Master the art of planting and growing sunflowers with our detailed guide. Learn the best practices for soil, watering, and care to achieve stunning results.
How to Plant and Care for Your Sunflowers:
Sunflowers are easy and enjoyable plants for the whole family to cultivate from seed. In our Grow Guide from BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, learn all the steps involved.
Sunflowers are one of the nation’s favorite flowers. While most varieties feature yellow blooms, others boasting rusty-red, green, or even white petals can also be grown successfully.
Annual sunflowers bloom from summer through autumn. Depending on their variety, it can take 11-18 weeks from seed sowing for them to come into full bloom – it is wiser than to sow new seeds every two or three weeks to have an endless stream of beautiful blooms throughout summer!
Sunflowers are easy to cultivate from seed, making them an excellent project to undertake with children. Reaching heights up to three meters, these stunning blooms produce long-lasting and eye-catching flowers that look beautiful in gardens or allotments; additionally, they make great cut flowers!
Did you know? Sunflowers are closely related to Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus). When planted correctly and given enough sunlight, Jerusalem artichokes will produce blooms similar to sunflowers! If your conditions meet those criteria and sufficient sunshine is provided for their care.
How to Grow Sunflowers?
Starting sunflowers from seeds is straightforward – all that’s required is a sunny, sheltered location and good soil – add well-rotted manure or garden compost before planting to enrich it further if necessary. Protect the young plants from snails and slugs, and water regularly for best results – in exposed spots you may need to stake your sunflowers too!
Choose the variety carefully; dwarf sunflowers reach 50 cm while taller varieties may reach 3 meters in height. Sow seeds in pots around April and plant out several weeks later, water frequently, and feed weekly with nitrogen-rich fertilizer for height if your goal is height. Taller varieties may require additional support to reach their full potential – consider this when planning the height.
Sunflowers require plenty of sunshine. For optimal results, grow them in rich, fertile soil in a sunny spot that receives enough light. Potted sunflowers work fine but if you’re going for height it’s better to plant directly in the ground.
When to Plant Sunflower Seeds:
The optimal time and place to sow sunflower seeds is April through May. Sow the seeds individually into 10cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost and cover them with clear plastic bags before placing them in a warm spot for optimal germination rates. Remove plastic once seedlings have emerged. When large enough to handle, gradually harden off the seedlings for two to three weeks before transplanting outside – protecting from slugs and snails where necessary – then sow directly between mid-April onwards if sowing directly.
How to Plant Sunflowers:
If your garden has an abundance of slugs and snails, sunflowers may benefit from being potted on in larger pots of fresh compost before being hardened off before being planted out into the soil. This way, once transplanted they’ll be larger when in their final growing positions and therefore more resistant against slugs and snails. When planting out, ensure the soil has warmed considerably so frost risk is no longer an issue, and remove all weeds as necessary, adding plenty of organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure as necessary before placing them at their respective depth. Water well and stake taller varieties with bamboo canes as needed – to protect from frostbite damage!
Growing Sunflowers in Pots:
Sunflowers do well in pots, although their height won’t match that of those grown directly in the ground. Sunflower plants require frequent watering (daily in hot weather) and fertilizing every two weeks with either nitrogen-rich fertilizers such as tomato feed, or switching over to high potash fertilizers when blooms appear.
For successful container sunflower cultivation, start by sowing seeds in small pots as usual in spring; when large enough to handle, transplant into larger ones; eventually potting on into 30cm pots filled with loam-based compost that contains organic matter for transplanting later. Stake taller varieties as you would when gardening on the soil.
Care of Sunflowers
Annual sunflowers need plenty of water, as their roots become parched if allowed to dry out. If growing for height, fortnightly feed them with nitrogen-rich fertilizer before switching over to potash-rich tomato feed just before flowering.
Stake tall varieties using a sturdy cane to avoid wind rock, especially if growing them in an exposed location.
Once flowers have faded, leave the faded flowerhead intact to allow birds to feast on its seeds. After they’ve had enough, take out and compost your plant by cutting its thick stem into small pieces so it will decompose more rapidly.
How to Propagate Sunflowers:
After flowering, sunflower heads produce masses of seed that you can harvest and use in cooking; just be aware that you must first remove its tough seed coat! For optimal results, remove them from their seedhead and allow them to dry for a few days before placing them into an envelope and storing them in an ideal dry location, so they can be planted out next year; be sure to leave some seeds out for birds too!
Growing Sunflowers: Solutions
Sunflowers can generally be grown without issue; however young seedlings are at risk from slug and snail damage if your garden contains many. In such an instance it would be wiser to wait until these species have reduced in numbers before planting sunflowers in your garden; otherwise, regularly inspect and remove slugs and snails by inspecting and pulling them out. In greenhouse or cold frame systems, this method might work more effectively, while wildlife-friendly copper tape could help deter their activities as well.
Sunflower ‘Choco Sun’: One of the easiest dwarf sunflowers to grow, the Choco Sun is fast growing and produces masses of large yellow flowerheads – perfect for pots or kids’ growing projects!
FAQs
Q1. How to grow sunflowers at home?
To grow sunflowers at home, plant sunflower seeds:
- in well-draining soil,
- in a sunny spot, and
- water regularly.
Q2. How long does it take for a sunflower to grow?
It typically takes 70-100 days for a sunflower to bloom completely.
Q3. How do you plant sunflowers around your house?
Just space the seeds 6 inches apart in a sunny location. Water them regularly.
Q4. Can I grow sunflowers from the flower?
No, You can only grow sunflowers from seeds.