Question
I am growing sunflowers and some leaves have brown discoloration and some seem to have holes. What is the best treatment for insects or diseases that might be causing this? Thank you for your help...as I am a "plant dummy"!

Answer
Dear Dana, Well what to do depends on what kind of sunflowers you are growing.  Sunflowers are pretty tasty to bugs, and it's not uncommon for the leaves to get chewed.  If you are growing the little (non food) sunflowers, you could spray with anything for the bugs that are eating on them.  Now if you are growing the great big sunflowers for the seeds, you may have plants that are entirely normal.  The leaves will get chewed some, but it is usually not severe, and the leaves do have a tendency to get whipped around a lot in the heat and wind.  Just make sure you are providing the plants with adequate water and they should be fine.  One organic that you can use is NEEM, it is safe, doesn't bother beneficial insects and you can eat the seeds two days after spraying.  Just be sure to spray on a cloudy day so as not to bother the bees.  In all likelihood, you don't really have a problem.  I've never seen a sunflower plant with great looking leaves, and so long as the heads are producing seeds, I think the plants will be fine.  Good luck, Melissa