your seedling may become waterlogged and develop rot.
- Store the tray in a warm area. Sunlight is not essential for seeds to grow, but it will not hurt them either. Keep the tray in the warmest area of your home. The soil temperature should stay above for most plants to successfully germinate.[17]
- Soil temperature can be measured with a soil thermometer placed at the same depth as the seeds.
- Move the tray to a sunlit area once seedlings sprout and uncover them. Once you see sprouts in your cells, move your tray to a windowsill or an area with about 6 hours of indirect sunlight. Remove the plastic wrap or humidity cover so your seedlings can get full exposure to the light.[18]
- Turn your tray 180° every other day so your seedlings do not grow crooked.
- You can also keep seedlings under grow lamps so the plants will grow evenly.
- Always follow the specific directions on the seed packages since they may vary from other plants.
EditThings You'll Need - Cell tray
- Plastic garden tray
- Watering can
- Seed starting mix
- Plastic wrap or humidity dome
- Garden labels
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