There’s an arsenal of vigorous greenery in the world; however, few can top the stunning vibrancy of sunflowers. With their range of sizes, from petite to gargantuan, sunflowers offer a magnificent palette of flaming orange, fiery red and traditional golden-yellow blooms. Not limited to aesthetics, these flower varieties—known scientifically as Helianthus annuus—are also a child-friendly way to introduce youngsters to gardening. Simultaneously, they are a perfect way to create wildlife-friendly gardens.
The American Society for Horticultural Science reveals there are more than seventy different sunflower varieties. This post will give you a detailed guide on how to grow sunflowers, care for them, and how to plant them for an admirable display.
Selecting the Right Sunflower Varieties for Your Garden
From dwarf sunflowers barely 50cm (20in) tall, to towering behemoths peaking at over 3m (10′), our favourite sunflower varieties include:
- Giant sunflowers: Sunflower ‘Russian Giant’ stands a commanding 3m (10ft) tall, boasting brilliant, golden-yellow flowers.
- Medium-height sunflowers: Sunflower ‘Velvet Queen’, ‘Earth Walker’ and ‘Red Sun’ all reach a respectable 1.8m (6ft) high. ‘Velvet Queen’ bears dramatic, deep red flowers, ‘Earth Walker’ brandishes blooms in shades of bronze, orange, and yellow. Simultaneously, ‘Red Sun’ displays deep red flowers with dark, almost black centres.
- Dwarf Sunflowers: Including the adorable Sunflower ‘Teddy Bear’ as well as the bushy ‘Dwarf Yellow Spray’, that only grow to 50cm (20in) and 60cm (2ft) tall respectively.
Essential Tools for Growing Sunflowers
To successfully grow sunflowers at home, ensure you have the following tools:
Sunflower seeds
Garden rake and trowel
Planting pots
High-quality compost, such as Miracle-Gro Premium All Purpose compost
Clear plastic bags or a propagator
Cultivating Sunflowers: Timing and Procedures
To grow sunflowers indoors, start by sowing sunflower seeds in pots in April. By May, when all frost risks are past, they’ll be ready for outdoor planting. Follow these steps for magnificent summer sunflowers:
- Fill small pots with multipurpose compost, planting one seed per pot, 1.5cm deep.
- Water the pots and cover them with clear plastic bags.
- Place the pots in a cool, brightly lit spot, like on a windowsill that doesn’t get direct sunlight.
- As the seeds sprout, remove the bags while keeping the compost moist.
- Harden them off for two weeks before planting outside by placing the pots outside during the day and bringing them back indoors at night.
- Shortly before the outdoor planting, clear the ground of weeds, and enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted farmyard manure.
- Space the plants 45cm (18in) apart and water thoroughly after planting.
Alternatively, you can sow sunflower seeds outdoors, starting late May, by following a similar procedure.
Choosing the Ideal Spot to Grow Sunflowers
Sunflowers thrive in fertile soil with abundant sunlight. You can unleash your creativity when deciding where to plant them in your garden. Dwarf varieties suit containers and can create your own homeowner’s version of Van Gogh’s famous sunflower paintings. In addition, planting sunflowers in blocks in your borders provides a dramatic display for summer.
Nourishing Sunflower Care
Ensure your sunflowers get the care they deserve by:
– Supporting taller sunflowers with stakes.
– Providing them with generous water, especially during dry periods.
– Feeding your sunflowers weekly with a high potassium feed like tomato feed once the flowers appear.
– Leaving the flower heads on the plants for the birds after the flowering stage as finches and sparrows find them irresistible.
Interesting Facts About Sunflowers
Did you know the tallest sunflower recorded was almost as tall as a three-story building? Grown in Germany in 2014, it reached an impressive 9.17m (30ft). Another fascinating fact is that sunflowers are heliotropic—they follow the sun, tracking its position all day to ensure the developing flower buds are always facing the sun.
Protecting Your Sunflowers from Pests
Watch out for the common pest menace to your sunflowers—slugs and snails, regularly attacking young sunflower seedlings. As well as sclerotinia disease, a soil-borne fungus turning sunflower leaves yellow and causing plants to wilt and die. Regularly keep an eye on your plants, remove pests by hand, and use environmentally-friendly slug pellets if necessary.
The cultivation of sunflowers results in a beautiful, colourful garden, a playground for kids and wildlife, and a lifetime bond with nature. With the knowledge you’ve gained, why not give it a try?
