Growing sunflowers is a really fun gardening project to do with kids. These bright, cheerful flowers are easy to grow, and you can even harvest their seeds to eat afterwards. Read on for some simple tips on how to grow sunflowers successfully.
The best bit about growing sunflowers is that no special equipment is needed, and seedlings appear quickly. From there, it’s just a matter of planting out in a sunny spot (a flower bed or a pot works fine), watering regularly, and watching to see how tall your sunflower grows. Kids love tracking their progress – some varieties will end up taller than your child!
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Different Varieties of Sunflowers
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Most of us picture the classic yellow-faced sunflower, but there are dozens of other varieties to try. Options range from giants that stand over 6 feet tall to dwarf varieties suited to patio pots. Teddy Bear sunflowers, for example, are much shorter with a fluffy, rounded head, while red and burnt-orange varieties bring something a little different to the garden.
Get a Head Start
Give your sunflowers a head start by planting seeds indoors in spring. Use small pots that are at least a few inches deep – a recycled yoghurt pot works well – filled with soil, and plant one seed per pot. This gives each seedling plenty of room to develop into a healthy young plant before it’s moved outside to a sunny spot.
You can also sow seeds directly into the soil once the weather warms up. Either way, a few minutes of planting can lead to beautiful blooms from midsummer onwards.
Pick a Sunny Spot
As the name suggests, sunflowers love sunshine, so choose a spot that gets as much sun as possible throughout the day.
They prefer well-drained soil, so work some compost in before planting, and make sure there’s plenty of depth, as sunflower roots grow deep.
Give your plants room to spread – both above and below ground. As a rough guide, space seeds or seedlings at least three feet apart.
Most sunflowers grow tall enough to need staking. A bamboo cane works well, or if your sunflowers are planted along a fence, you can tie the stems in place with garden twine.
Sunflowers can also be grown in containers, but it’s best to choose a dwarf variety if you’re going down this route.
Watch Out for Slugs!
Slugs are a common problem for young sunflower seedlings. One handy organic trick is to leave an upturned grapefruit shell in the garden overnight – by morning it’s often full of slugs you can move away or dispose of.
Organic slug pellets are another option, and these are generally considered safe to use around children and pets.
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How to Harvest the Sunflower Seeds
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When you’re ready to harvest, let the flower dry out on or off the stem until the back of the flower head turns brown and the leaves turn yellow. The seeds should look plump and full.
Using shears or scissors, cut the head off the plant about 6 inches below the flower, and place it in a container or tub to catch any loose seeds.
To remove the seeds, run a fork over the seeded area, or simply rub your hand over it to loosen and pull them off.
Rinse the seeds and lay them out to dry for a few hours, or overnight. If you’re saving seeds to replant, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant again.
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FAQs About Growing Sunflowers
When is the best time to plant sunflower seeds?
Spring is ideal, either indoors in small pots to get a head start, or sown directly into the soil once the weather has warmed up.
How much space do sunflowers need?
Space seeds or seedlings at least three feet apart so their roots have room to spread both downward and outward.
Do sunflowers need staking?
Most taller varieties do, since the flower head can get heavy. A bamboo cane or a fence with twine works well.
Can sunflowers be grown in pots?
Yes, but stick to dwarf varieties, which are better suited to container growing than the taller types.
How do I know when sunflower seeds are ready to harvest?
The back of the flower head will turn brown and the leaves will turn yellow, and the seeds themselves should look plump.
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Save This for Later
Loved these sunflower-growing tips? Bookmark this page or save it to your favourite parenting board so you have it handy when the seed packets come out this spring.
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