Sunflowers are annual plants that produce large or small yellow flowers in the summer. Sunflowers are very popular because of their beauty and they are easy to grow. Planting sunflower seeds in the spring can be a fun activity for adults or children. You can plant sunflower seeds quickly and with little preparation.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Growing Sunflower Seeds
Step 1. Check the temperature outside the house
Although sunflowers can be grown indoors, they will grow best if moved outside when they are a week old. Plants will do well in temperatures between 64 and 91ºF (18–33ºC), but you can also plant them at lower temperatures when the last frost has passed.
Sunflowers usually take 80-120 days to reach maturity and produce new seeds, depending on the variety. If the growing season is faster in your area, plant sunflowers two weeks before the last snowfall; most of the seeds will probably survive
Step 2. Choose a sunflower variety
Sunflowers come in many varieties and hybrids, but most gardeners only need 2 traits, usually described on the seed package or on an online listing. Be sure to check the sunflower's maximum height, as this puts a distance between dwarf varieties under 1 foot (30cm) to giant sunflowers measuring 15 feet (4.6 m) or higher. You should also choose between sunflowers that produce one stalk and flowers or sunflowers that produce multiple stalks with several smaller flowers.
It is not possible to grow flowers from roasted sunflower seeds, but you can grow them from sunflower seeds that have been found in bird feed, as long as the outer skin of the sunflower is intact
Step 3. Place the seeds on a damp paper towel
Slightly dampen the tissue so that it is wet but not soaking or dripping. Place the sunflower seeds in the center of the paper towel, then fold the tissue to cover the seeds.
- If you have a lot of sunflower seeds and don't care about the low success rate, you can plant them right away. Seeds that are planted directly in the ground usually take 11 days to germinate.
- If you have a long growing season, try growing the seeds 1 or 2 weeks apart first, so you can have flowers in your garden for a longer time.
Step 4. Store the tissue paper in a plastic bag
Store wet tissue paper in a plastic bag Check the tissue paper once or twice a day and so on until the seeds have sprouted. Usually, you will see the buds appear within 48 hours. If it is like that, plan to plant seeds.
Keep tissue paper at a temperature below 50ºF (10ºC) for best results
Step 5. Cut the edges of the seed shell (if needed)
If the seeds don't germinate within two or three days, try using nail clippers to trim the ends of the seed shells. Be careful not to damage the inside of the seeds. Add a few drops of water if the tissue paper dries up
Part 2 of 3: Planting Sunflower Seeds
Step 1. Select an area that is exposed to the sun
Sunflowers do best with 6-8 hours of sunlight per day, when they can get some sunlight. Choose an area that receives the most sunlight during the day.
Keep sunflowers away from trees, walls, and other objects that block the sun's rays, unless your garden is blown by strong winds
Step 2. Check for drainage in the soil
Sunflowers grow long taproots and may rot if the soil is very wet. Dig a hole 2 feet (0.6 meters) deep to check for firm, compacted soil. If you find one, try mixing the soil with compost to improve water absorption.
Step 3. Consider soil quality
Sunflowers are not very picky and can grow in ordinary garden soil without any extra care. If your soil is poor or you want more effort to promote growth, mix a rich, loose soil in your planting area. It's rarely necessary to adjust your soil's pH level, but if you do have a soil pH meter, you'll need to set it between 6.0 and 7.2.
Rich soils are recommended for giant varieties, as they require more nutrients
Step 4. Plant the seeds 2.5 cm deep by 15 cm wide
Plant the seeds in a 2, 5 cm or 5 cm deep dug or trench. If the soil is not dense or sandy. Keep the seeds about 15 cm apart from other seeds, to provide enough space for them to grow. If you only have a few seeds and don't want to deprive them of nutrients from weaker plants, plant them 1 foot (30 cm) wide or up to 1.5 feet (46 cm) wide for giant varieties. Cover the seeds with soil after planting.
If you are planting a large bunch of sunflowers, space each seed hole 76 cm or as much as you can afford
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Sunflowers
Step 1. Keep the soil moist around the newly grown plants
Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, until the shoots emerge from the soil. While the shoots are small and fragile, water a distance of 7-10 cm away from the plant, to help the roots grow without watering the plant until it is washed away.
Step 2. Protect plants from pests
Birds, squirrels, and snails love sunflower seeds and it's possible that they dig them up even before the buds appear. Cover the soil with a net to make it difficult for pests without blocking the shoots. Place snail bait or snail repellent in a circular shape to create a barrier around your plants.
If there are deer in your area, protect your plants with a wire fence when the plants have sprouted leaves or protect your garden with a fence about 6 feet (1.8 m) high
Step 3. Do not water adult plants too often
When the plant has established a stem and established a root system, reduce watering to once a week. Water the plant often every week to increase the amount of water in dry weather. Sunflowers need more water than other annual flowers.
Step 4. Reduce the crop (Optional)
When the flowers have reached 7.5 cm, move the smaller and weaker flowers until the left one is given about 1 foot (30cm) of space. This will provide space and nutrients for larger, healthier sunflowers, resulting in taller stems and larger blooming flowers.
Skip this step if you want flowers to be a bouquet, or if you're planning this break to get started
Step 5. Fertilize as needed or not at all
If you are growing sunflowers for fun only, fertilizing is not recommended as they have grown well without fertilizer and will suffer from overfertilizing. If you are trying to grow sunflowers that are extra tall or grow them as a flower cluster, mix the fertilizer with water and water in a trench around the plant, away from the main stem of the plant. A balanced mix or a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is best.
The other option is a one-time application of a slow-acting, absorbing fertilizer into the soil
Step 6. Cut if needed
Plants 3 feet (0.9 m) tall need cuttings, as some varieties produce multiple stalks. Tie the cuttings loosely with a cloth or other soft material.
Step 7. Harvest sunflower seeds (optional)
Sunflowers last about 30-45 days. When it comes to the end of the blooming period, the green back of the flower will turn brown. If you want to collect sunflower seeds for roasting, or for planting the following year, cover the sunflowers with plastic paper to protect them from birds. Cut out sunflowers when they are dry.
If you leave it, the sunflower will drop its seeds to become the next year's crop. After all, harvesting sunflower seeds by yourself guarantees protection from pests
Tips
Sunflower is an annual plant and will die quickly when the plant begins to wither
Warning
- Sunflowers produce chemical compounds that can damage the growth of potatoes and string beans, and potentially kill grass if sunflowers are allowed to grow. This chemical compound is harmless.
- Do not plant plants on bricks as the stems will grow between the bricks and damage them.
