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Tips for Growing Sunflowers at Home

For the last several years my home has been surrounded by gardens with huge sunflowers reigning over them. Now I notice sunflowers everywhere, don't you?

Sunflower ART is popular. In TV shows I see sunflower art in the background; advertisers use sunflower images. More sunflowers are used as interior design accessories and themes for decorating everything from dish towels to wallpaper.

Gardeners like sunflowers because they are beautiful, versatile, and easy-to-grow.

In the last five to ten years, we have grown more sunflowers in our gardens each season. You see, both the birds and my husband spread the sunflower seeds around from our previous year's crop. We have learned to harvest the seeds with success. I make sure to weed around them when I find the seedlings in the spring.

Sunflowers have become popular for school science projects around here too. Last spring I helped out a family who had an "accident". (Dad trampled on it so I gave him a seedling from my garden.)

Plant Sunflowers Yourself - Even Now - How?

If you like sunflowers like I do, you can plant them creatively around your yard and gardens and even indoors. Here are a few sunflower gardening tips to get you started.

How to Save Sunflower Seeds to Plant Them Next Year:

  • Wait until the head is totally ripe and the critters are eating the seeds already
  • Harvest what you need and leave the rest for nature, and chance
  • Scrape or scratch the seeds from the flower head
  • Avoid mold by ensuring they are completely dry - I use a box to let them dry, but be sure to hide them from the chipmunks who may raid the box when they can!
  • Store in a cool dry place until next spring - shoe box, large envelopes

    Plant Sunflower Seeds in Gardens in the Spring

  • Plant about 1 inch deep and 2-3 feet apart in full sun for best height
  • If you put 3-5 seeds in a small hole, you should get at least one sturdy seedling, but be sure to clip off all but one - UNLESS,
  • If you want to cluster sunflowers in a small area, the seedlings can grow 6-8 inches apart and will likely be somewhat stunted, but can be a stunning display. You may need to rope them together or to a fence to keep them upright.
  • Give them PLENTY of water
  • Weed around the seedlings carefully

    How to Grow Sunflowers in Flower Pots

  • Use a large flower pot with "garden" soil (I tried potting soil without success)
  • Use seeds from the multiple head variety if you can find them - also called wild sunflowers
  • Plant 2 or 3 seeds and inch or two apart, pinch out all but one seedling for a small pot, or not
  • Give them PLENTY of water
  • To keep it from being really tall, you can move it into the shade after the seedling is about 10-12 inches high
  • Turn or rotate the pot regularly to avoid the stem leaning over
  • To force blooms on a shorter stalk (at anytime of year), grow them under a low light source (florescent lights work) directly above the plant for about 16 hours per day with 8 hours of darkness

    Sunflowers with multiple heads were once considered the wild sunflowers. They will remain fresh and beautiful after the first flower petals fall and the head begins to dry out.

    Keep the plant looking its best by cutting the first heads off to enjoy the secondary flowers at their best. The multi-head sunflower seeds are now available in varieties and colors for the home gardener. They make a great display in pots around your deck or porch.

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    Thanks for Your Emails:
    "Love your site & all your flowers! I can't imagine the time spent...don't know how you have time to give us all the info on your site! I don't know if you answer questions or not but I have one for you.

    I am trying to grow sunflowers (mini mostly) for my nephews wedding in Sept. They are just starting to bloom(Aug). Should I be taking off that first top bloom? And if so do I let it bloom then take it off or take it off as a bud? I am hoping these are going to last til then. They are just starting to bloom. Thanks for any advice you can give!"

    Julie in PA

    ->"I would leave the top bloom alone for now, but when the yellow petals drop, then cut it cleanly off above the next joint/bloom. In fact, by the end of Sept, you may need to cut a few off. This, of course, is assuming you have the "wild" sunflower with blooms on each branch. You should already see the secondary flower heads starting, if you have the wild type. ---- I hope you have the wild type, because the single head sunflower won't work. GOOD LUCK!"

    -->"Thank you so much for replying & soooo fast! I do have the "wild" type & am seeing many secondary heads coming.

    Once again...thanks for your advice. Keep your fingers crossed!"


    -----------------
    "Subject: I LOVE YOUR WEBSITE!

    My sister Karen sent your website to me today. Alas, I have found another person whose home looks like a nursery!
    See the pics she sent here.

    Thanks for your hints! I have two grown daughters but my flowers are my "babies".

    Emily

    Thanks Again! -Karen



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