Sunflowers are very beautiful plants with the center, which is called a tube flower, can consist of two thousand small flowers. Many common varieties of sunflower can grow quickly and are quite resistant to drought and disease. As long as you can protect them from wind and pests, sunflowers will make your garden look beautiful.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Planting Sunflowers
Step 1. Choose a flower variety
Sunflowers come in various sizes, from dwarf knee-high species to giant species that can reach a height of 5 or 6 meters. In addition to the size and appearance of the plant, there are several other criteria to consider:
- In general, yellow, classic, single-stemmed sunflowers grow easily and quickly. Suncrich and Pro Cut can be good choices for beginners.
- Branched stalk varieties produce many flowers per seed, but most have slower growth. If you want to cut and arrange sunflowers, look for a pollen-free or low-pollen variety like Cherry Rose to avoid getting sticky deposits all over the place.
- Giant varieties like Mammoth Gray Stripe and Humongous tend to produce succulent seeds that can be used as supports for vines. Some of the smaller varieties also produce quality seeds that can be used as bird food.
Step 2. Decide when is the right time to plant sunflowers
You can plant sunflowers at any time. However, many varieties are sensitive to sunlight and can grow very tall and bloom late if planted at the wrong time. There are three main types of varieties:
- Short days: This variety requires long nights to flower. If you live in a four-season country, plant this variety in late summer. If not, grow it indoors.
- Long days: This variety blooms as long as it gets a lot of sun.
- Day neutral: This variety can be planted at any time during the growing season.
- Plan ahead based on flowering time. Most single-stemmed sunflowers flower 60 days after planting from seed, while branched-stemmed varieties flower after 90 days.
Step 3. Choose a soil location that has good drainage and full sun
Sunflowers grow best in loamy soil with good drainage and a neutral pH. More importantly, make sure the location you choose gets at least 6 hours of full sun a day or preferably 8 hours or more.
If soil conditions are not good, mix the top of the soil with 7.5 to 10 cm thick compost
Step 4. Plant the seeds
Farmers usually plant large single-stemmed varieties at a depth of 2.5 cm. If you are planting seeds in a home garden with good quality soil (not too dry or sandy), a depth of about 1.5 cm is sufficient.
Plant extra seeds if you have enough space. You can select it later. Plus, you'll have a backup in case some seeds don't grow because they're eaten by pests
Step 5. Space the seeds according to the desired flower size
The further apart the seeds are, the bigger the sunflower will grow. In addition, note the following:
- Plant the seeds about 15 cm apart for smaller, wreath-sized varieties, or 25 cm or more for larger flowers.
- If the variety you are planting can reach a height of more than 1.5 cm, plant the seeds at least 30 cm apart. The giant variety requires a distance of about 60 cm.
- Most branched stalk varieties require about 50 cm of space.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Sunflowers
Step 1. Water the young sunflowers daily
Sunflower seedlings need lots of water to strengthen the roots. Try to keep the soil moist, but not drenched, until young shoots appear. In general, this process takes 5-10 days, it could be longer if the weather is cold. Once young shoots appear, water at a distance of about 7.5 to 10 cm from the plant to encourage root growth.
Step 2. Fertilize sunflower if soil conditions are not good
Sunflowers do not need fertilizer and too much nitrogen can cause plants to grow tall and flower late. If soil conditions are not good, add a compass or slow-release fertilizer to the soil surface. This will help strengthen the plant without overdoing it.
Step 3. Protect sunflowers from pests
It is very important to protect plants from naked or common slugs. You can sprinkle slug repellent around your plants (you can buy them at gardening stores) or you can make your own beer trap to trap slugs.
Step 4. Watch out for yellow leaves
Downy mildew can be a major problem if the plant grows in clay or waterlogged soil. You will need to inspect the plant regularly for any fungus that can cause yellowing and shrinking of the leaves. If you notice these symptoms, reduce the amount of water to water the plant so the soil remains dry and apply a fungicide immediately. Plants infected with the fungus rarely produce flowers. So, it is best to get rid of the infected leaves to prevent the spread of the disease.
- If the leaves look normal, but have pale yellow streaks, this is a sign of a bacterial infection. Keeping the soil dry will help with the problem and the plants will be fine.
- If the leaves look yellow with green veins, the problem may be a mineral deficiency. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact root of the problem, but diluted fertilizer can solve it.
- Keep in mind that sunflowers usually drop their first leaves when they start to grow big. Don't worry if the lower leaves turn yellow and fall off. The other leaves will be fine.
Step 5. Reduce the amount of water to water mature sunflowers
Having developed a long and strong taproot, sunflowers have drought resistance. Plants will remain fertile with regular watering, especially when flower buds are starting to form. Make sure the soil dries out between watering schedules. Watering plants too much is more dangerous than watering too little.
Do not wet the flowers as water can damage them
Step 6. Install stakes for plants to anticipate strong winds
Wind can damage most varieties of forked stalks and all species that grow to a height of more than 1 meter. Tie the sunflower to a sturdy support using a cloth or other soft material. You may need to install a windbreak to protect very tall sunflower varieties.
Part 3 of 3: Harvesting Flowers and Seeds
Step 1. Cut the ornamental sunflowers while they are still blooming
At this stage, the petals are perpendicular to the center. Cut flowers at this stage so they can last as long as possible in the vase (usually 5 days, but some varieties may last longer). Note the following:
- Cut flowers in the early morning or late afternoon.
- Use a clean knife or plant shears.
- Remove leaves that will be submerged in water.
- Insert the flower stalks as soon as possible.
Step 2. Cut flowers to dry
In this case, wait until the flower is half-blooming and the petals are leaning outward. Once cut, you can dry it in a number of ways. The simplest method is to tie the stalk with string and hang it upside down in a warm, well-ventilated room.
Step 3. Protect the seeds from attack by birds and squirrels
If you want to harvest sunflower seeds, you have to protect them from the animals that roam around them. After the flowers begin to wilt and the petals fall, wrap the flower heads in cheesecloth or paper bags.
Most sunflower varieties will produce more seeds if you can attract bees to your garden to help pollinate
Step 4. Collect flower seeds
Once the center of the flower begins to turn yellow, you can cut off the flower heads. Store in a dry and cool place until the center of the flower is dark brown. At this stage the seeds are ready for consumption, raw or roasted.
Store the seeds in a cloth bag to allow air to circulate. This prevents the growth of fungus
Tips
- Sort seedlings and remove weak plants if you want your sunflowers to grow as large as possible.
- The sunflower will shade most weeds and prevent their growth. Make sure the planting area is free of weeds when young plants begin to grow.
- Many sunflower seeds fall off on their own and can become pests the following year if you're not careful. Make sure you control the number of plants and cut off any wilted flowers before the seeds start to fall off.
- In general, you don't need to prune sunflowers. Just cut off the leaves at the very bottom and cut off the wilted flower heads if you're growing a branched-stem variety.
