Growing Sunflowers

Growing sunflowers is great fun!

There are lots of varieties to choose from and they come in all sizes.

Sunflowers are wonderful for adding colour to the garden and attracting wildlife.

Closed flower head on a sunflower growing outside in a field.

Remember to check how tall your sunflower might grow. Its height will determine where you plant it and whether it will need supporting. This information will be on the seed packet.

Giant sunflowers, for example, can grow over 2.4 metres high so will need to be in a sheltered position, ideally near a wall or fence.

Medium sunflowers will need supporting with a bamboo cane or something similar to stop them toppling over.

Dwarf sunflowers don't usually need supporting and look lovely in borders and containers.

2 images showing hands placing a sunflower seed in a pot of compost and the pot covered in a clear plastic bag on a windowsill.

Sow indoors: April-May Plant out: June Flowers: July-September

Sow sunflower seeds individually in 10-cm pots filled with compost. Cover the seeds with 1.5cm of compost.

Place a clear plastic bag over the pot and leave on a warm sunny window sill. This should help the seeds to germinate.

Once the sunflower seedlings appear (about 2-3 weeks), remove the plastic bag.

2 images showing stages of sunflower plants before they have started to produce flowers.

When the seedlings are large enough to handle, 'harden them off' gradually.

'Hardening off' means preparing the sunflowers for outdoor temperatures so place the pots outside during the day and bring them in at night.

Do this for a couple of weeks so the sunflowers get used to outdoor temperatures before being finally planted outside.

Before planting out the sunflowers, make sure there is no risk of frost.

This is usually from June onwards.

3 sunflowers growing in a row in a garden.

Sunflowers need a sunny sheltered position to grow. Plant the sunflowers at the same depth they were in the pot. Taller varieties will need staking with a bamboo cane.

Keep them well watered, especially in dry weather.

Sunflowers flower from July - September.

Hope you enjoy growing sunflowers!

You'll find some fun facts about sunflowers in my blog on spring and summer flowers and for more growing inspiration why not have a look at growing fairytale-themed vegetables and a year of growing herbs, flowers and vegetables.

SHOP MAGICAL DRESSING UP COSTUMES FOR KIDS

Let's keep in touch!

Sign up below to receive a free children's activity pack delivered straight to your inbox each month, together with the latest news and special offers from Another World Costumes.