Helianthus annuus Features: -Annual -Heirloom from Armenia -Recommended for outdoor growing in the ground -Comes in a biodegradable pot We grow our plants from seed, start them indoors, and move them outside to the shade to acclimate to the weather. To transplant, dig a hole a bit larger than the biodegradable pot, tear the pot in a few places, and bury the the root ball (including the pot) in the hole. You may also choose to add a bit of compost or worm castings into the hole before adding the plant. Water in thoroughly. 3rd photo by Reyhan Herb Farm Variety description from hasmik geghamyan / հասմիկ ղեղամյան (from the Truelove Seeds website): "Sunflower seeds have long been a staple in Armenian culture, serving as both a snack and a social facilitator. In Yerevan, before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union – particularly during the 'Dark and Cold Years' between 1991 and 1995 – it was common to see Medz Mamas or Tatiks (Մեծ մամա/Տատիկ) – grandmothers – dressed in dark attire, usually black and grey, with thick stockings and a colorful headscarf tied around their braided hair, sitting on small chairs at neighborhood corners and selling the sunflowers they grew. Their clothing often symbolized widowhood or mourning, reflecting the deep losses they had endured, but their vibrant headscarves added a touch of resilience and expression. These Medz Mamas offered lightly salted and roasted sunflower seeds, typically stored in cotton bags. They crafted paper cups from newspapers, with an extra empty paper cup that made it easier for us to discard empty shells, although many still fell to the ground. They knew our names and offered a quiet, watchful presence, looking out for us in their own gentle way. Each paper cup they handed us carried a sense of comfort and care, a reminder that we were seen and looked after. As a child and teenager, I remember purchasing these seeds from Medz Mamas and enjoying them while strolling through the neighborhood with my family, friends, and classmates, or relaxing at the local gazebo – colloquially known as a 'bisetka' – where elders often gathered to play նարդի (nardi/backgammon). ... In an era before plastic dominated our lives, these grandmothers embodied an ecological way of life. In the late Soviet era, plastic bags were nearly nonexistent in Armenia. It wasn’t until after the Soviet Union’s collapse that plastic bags were introduced. Despite this shift, these grandmothers continued using paper cups made from newspapers, even as they started to face competition from emerging supermarkets and convenience stores that began selling pre-packaged sunflower seeds in shiny plastic boxes. The encroachment of capitalist imports gradually led to the disappearance of their traditional means of livelihood."