In the shade of sunflowers

Irv Cockriel is not a short man. But standing next to his prized 13-foot sunflowers he seems like one.

On July 4, Cockriel took a measuring stick to his backyard garden of more than 50 sunflowers. The tallest soared more than 13.5 feet tall.

“I was astounded,” said Cockriel, a retired professor at MU’s College of Education. “I couldn’t get over how tall they’ve gotten.”

Cockriel first planted sunflowers in his tomato garden more than 15 years ago. The flowers provide shade and protect the tomatoes from sun damage. Since then, Cockriel has never had a burned tomato.

In addition to their practical uses, Cockriel said he enjoys the flowers because of their many varieties. Some varieties are more difficult to grow than others.

Every year, he tries to plant an assortment of yellow, red and white sunflowers. The variety, he said, attracts several kinds of birds to his garden.

Neighbors and guests are also attracted to the garden. Cockriel never turns down a chance to give a tour of his sunflowers, and he often prepares bouquets for his friends and family.

Growing up on a farm cultivated his interest in growing. Cockriel says he subscribes to the old farmer’s adage that you should always leave the land better than when you found it.

Cockriel attributes the success of his sunflowers to the good condition in which he maintains the soil.

Once a week, he covers the dirt with leaves and grass to provide nourishment. Cockriel waits for the ground to freeze before turning the soil over with a spade. He doesn’t use a machine to avoid killing earthworms.

“Some agriculture professors would probably laugh at me,” he said.