With their iconic bright petals and reputation for hardiness, it’s no surprise that sunflowers are one of the best-selling flowers year after year. These easy-to-grow plants come in a variety of colors and sizes, depending on what you need for your garden or arrangement. If you’re ready to add this staple to your summer garden, this post will cover everything you need to know about growing sunflowers.
Sunflowers can be the perfect low-maintenance, eye-catching addition to your garden. These striking plants are easy to grow and are a staple.
You’ll find sunflowers at the flower stands at your local farmers market and along your neighborhood fence throughout the hot summer months through early fall.
While the bright yellow flowers of the common sunflower (or Helianthus annuus) are classic variations, different variations can add contrasting color to your garden. You can even plant them in different sizes, making them a great choice for arrangements!
Here’s what I’m going to talk about today…
Meet Sunflower
Native to North America, sunflowers are most famous for their bright yellow petals, which resemble rays of the sun.
Besides their decorative function, sunflowers can be used to increase the yield of other crops, such as corn and squash, in a similar way. ‘Three sisters’. This is a method of intercropping that Native North Americans have practiced for thousands of years.
When it comes to growing sunflowers, there are two types you should know about: single stem and branched
Single or unbranched sunflowers are recognizable by their long, straight stems, which are useful for flower arrangements. These plants produce one flower per seed and the size can vary depending on how far apart they are planted.Single-stem sunflowers include the Marley and Procut Bicolour varieties, as well as the Sunrich series.
Branched sunflowers, including Chocolate, Greenburst and Starburst Panache varieties, produce more flowers for a longer period of time, with multiple stems have a bushier growth pattern. Therefore, they need more space to grow.
There are also some species perennial sunflower
If you’re hoping to create a garden that doesn’t require annuals, this is a great option. Though smaller than the big yellow flowers you’re used to seeing, perennial sunflowers can still add a little brightness to your low-maintenance garden.
How to grow sunflowers
Whether you’re hoping to add a festive touch to an existing garden or sowing your first seeds, their beauty and vigor make sunflowers a great choice. If you’re ready to plant, this growing guide has everything you need to know.
When and Where to Plant Sunflowers
Although sunflowers typically bloom in late summer and early fall, they can be planted in spring as soon as the weather warms up and there is no longer a concern of frost.
I like to start growing sunflowers indoors because of the unpredictable nature of spring in Canada and the abundance of snails in my ecosystem. If you are doing the same, Plant your seeds 2-3 weeks before you plan to transplant them into the garden. You will know the plant is ready to move outside when it is about 3-5 inches tall.
You can also plant seeds directly in your garden. I find that when I sow seeds directly, either the birds eat the seeds or the slugs eat the sprouts. So make sure Protect them with netting or bells until they are about five inches tall.
Whether you grow indoors or outdoors, make sure cover your seeds with soillike sunflowers (ironically) sprout in the dark.
Sunflowers don’t need any special soil, so any garden soil or potting soil you have will work.
Light
As their name suggests, sunflowers need a lot of light. To thrive, they need at least 8 hours direct sunlight. A shady spot next to a fence is not a good place to plant these sun-loving flowers.
Water
Sunflowers need the most water right after planting, so Water the seedlings regularly to keep the soil moist.
Once your sunflowers are planted, they are considered low maintenance, drought tolerant Water the plant regularly, but don’t worry if the soil dries out between waterings. During hot weather, the plant may need extra moisture.
Cut
If you grow single stem sunflowers, you don’t need to worry about pruning.
For branching varieties, I recommend pinching the plants back to 4 leaves when they are about 12-18 inches tall.. If you are harvesting sunflowers, cutting the flowers from the base of the stem can also help stimulate new blooms.
Common pests and diseases
Your sunflower is most vulnerable at the early germination stage. This is one reason to consider starting seeds indoors and transplanting them into the garden.
However, if you choose to plant seeds directly into the ground, cover the seedlings can help protect them from birds, deer, and other animals. I like to use lightweight netting or bells, but any type of wire mesh or fencing will do.
I also recommend rotating your sunflower plantings each year to help prevent disease.
How to grow sunflowers in containers
Growing sunflowers in pots can be a great option if you have limited outdoor space.
Many varieties will grow well in containers or bags as long as they have drainage holes. Just be aware that these sunflowers will be smaller than those planted directly in the ground.
Look for shorter dwarf varieties like this mix from West Coast Seeds.
How to harvest sunflowers
If you are growing sunflowers in hopes of decorating your kitchen table, I highly recommend choosing pollenless to save on cleanup and avoid ruining your new pastel tablecloth.
You can harvest sunflowers as soon as the first petals begin to bloom.. To extend the life of sunflowers without using any chemical preservatives, be sure to remove the leaves from the stem, leaving only the top leaves.
Your beautiful sunflowers will to keep for about a week in the jar. Remember that a warm environment will speed up the blooming process. If you are keeping them for a specific occasion, you can place them in a cooler part of your home to slow down the blooming process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Sunflowers
Although sunflowers respond to light, they don’t move in the way you might imagine. In other words, their heads don’t rotate throughout the day with the sun.
Contrary to popular belief, sunflowers only respond to light before they flower. During this stage, more growth occurs on the sunniest side of the stem, causing the flowers to eventually lean to one side, usually facing east.
Proper spacing of seeds is an important part of learning how to grow sunflowers. For branching sunflowers, the ideal spacing is 18-24 inches, as these sunflowers grow quite quickly.
The spacing of your single stem sunflowers is up to you, as you can control the size of your sunflowers by varying the spacing between the seeds. I find that leaving 4-6 inches between seeds gives me the perfect bouquet-ready blooms. If you want larger sunflowers, simply space the seeds farther apart.
Sunflower seeds prefer warm soil temperatures of around 70-75℉ for optimal growth. Make sure to wait until the weather has warmed up and overnight frosts have passed. If you live in a cooler climate like me, you might consider starting your seeds indoors.
Once your seeds are in the soil or pot, it won’t take long for them to start growing. You may see sprouts emerging in just a few days.
From there, depending on the variety, your sunflowers should begin to bloom in 2-3 months. Some varieties of sunflowers take up to 110 days to bloom.
More flowers to grow from seed
