One of the reasons I love sunflowers so much is because they are such easy plants to grow. With just a little bit of care, you can have a magnificent display of these beautiful flowers in your garden in no time at all. Here are a few tips on how to grow sunflowers so that you can enjoy their cheerfulness too.

the history of Sunflowers

The modern sunflower can trace their ancestry to plants found in archeological digs dating from 3,000 BC. Sunflowers were first purposely cultivated by Native Americans as a source of medicine, fiber, seeds, and oil.

Sunflower Basics

Sunflowers belong to the Asteraceae family, which also includes daisies and chrysanthemums. The scientific name for sunflowers is Helianthus annuus. They are annual plants, which means they will complete their whole life cycle – from seed to flower to seed again – in just one growing season.

Sunflowers are native to North America, and they were first cultivated by the Native Americans who used them for food, medicine and as a source of dye. The Spanish explorers who came to the Americas in the 16th century brought sunflower seeds back to Europe where they quickly became a popular ornamental plant.

Sunflowers are very easy to grow from seed. In fact, they will often self-seed quite readily, so if you let some of your flowers go to seed at the end of the season, you may well find yourself with more sunflowers than you know what to do with next year!

How to grow sunflowers

How to sow and grow sunflowers

Their vibrant bright yellow blooms is like sunshine on a stalk. Growing sunflower plants is easy because they are tough and will grow in any almost kind of soil as long as it is not waterlogged. They’re also heat tolerant, pest resistant and fast growing. Sunflowers are usually bright yellow but you can get red or brown that ripen just as well into a head filled with seed.

The best time to sow sunflower seeds is in late spring, after the last frost has passed. You can either sow them directly into your flower bed or into pots or trays filled with seed compost which can then be transplanted once they have germinated and grown strong enough.

Sunflower seeds need light to germinate so only cover them lightly with soil or compost. Once germination has taken place (after around 10 days) thin out the seedlings so that the remaining plants are about 30cm (12in) apart.

When to Plant and Sunflower Care

• Sunflowers worship the sun so grow best in spots that get six to eight hours of direct sun per day.
• They have long tap roots that need to go several feet into the ground, so sunflower plants prefer loose, well-drained, somewhat alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
• Cover seeds and keep watered until seeds sprout in 7 to 10 days.
• When first true leaves appear (the second set of leaves); thin plants.

How long does it take for sunflowers to grow?

• From the time you put the seed in the soil to bloom ranges between 80 and 120 days, depending on the variety. For continuous blooms, stagger your planting, sowing a new row of seeds every two to three weeks, which will keep you supplied with flowers until the first frost.
• Sunflowers are heavy feeders, while they don’t need fertilizer, they’ll flower best in nutrient-rich soil that has had compost dug into it.
• Growing sunflowers in pots is possible if you choose a smaller variety, just be sure the pot is deep enough to accommodate their tap root.

How to Plant Sunflower Seeds

Growing sunflower plants is easiest if you grow them from seed sown directly into the ground but using small compostable pots are fine as you can get started early in a green house and plant out without disturbing the all-important tap root. Another bonus for growing sunflowers from seed is choice! There are more varieties of sunflowers available to you if you grow from seed.

If planting directly outdoors, just make sure you plant seeds after the danger of Spring frost has passed.

Caring for Sunflowers

Don’t spoil sunflowers by giving them too much water, they need to be encouraged to grow a long tap root to keep them from toppling over. Once your plant is established, water just sufficiently to encourage the plant to grow deep roots but more often if the weather is very dry or very hot.

Tall varieties may need extra support so they don’t fall under the weight of their heavy blooms. Bamboo poles or other types of long wood stakes work well for this purpose. I like to use natural twine that breaks down when the season is over.

Pests and Diseases

Fungal diseases like downy mildew, rust and powdery mildew can infect sunflower plants. Spray infected leaves with a general garden fungicide. Downy mildew is most likely to occur on cool damp nights and warm humid days. It spreads by means of tiny spores carried to plants and soil by wind and rain or even by garden tools.

Once your sunflowers are established, they will need very little care and attention other than an occasional watering during prolonged periods of drought. They will even tolerate most types of poor soil although they will do best if they are grown in a sunny spot in well-drained soil that has been enriched with some organic matter such as garden compost or manure before planting.

Harvest: Cutting Sunflowers for Bouquets

Cut flowers early in the morning, before heat has stressed the plants. Harvesting flowers in the middle of a hot day can cause the flowers to wilt. The blooms will naturally close up at night.

For the sunflower varieties that consist of multiple stems, cutting the main stem of the plant before its bud has opened will encourage the plant to make even more blooms on the sides of the stem.

Cut sunflowers will last about a week in water at room temperature.

When it comes time to harvesting your sunflowers, simply cut the head off the plant when the back of the flowers have started to turn yellow and then hang it upside down indoors until all the seeds have fallen out. Store your seeds in an airtight container and you’ll be able to enjoy them for snacks or baking for many months to come.

You can use sunflowers as focal cut flowers, leave them on the stalk for a gorgeous outdoor display in your garden, or harvest and eat their seeds or just leave the heads alone for the birds. Many sunflower varieties attract bees and birds who dine on sunflower pollen and seeds, making them a great choice for helping wildlife.

Recommended Varieties

There are many types of sunflowers, ranging from giants to dwarfs. Here are some of our favorites:

One of the most beloved sunflowers is the classic annual sunflower, Helianthus annuus. These sunflowers are known for their distinctive golden yellow petals and large, bold yellow centers. They typically reach heights of five to six feet tall and bloom in late summer.

Autumn Beauty is a stunning cultivar that grows flowers in tones of yellow, orange, bronze and red. Heads are 4″ to 6″ across on plants that grow to 6 feet tall.

The Teddy Bear sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) is a unique variety that has fuzzy leaves with small yellow flowers on long stems above them. This sunflower gives off a teddy bear-like appearance, hence its name. The Teddy Bear sunflower will usually reach heights around three feet when it’s in full bloom.

The dwarf sunflower (Helianthus nanus) is an ideal choice for containers and sunflower gardens. This sunflower is much smaller than other varieties, only growing up to two feet in height with a spread of one foot. Its small stature and sun-loving nature make it a great addition to any garden or patio setting.

The Velvet Queen sunflower (Helianthus hybridus) is an eye-catching sunflower that stands out for its velvety red petals and deep yellow center. This sunflower will usually reach heights around six feet when it’s in full bloom and can provide a stunning pop of color to any garden space.

Russian Mammoth is the traditional super giant sunflower, that can grow to more than 12 feet tall with flower heads bigger than dinner plates. Its seeds are good for harvesting and is great for growing with kids.

Finally, the Lemon Queen sunflower (Helianthus citrinus) is another beautiful variety with bright lemon yellow petals and dark centers.

Sunflower Tips

• Sunflower seeds, leaves and stems emit substances that inhibit the growth of certain other plants. They should be separated from potatoes and beans.
• Some varieties of sunflowers can get very tall and shade other plants, so don’t plant sun-loving companion plants too close.
• Tall sunflower varieties of sunflowers work best as a screen, at the back of a border bed, or along a fence.
• Shorter sunflower varieties can be grown in the middle of a border or in pots.

I hope this has inspired you to try growing sunflowers in your own garden this year. With just a little bit of care, you’ll be rewarded with an abundance of these beautiful flowers which will bring cheerfulness and happiness all summer long.