Sunflowers are one of the most adventurous plants to grow. One of the interesting things about planting sunflowers is that these bright and breezy bloomers are very easy to cultivate and can be grown by even a newbie in gardening.
Sunflowers are very versatile, they can be cut flowers for beautification, left on the stalk for a gorgeous outdoor display in your garden, or their seeds harvested and eaten. The oils extracted from the seeds are also very useful and are commonly used in food as a frying oil, and in cosmetic formulations as an emollient. Here are some of the essential tips and things you need to know in planting sunflowers.
Where to Plant Sunflowers
In choosing the right spot to plant your sunflowers, ensure you choose a spot where you'll have good access to the sun. Sunflowers grow best in spots that get six to eight hours of direct sun per day. They also thrive in loose, well-drained, somewhat alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. This is because they have long tap roots that need to go several feet into the ground. Sunflowers are heavy feeders, so they’ll be healthiest and generate the most blooms in nutrient-rich soil that has had compost or other organic matter mixed into it.
If you are planning to plant your sunflowers in pots, consider shorter varieties like Short Stuff" or "Teddy Bear." However, be sure the pot is deep enough to accommodate their tap root. Use garden pots that have ample holes to ensure easy water drainage. Plant the giant varieties that top 10 feet in height in a sheltered location or along a fence so they’re protected from the wind to avoid being topped over by the wind.
When to Plant
The seeds should be planted after the danger of spring frost has passed and the soil temperature is at least 60 degrees. The sunflower seeds can be sown from April to May, individually in 10cm pots of peat-free, multi-purpose compost.
How to Plant
You can use starter plants, but growing sunflower plants is easiest if you grow them from seed sown directly into the ground. You can get sunflower seeds from seed supplies store. Growing from seeds also gives you access to more varieties, and it is super easy, too. The seeds should be planted no more than an inch deep and about 6 inches apart. Thin the seedlings once they hit 6 inches tall, leaving the strongest plants about 12 inches apart.
For continuous blooms, stagger your planting, sowing a new row of seeds every two to three weeks, beginning in the spring. This is called succession planting, and it keeps you supplied with continuous blooms until first frost.
Conclusion
From the time you put the seed in the soil to bloom ranges between 80 and 120 days, depending on the variety. Annual sunflowers need plenty of water, when the plant is small, water the area around the roots, about 4 inches from the plants. Once the plant is established, water deeply but less frequently to encourage the plant to grow deep roots. Water once a week with several gallons of water per plant, more often if the weather is very dry or very hot.
Feed them with tomato feed just before flowering. Don’t allow plants to dry out as very tall varieties will have a job to recover. Very tall varieties may need the support of a garden cane – especially when growing in an exposed position so they don’t topple under the weight of their blooms. Bamboo or other types of wood stakes work well. After flowering, leave the faded flower head intact so the birds can feast on the seeds. Once they have eaten their fill pull out the entire plant and put it on the compost heap.