Sunflowers can withstand high temperatures, are pest-resistant, and draw pollinators and birds with their vibrant blooms that last all summer. They produce lovely cut flowers and provide sustenance for both people and birds in the form of seeds and oil. For information on planting, cultivating, and harvesting sunflowers, please refer to our Sunflower Guide.
About Sunflowers
The annual plant known as the sunflower, or Helianthus annuus, has a big daisy-like flower face. Greek words helios (“sun”) and anthos make up its scientific name (“flower). Although the blossoms can be found in a variety of hues (yellow, red, orange, maroon, and brown), they are most frequently a bright yellow color with brown cores that mature into large heads full of seeds.
Heliotropes, such as sunflowers, turn their flowers to face the direction that the Sun travels through the sky from east to west. They then turn their flowers back to face the east at night to get ready for the rising sun. Prior to the flower becoming heavily seeded, heliotropism occurs in the initial phases.
Sunflowers come in a huge variety today, so there is sure to be one that will work in your garden. Select among plants that have branching branches or single stems, abundant pollen for pollinators or none at all (ideal for bouquets), stay little or tower over the rest of the garden, or bear edible seeds. Find out more about the benefits of starting to grow these cheery blooms in your garden.
How Long Do Sunflowers Take to Bloom?
The majority of sunflower cultivars mature in around 80 to 95 days, making them a rather quick-growing flower given their size. The tallest sunflower types can reach heights of over 16 feet, while smaller versions, which were created for limited settings and containers, seldom reach heights of more than a foot! In the large seeded variety, the flower heads can measure more than 12 inches in diameter.
Find a sunny area first, of course! Sunflowers need long, warm summers to flower successfully; they grow best in areas with direct sunlight (6–8 hours each day).
Pick a spot with soil that drains properly. After a rain, water shouldn’t collect in the planting area. Sunflowers don’t have many other soil requirements, but it should not be excessively compacted for the best results. Dig down 2 feet and around 3 feet across when preparing a place for them because they have lengthy tap roots that need to spread out. They are also not very picky about the pH of the soil. Sunflowers flourish in soil that ranges from slightly acidic to somewhat alkaline (pH 6.0 to 7.5).
However, because sunflowers use a lot of food, the soil must be nutrient-rich with organic matter or aged (compost) manure. Alternately, work an 8-inch layer of slow-release granular fertilizer into your soil.
Sunflowers should ideally be planted in an area protected from severe winds, such as next to a building or along a fence. Strong winds can be catastrophic and larger types may become top-heavy.
Make a decision regarding your want to grow a sunflower tower before selecting a planting location.
When to Plant Sunflowers
- Sunflower seeds should be sown straight into the ground (or outside containers) as soon as the threat of spring frost has gone and the ground has warmed to at least 50F. (10C).
- This will occur between April and mid-June across Canada and the northern portion of the United States. This will most likely take place in the South in the middle or at the beginning of April.
- Sunflowers dislike having their roots disturbed, thus direct sowing is advised rather than transplanting.
Planting Sunflower Seeds
- After the earth has properly warmed, sunflowers should be planted 1 to 11/2 inches deep and around 6 inches apart. If you want, you can plant several seeds and then select the best ones to grow to a height of six inches.
- Especially for low-growing kinds that will branch out, give plants plenty of room. Set rows apart by 30 inches. (Plant variants that are very small closer together.)
- To prevent them from toppling over in the wind, a small amount of fertilizer added in at planting time will foster the formation of strong roots.
- To continue enjoying continual blooms, experiment with plants spaced out over a period of 5 to 6 weeks.
- Spread netting over the planted area until seeds sprout if you notice birds scrounging for the seeds. See additional techniques for keeping birds out of your garden.
To learn how to plant sunflowers, watch this video:
- When the plant is still young, irrigate the area 3 to 4 inches surrounding the roots. Placing bait for snails or slugs around the stem of the plant could help protect it.
- After the plant has been established, water it deeply but sparingly to promote deep rooted. Water your plants once a week with several gallons of water, unless the weather is unusually dry or wet.
- Plants should only receive a small amount of fertilizer; otherwise, stems may break in the fall. You can mix diluted fertilizer into the water, but keep it away from the plant’s base. It might be helpful to create a moat in a circle 18 inches in diameter around the plant.
- Support is necessary for tall species and cultivars. For any plant that has a robust, solitary stem and requires support for a brief length of time, bamboo stakes are an excellent option.
The enormous sunflowers that are supported by eight-foot-tall stalks are well known to everyone. However, did you know that certain types have a small 15-inch height limit? The sunflower family is varied!
- The classic enormous sunflower, the towering “Mammoth” type can reach heights of more than 12 feet. Its seeds are great for snacks and for providing food for the birds.
- ‘Autumn Beauty’: One of the most eye-catching cultivars, ‘Autumn Beauty’ features several 6-inch flowers in colors of golden, bronze, and mahogany on branching stems that can reach heights of 7 feet.
- The Sunrich Gold This sunflower has a single, 4- to 6-inch blossom and grows to a height of about 5 feet, making it an excellent flower for bouquets and arrangements. The large, pollen-free flowers have green centers and beautiful, golden-yellow rays.
- ‘Teddy Bear’ is a tiny, 2 to 3 foot tall sunflower that is ideal for pots and small gardens. The 5-inch, fluffy, deep-gold flowers keep their shape for days in a vase.
Cutting Sunflowers for Bouquets
- To stimulate side blooms in indoor bouquets, trim the main stem immediately before the flower bud opens.
- Early in the morning, trim the stems. Flowers may wilt if they are harvested in the middle of the day.
- Carefully handle sunflowers. In water kept at room temperature, the blooms ought to live for at least a week.
- Sunflowers should be placed in large containers that can support their hefty heads, and the water should be changed daily to keep them fresh.
Harvesting Sunflower Seeds
Harvest sunflower seeds at the end of the season for a delightful snack, for replanting, or for winter bird food! Here is a detailed article on sunflower harvesting.
- Allow the flower to dry on or off the stem until the petals wither, the back of the head becomes brown, the foliage turns yellow, and the seeds appear plump and loose.
- Cut the plant’s head off using a pair of precise scissors or pruners (about 6 inches below the flower head). Put in a container to contain any stray seeds.
- Pick up a dish to hold the seeds and place the sunflower head on a smooth, clean surface.
- Use a fork or just rub your hand over the planted region to extract the seeds from the plant. Rub the sunflower’s head across an old washboard or something similar to get rid of them. Simply grasp the head and rub it across the board in the same manner as you would wash clothing.
- If you want to collect the seeds for roasting, you can shield the blossom heads from birds by covering them with a thin cloth (like cheesecloth) and a rubber band.
- As an alternative, you can cut the flower head early and hang it indoors or in a location protected from rodents and birds until the seeds are dry.
- Sunflower seeds should be rinsed before being let out to dry for a few hours or overnight.
- When preserving seeds for later planting, keep them in a cool, dry area in an airtight container until you’re ready to plant.
- Sunflowers are referred regarded as the “In allusion to the Three Sisters of maize, beans, and squash, the fourth sister.
- Sunflowers are viewed as a bravery symbol in several cultures.
- Native Americans used sunflowers not only for cooking but also for clothing, health care (the oil was used to treat skin conditions), and healing (yellow dye was made from the flower petals and black or blue dye from the seeds).
- require a bird feeder? In the winter, scatter intact, dried sunflower heads. The tasty seeds will be happily picked at by birds!
- Thick sunflower stems should be dried and saved for winter kindling.
- Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh cost about $39 million to be purchased in 1987 by an unidentified buyer.
- Germany produced the tallest sunflower ever measured in 2014. It was an amazing 30 feet and 1 inch tall when measured!
- Missouri is “State of the sunflower.
- The seeds will pique the interest of birds and squirrels. If you intend to use the seeds, use barriers to keep animals away. You can drape white polyspun garden fleece over each seed head as it develops and the blossom droops.
- A high wire fence will deter deer from your property if you have any. Young sunflowers may have their heads nibbled off by curious deer.
- Generally speaking, sunflowers are insect-free. Sometimes a tiny gray moth may lay its eggs in the blooms. Take the worms you want from the plants.
- The plants can also be harmed by powdery mildew, rust, and downy mildew. Spray a general garden fungicide if fungal problems are discovered early.
Just one ounce of sunflower seeds has 14 grams of oils and around 6 grams of protein. With 9g of polyunsaturated and 3g of monounsaturated fats per ounce, the fats are practically totally unsaturated (NSA). The oil is a strong source of vitamin E and has a high linoleic acid content.
- The best sunflower seeds for luring the widest range of songbirds are those types that yield small, black seeds that are utilized in margarine, cooking oil, cosmetics, and animal feed.
- The larger, striped seeds are cultivated as snacks and as a component of bread and healthy dishes. They are also used to feed birds, particularly bigger species like mourning doves and jays.
How to Roast Sunflower Seeds
Re-soak seeds in salty water over night. Drain through a strainer, then pat dry with paper towels.
On a baking sheet, bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 325 degrees. Spread out the seeds in a single layer. When the seeds start to seem slightly browned, remove them from the oven and stir often. Never burn!
I’m done now! If you choose, you can add olive oil, salt, and spices to your roasted seeds.
Sunflowers are either outdoor or interior plants.
There are more than 70 species of sunflowers, which come in a wide range of hues and sizes. It’s better to cultivate the majority of these towering beauties outdoors. However, a number of dwarf and hybrid (F1) species thrive when grown indoors in containers.
Due to lesser quantities of growth hormone, dwarf sunflowers grow to be smaller plants by nature. Hybrid sunflowers, on the other hand, are cultivated for certain characteristics like height, color, and blossom size.
Of course, any kind of sunflower can be grown indoors, but the size of the container may limit the maximum development of larger sunflower varieties. Here are a number of substantial options for sunflowers that do well inside.
Sunny Smile
The pollen-free hybrid sunflower known as the sunny grin (or sunspot) can brighten your home without sprinkling pollen on the surfaces. With yellow-orange petals encircling a black center, the cheery 2- to 5-bloom is a miniature of the traditional enormous kind. Depending on the size of the pot, Sunny Smile sunflowers can reach heights of 6 to 20; larger pots promote growth.
My sunflower may I plant outside?
Sunlight is necessary for sunflowers. They grow well in containers as well as on rich soil in a protected area. It is advisable to plant your sunflower in the ground, though, if you want it to get really tall.
When to plant sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds should be sown separately in 10 cm pots of peat-free, multipurpose compost from April to May. When there is no longer any chance of frost, beginning in early June, plant outside in the garden.
How to plant sunflowers
Sunflower seeds should be sown in April into individual pots of peat-free, multipurpose compost. Put one seed in each 7.5 cm container. Water in after planting the seed 1.5 cm into the compost. Place pots in a cool, well-lit area and cover with a clear plastic bag.
Watch this Gardeners’ World video to observe Monty Don plant sunflower seeds as part of his gigantic sunflower trial:
Once the sunflower seeds have sprouted, water them often until the end of May, when they are ready to be planted outside. Eliminate weeds from the soil and add a lot of organic stuff. The sunflowers should be planted at the same depth as in the pot. Plants should be well-watered and staked with bamboo canes or similar objects.
How are sunflowers kept alive outside?
You observed how our employees handled your cut sunflowers at our event and possibly made mental notes about it. We want to make it simple for you to remember, so we’ve made this page your go-to resource for learning how to extend the life of your cut sunflowers. Sunflowers should live up to two weeks with careful care.
Your sunflowers will be very “thirsty and will drink a lot of water. Upon returning home follow these steps:
To guarantee a healthy flower, cut a little portion of the stem once more (ideally while submerged in water). Pro-tip: Make the stem angle cuts.
Put them in fresh, new water (not the water given from the festival if there is any left)
To keep your flowers looking vibrant and healthy, add 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, or 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the water. This prevents sunflowers from fading too soon.
Make sure your sunflowers aren’t exposed to heat, cold drafts, or direct sunlight. Sunlight doesn’t benefit cut sunflowers as much as it does plants in the field.
To ensure healthy sunflowers, check your stems and water frequently (daily), re-cut them, and switch up your water solution.
Early drooping of sunflowers can be prevented by shortening their stems and soaking them in warm water.
Pick the wilting petals off the sunflower and use the base as an additional arrangement in another bouquet of flowers. Maybe from the second time you attended the Coshocton sunflower festival!