Tips for Growing Sunflowers
Sunflowers can be excellent fun to grow. Given the right conditions they can grow quickly and provide excellent height and flower in late autumn.
Sunflowers are considered easy to grow and are often considered to be a good plant for children. (see: Growing sunflowers with children) However, to get the best out of sunflowers requires a few careful points.
Choose the right variety. If you want to grow a tall sunflower try a specific variety such as
- H. ‘Moonwalker’: grown for its yellow face with a chocolate-dark centre; reaches a height of 1.2m to 1.5m (4ft to 5ft).
- H. ‘Russian Giant’: If you are just interested in height and entering the record books.
Grow as a Fence. Sunflowers can make an excellent impromptu screen for late summer. The height can divide a garden creating a natural sense of rooms. – something top garden designers often go for.
- H. ‘Pastiche’: available in mixed shades of reds, and yellows. The flowers appear on multi-stemmed plants that make an effective multicoloured fence in late summer – from 1.2m to 1.5m (4ft to 5ft) high.
Proper Staking. Preventing sunflowers from falling over is one of the great challenges of growing them. Individually, you need a strong cane well dug into the soil. If you grow sunflowers in blocks it will be easier to provide staking for the group; they will give each other support as they grow.
Feeding. Sunflowers enjoy a rich well fed soil. If going for height, use a nitrogen based fertiliser, switching to potash (tomato food) as the buds begin to appear.
Watering. Sunflowers don’t like drying out and they can soon start to wither. Make sure they are well watered; each watering should aim to reach its roots, rather than just touching the surface.
Starting in pots. To get the best start for sunflowers sow 2cm deep just covering with soil and place in a 3 inch pot. When big enough you can plant out, hardening off if necessary.
Best Location. Sunflowers like a sunny position and preferably not too windy.
- Sunflower Seeds at Thompson and Morgan
- Childrens sunflower – Russian Giant – only £0.99!
Gardeners Tips » Plants and Seeds For Kids said,
April 30, 2008 @ 8:35 am
[...] Giant Sunflowers – Giant sunflowers offer a great quick growing plant. Kids love to see plants grow taller than themselves. See also tips on growing sunflowers [...]
stuart said,
October 9, 2008 @ 1:04 am
Now my sunflower has died off, do I cut it down to ground level & leave until next year or
raise to avoid frosts?
Regards
admin said,
October 13, 2008 @ 11:09 am
Most sunflowers are annuals and you have probably seen the last of your plant. Dig it up and compost it cutting the thick stalk into short lengths. Sow new seeds next year.
Best Sunflower Photos said,
March 19, 2009 @ 1:34 pm
[...] Tips for Growing Sunflowers at Gardeners Tips [...]
alison said,
May 30, 2009 @ 4:35 am
something is killing the leaves…..what can i use to save the plants?
admin said,
June 2, 2009 @ 1:15 am
You will loose some leaves lower down the stalk – that is normal. Water or lack of is a great killer followed by slugs and snails – it is hard to see which may be responsible. I doubt the plant is infected with fungus and hope the hot weather is too the Sunflowers liking.
Colin Barkley said,
June 29, 2009 @ 2:07 am
i have multiple heads on my sunflower if one head dies do i cut it off to allow others to live
joanne said,
July 11, 2009 @ 10:40 am
my sunflowers are getting quite big now and the leaves are starting to dry out and turn yellow are you supposed to pull the leaves of as they grow?
Sunflower Pictures | Gardeners Tips said,
July 25, 2009 @ 3:06 am
[...] Tips on Growing sunflowers [...]
gerilynn said,
July 28, 2009 @ 5:32 pm
Does cutting the leaves off a sunflower plant help them grow taller?
admin said,
August 2, 2009 @ 2:13 am
Not significantly. Leaves help plants to grow by changing sunlight into food by photosynthesis
Gemma said,
August 5, 2009 @ 8:53 am
I am growing sunflowers with my kids and i was wondering do we need sticks to hold them upright? or is it just a case of plently of watering so they won’t wilt.x
admin said,
August 7, 2009 @ 5:17 am
They should be OK except in windy locations. You need a tall, firm stake and a loose tie around the stalk of the Sunflower near the top
david said,
August 7, 2009 @ 12:55 pm
something is killing my flowers they were ok then 2 drooped they are staked and i noticed ants and wasps at the bottom of the stem possibly eating it any tips
Marie said,
August 11, 2009 @ 7:05 am
Hi there, my sunflower is all stalk and no head – is there any tip for encouraging it to flower? It’s currently potbound and in an office (competition rules) so I know it’s not in the best environment!
admin said,
August 12, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
Not the best environment but if others follow the rules you may still win. They are not called fluorescent tubeflowers or windowsill orchids.
Sunny Flowers | Gardeners Tips said,
October 9, 2009 @ 1:29 am
[...] is another daisy like flower called Gerbera that, like the Sunflower, will stay open but likes a lot of Sun to flower [...]
Nickie Blatch said,
January 20, 2010 @ 11:17 am
I’ve just been told that we’re holding a wedding reception here on June 12th, and the bride wants sunflowers as decorations – what are the chances if I start now??!! Any advice as to which variety grow fast, and I don’t need huge ones, would be good,
admin said,
January 21, 2010 @ 1:32 am
It will be hard going (and that is only the wedding). In the UK you could try Solar Eclipse sown now and kept under bright natural lights as long as possible. I dare not suggest putting the wedding back.
They would make startling buttonholes!
justin said,
April 3, 2010 @ 2:53 pm
i am growing my sunflowers in a bay window one of them had its lower leaves fall off and is alot smaller than the other is there any way to compinsate? and what size pot is best for them?
Sunflowers From Seed | Gardening Products said,
May 7, 2010 @ 10:29 am
[...] Tips for growing sunflowers [...]
Growing Sunflowers With Children | Gardeners Tips said,
May 8, 2010 @ 10:03 am
[...] More Tips for Growing Sunflowers [...]
Daisy Daisy the Answer is Daisy | Gardeners Tips said,
May 27, 2010 @ 1:18 am
[...] among the 20,000 + species of Daisies. This includes the Marigolds, Centaurea, Chrysanthemums, Sunflowers, Dahlias, Zinnias, and Heleniums, Coreopsis, Helianthus, Heliopsis and [...]
Nickie Blatch said,
June 11, 2010 @ 9:49 am
Just thought I’d let you know – I have succeeded, and got several sunflowers in flower! The slugs/snails ate the first shoots, but I persevered, and the bride is delighted, as am I. Thanks for your advice.
Common Garden Flowers | Gardeners Tips said,
June 21, 2010 @ 5:01 am
[...] Simple, pure and fun. The sunflowers is a great flower for anyone to grow. It is hard to look at a sunflower and not be cheered a little. It is as if the sunflower is smiling at you. Tips on growing sunflowers here [...]
Michaela said,
June 27, 2010 @ 8:55 am
I have a four inch high sunflower seedling (russian giant) that has been eaten by marauding slugs to the point where it is nothing but stalk. The stalk itself is not fading away, but the two nubs of leaf that were left aren’t recovering either. I have it planted in a nice sunny position and I’m watering it well and giving it tomato fertilizer once a week, but it’s staying put, neither up nor down. Should I just give up? It was my last seedling! Any advice greatly appreciated!
admin said,
June 28, 2010 @ 5:17 am
Do not bother with fertilizer it is probably a goner already!
Mark said,
July 14, 2010 @ 1:59 pm
Hello,Was wondering if you could give me some advice on staking sunflowers?…I live in the U.K and have been growing a few sunflowers since April.Ive gone through the process of thinning them out and i am now left with two sunflowers.One of them is an Earthwalker and is about 5ft tall and has several flowers starting to grow.The other is an 8ft mother that has reached the top of its bamboo cane.Not quite sure what to do next as regards to staking the mother.Was thinking a bamboo cane was a bit weak,any advice on staking suggestions would be greatly apreciated.Great site by the way,Many thanks,Marky.
admin said,
July 17, 2010 @ 12:36 am
8 feet is a great feat! Well done
I wouldn’t bother staking it any higher this year as it will be about to flower and 10 feet stakes are hard to come by.
You can try guy ropes like you would a tent.
David Sanderson said,
July 17, 2010 @ 9:05 am
This may seem like a very stupid question but once the head appears does that mean the sunflower has grown in height as much as it will or can? We planted some out for the first time this year (different varities in a pack) from seed and I’m impressed with the results so far, so all in all, not bad for a first attempt!
admin said,
July 17, 2010 @ 1:40 pm
They will grow a bit more depending on the variety. Glad you have done so well so far.
rufus said,
July 20, 2010 @ 1:03 pm
Hi all,
I have been growing sun flowers for a few seasons now with moderate results 5-6ft.
However this year I have a monster! Already 9ft tall and only just starting to flower.
The BIG difference between all other sunflowers I have grown is the gurth. The diamater of the stem is nearly 8 inchs!
anyone else got any monsters growing?
Donna said,
July 21, 2010 @ 3:57 am
We have a sunflower competition at work and I wondered when the end date should be – i.e. when should the sunflowers finishes growing in height? We live in the Channel Islands.
rufus said,
July 21, 2010 @ 11:13 am
Hi Donna,
Im no expert however..
If you are all growing the same variety in your competiton then the best time to declare the competition over and an overall winner would be when the majority of sunflowers are ready for harvesting.
You can harvest sunflower seeds as soon as the center flowers turn brown or the backs of the heads turn yellow. This of course is assuming all sun flowers where planted in the spring.
Or..
H=9ft
If you want to be realy accurate to determine the winner…
….TIMBER!!!
David said,
August 4, 2010 @ 6:39 am
Hi I’ve been growing some sunflowers are there growing pretty quick.I was wondering when the stalk starts to thicken as there getting taller but also flimsy because of there stalks still thin and I’m having to tie them on to there support with me string most days.
Cath & Chloe said,
August 8, 2010 @ 10:45 am
Once a sunflower has flowered and died can i use the seeds to make more of them or are they just for the birds and other animals. Me and the kids would like to make more but i am not sure if i can do if from the seeds in the centre of the sunflowers please help.
Catherine and Chloe
Grant Davies said,
August 12, 2010 @ 9:27 am
Cath and Chloe,
My daughter grew a sunflower last year – I left it outside, and let the birds have ‘first dibs’ at the seeds. I was left with about a third of them. I then scraped themall into a plastic bag and planted them in the new year. Pretty much every one grew, and I gave quite a few away to teh creche etc, so go for it!
That said, the plants are growing very well but have not yet started to ‘head’. Is there a set time of year, and can I help them along?
admin said,
August 13, 2010 @ 1:44 am
Patience and sunshine are the best hope for good heads. Good luck!
jackie said,
August 16, 2010 @ 5:23 am
im growing sunflowers with my children,we planted them about 5wks ago,an they have grown upto 3ft.but still no sign ov a flower bud,could someone please tell me if this is normal,as we love it,we have also just planted,potateos,carrots,broad beans,an they r coming on great,we any tips would be great thanx!! jackie!!
admin said,
August 19, 2010 @ 7:13 am
It is late flowering but do not give up hope!
Julie thompson said,
August 20, 2010 @ 11:15 am
Hi
I have been growing sunflowers for a couple of years now and just grew a beauty measured last at 9ft 9in… it has 6 heads in total and the new ones which are about to open are probably half a foot higher than last measurement. Really proud of my acheivement, but just arrived home from work and the wind has snapped it at ground level leaving only a few roots left on. I have replanted it in desperation but she is looking quite sad…..
I just thought I would share my despair with you. Big hello to my fellow sunflowereres…. cant wait for next year x
David Ovens said,
August 20, 2010 @ 5:20 pm
Hi
My Sun flower now is about 3 ft tall, no sign of flowering, just growing about 2 inches a day (In a big pot, water every day, in the Sun, Tied to a cane)
I have noticed it has about 5 large black ants on it all the time, they don’t appear to be damaging it or eating it, are they after sap? I have never seen this type of ant before?
When can I expect a flower?
I live in Jersey, so getting plenty of sun!
Thanks
Dave
admin said,
August 23, 2010 @ 1:13 am
Sounds like a Jersey ant! We don’t get them in the North of England but they shouldn’t cause any serious damage unless they are a beetle.
They should be flowering very soon – end of August