« Win a bundle of nature books and bring the outdoors inside, Review & giveaway: win a stylish Elho Veggie Wall & Tomato Pot ». If you’ve got your sunflower seedlings on a windowsill, you may need to turn the pots around every now and then, to stop the seedlings leaning towards the light. On multistem sunflower varieties, remove less-vigorous blooms to give other blooms more room to grow. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. To grow sunflowers in a pot, first get some dwarf sunflower seeds. You can plant up to three dwarf sunflowers in a six inch pot. Design by Stacey Corrin. UK home and garden blog sharing ideas, inspiration and tips for busy family life, written by Catherine Hughes. After growing them on, plant them into their growing site or plant one into an eight-inch pot or three plants into a 15-inch pot. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you want to keep sunflowers all summer, you'll have to replant every 10 to 14 days. Dwarf sunflower varieties, which can be grown in pots or windy areas, are also available. I was hoping to also learn how to harvest & use the seeds myself for eating, as well as planting more flowers. You can buy sunflower seeds from your local nursery or garden center, or you can order them online. Try to plant the seeds as soon as possible. We’ve also got a great little book called *I Can Grow A Sunflower which takes younger children through the process of growing a sunflower from seed in a lovely visual way. We will, "I found this article very comprehensive, and I learned a few things about sunflowers. Water:When it comes to watering the Sunflower plant, add one inch of water per week. Lovely post. Unless the weather is exceptionally wet or dry, water once a week with several gallons of water. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Sunflower buds can be eaten as well. If you’re growing a dwarf sunflower variety, you can also use a plant alongside other bedding plants to create a lovely mixed display. The plant must be kept warm, from germination through to the end of its life. Learn how to plant grow and care for sunflowers with this garden guide from the old farmers almanac. While the plant is small, water around the root zone, about 3 to 4 inches from the plant. Info: Sunflowers bloom from mid-summer to early fall, and their flower heads are heliotropic, meaning they follow the sun across the sky. After being roasted, a sunflower seed won't sprout. I was wondering how much to water it, as I am prone to over-watering, "A very comprehensive guide about growing sunflowers in containers. Sunflowers come in more colours than yellow. Single-stem sunflowers only grow one flower from one seed. As I mentioned earlier, you can transfer your sunflower plants to bigger pots as they grow. ", "My gardening skills need reinforcement.". Keep a distance of 16 to 20 inches (30 to 40 cm) between plants. Sunflowers aren’t just garden plants. References Feeding If you’re looking for easy seeds to grow with children it’s hard to beat growing sunflowers in a pot. Very tall varieties may need the support of a garden cane – … You’re aiming to keep the compost moist, not really soggy. keep their marriage in mind all summer as we lovingly nurture the plants. Mix a handful of compost into the soil to help your sunflowers grow faster. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. To protect the plant, it may help to put snail or slug bait around the stem. Fertilizer:Fertilize your Sunflowers regularly with a high-nitrogen liquid plant fertilizer. I shall be, "Instructions are clear and concise. Misc. Light:Sunflowers need full sun for 6 to 8 hours each day. Not all sunflowers are big and tall. With an average height of 12 to 16 inches, this is another variety that will be perfect if you are into container gardening. ", "It helped me plant a sunflower for my gardening club to show everyone. Don't anchor your support within the pot itself. ). When a flower head begins to form, switch to a liquid fertilizer with more phosphorous to promote a more spectacular Sunflower bloom. Now it’s time to give your pots a good drink! Warmer temperatures and longer days will make them grow faster. Sunflowers that don't get enough water during these early stages will have thin, weak stems that are unable to hold the heavy flower head upright. By using our site, you agree to our. Instead of featuring one sunflower on a single stalk, dwarf varieties are bushy and may feature more than one bloom per plant. Use your finger to poke a little hole into the middle of the compost. When the back of the flower head turns brown, the seeds are typically ready to harvest. Sunflowers also thrive in pots and tubs. Inexperienced, "I have never grown sunflowers before, there is a lot of very helpful information in this article. To give you a rough idea of pot size, we use pots with approximately 15-20cm diameter to grow our biggest sunflowers, and pots with approximately 10-15cm diameter to grow our smaller varieties. Plant in spring and propagate through crown division in fall. At this time of year the risk of frost is lower, and there’s still plenty of time for the plants to grow and flower before temperatures drop again in autumn. Include a plate or saucer under the container to catch run-off water. CARING FOR SUNFLOWERS Exposure: Full sun; 5+ hours a day. You can start off with some fun sunflower facts: Once your sunflowers bloom, you can have lots of fun observing all the pollinating insects that pay a visit. Keep a spray bottle handy and spritz the flower head with water regularly. They’re also brilliant for local wildlife; the flowers are great for bees and other pollinating insects, and birds love to eat the seeds. If you have any specific questions please let us know. If there’s still a chance of overnight frost outdoors, you need to give your pots a bit of protection or the seeds won’t germinate and grow well. The amount of time it takes for your sunflowers to grow will depend on the time of year, the weather, and the variety you choose. Top up each pot with compost, and label it. Learn More. It really doesn’t matter if they end up putting more than one seed in each pot; in fact, you can show what a difference this has on the size of the plant later. Are you growing plants with the kids this year? Pots should be at least 18 inches wide and 18 inches tall to support sunflowers as they grow – use even larger pots for taller varieties. Sunflowers will be perfectly happy growing in a pot. When a sunflower's flower head stops looking as vibrant as it once did or when its yellow ray petals have fallen off, select it for deadheading. As long as you use high quality topsoil, you don't need to add any drainage material, such as sand or rocks, to the bottom of the container. Most sunflowers originate from the Americas. Here’s how our sunflowers looked about four weeks after planting: Can you see how the plants in the pots that had more than one seed are smaller? However, in the periods before, during and after flowering, they perform best with deep, regular watering. In addition to California native plants, Artemisia Nursery offers a selection of succulents, heirloom veggie and herb starts, house plants, pottery, and gardening tools and supplies. Many varieties are compact and ideal for smaller gardens and containers. If your sunflowers are outside, you may want to cover the seedlings with baskets or netting to protect them from birds. Simply push the cane into the compost, and use a small length of string to tie the stem to the cane. You can plant the dwarf varieties of sunflowers in pots. Annuals only grow and bloom once, then die off in the winter. DOWNLOAD IMAGE. Birds love sunflower seeds, so you’re bound to get lots of interest! Sunflowers do grow best when they're grown directly in the ground, or you can start them in containers and transplant them into the earth when they get their first true leaves (the first 2 leaves that sprout after their seed leaves). I’m Catherine, mum, wife, writer and fan of wellies. After being roasted, a sunflower seed won't sprout. "My daughter's wedding can be decorated with sunflowers that hometown friends and family grow in containers. Fill a 16 by 18 inch (40 by 45 cm) pot with topsoil that has a pH between 6 and 7. After beginning the flower in a smaller peat moss pot, they need to be transferred to larger pots that are at least 18 inches deep. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This article gave me some great ideas to further, "As I have never grown sunflowers before, I found this complete article very educational. Move your pots outdoors when the risk of frost has gone. How to care for sunflowers in a pot. ", https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_hean3.pdf, http://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/flowers/library-flowers-choose-sunflowers.html, http://www.gardeningblog.net/how-to-grow/sunflowers/, https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2009/9/Selecting-Good-Top-Soil-for-Lawns-and-Gardens/, https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/container-drainage.pdf, https://celebrateurbanbirds.org/learn/gardening/container-gardening/how-to-plant-sunflowers/, https://www.americanmeadows.com/wildflower-seeds/sunflower-seeds/how-to-grow-sunflowers, http://agebb.missouri.edu/agforest/archives/v10n2/gh14.htm, http://www.balconycontainergardening.com/plants/76-grow-care-sunflowers, https://www.seedsavers.org/category/sunflowers, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The sunflowers grow up to five inches in diameter on stalks up to three feet tall. There are *. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You can always re-pot your sunflowers into a larger container if they look like they’ve grown too big for the original pot, so don’t worry too much about getting it right! The back of the seed packet will show you how soon after planting you can expect your sunflowers to bloom. How to care for sunflowers in pots. To keep them at bay, mix ground cayenne pepper into the ground around the seeds to deter them. If you plan to harvest the seeds for snacks, make sure you've purchased an edible variety. Fantastic info. Sunflower Care – How to look after Sunflowers Many customers often ask us about the best way to look after Sunflower plants and do they require a lot of maintenance. Feed them with tomato feed just before flowering. There are several nonprofit organizations, such as Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org), that sell rare, heirloom varieties of sunflowers. There are also some lovely white varieties with chocolate brown centres – try *Italian White, Moonlight or *Moonwalker. Choose a suitably sized pot and add some compost to the bottom. If you’re growing sunflowers in pots, you can plant the seeds earlier than April, and give the pots some protection from the cold. Some gardeners that want to get a jump start on the growing season or just need to thin their garden will transplant sunflowers from pots, a nursery or into a different garden. Sunflowers are perfect for being the star of the show here. If you’re keen on big, tall sunflowers, *Mongolian Giant, *Mammoth and *Russian Giant can all reach over 3m tall. You can plant sunflowers individually or with other annuals. A sunny windowsill is perfect, you can also put them in a greenhouse or cold frame. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,021,342 times. There are so many varieties of sunflower to choose from, and a real range of colours, heights, flower size and texture. Sunflowers are tall plants which can grow up to 3 metres in height. The dwarf sunflower varieties are best for container growing, unless you have a very large pot to accommodate the larger varieties. Here’s a handy list. How To Take Care Of Sunflowers In A Pot DOWNLOAD IMAGE. Biennial Helianthus. Thanks for sharing, much appreciated xx #HomeEtc. They are also grown as a valuable crop plant, with the seeds used to produce sunflower oil, or harvested for the food and wild bird industry. Conversely, it hates excessively moist soil, and so watering must stay moderate. Choosing a dwarf variety of sunflower is best for indoor growth, both because some are more suited to the indoor environment (lists of such varieties are available from reputable plant sites) and they won’t take up too much space. If you want a sunflower that will come back, look for a perennial variety. Your sunflower seeds should germinate and start to grow within 1-2 weeks. :)", planting my seeds with my grandchildren. Read also: planting and caring for your sunflower; Planting Helianthus. Drawing on the knowledge of the founders, Artemisia Nursery also offers consultations, designs, and installations. Easy grow your own for kids: growing salad, Filed Under: Gardening with Children Tagged With: Activity, Birds, Children, Family, Flowering plants, Flowers, Garden, Garden tips, Garden tools, gardening, gardening equipment, Gardening with children, growing from seed, Minibeasts, Nature, Outdoors, Planting, Plants, Seedlings, Seeds, Spring, Sunflower, Sunflowers, Top Tips, Wildlife, Such a fun activity, I might have a go at this myself! Very helpful even for new growers. Artemisia Nursery is a worker-owned small business with plans to become a worker-owned cooperative. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. If your house isn’t great for sunshine, use LED or fluorescent grow lights to provide sufficient light. Research source. The sunflower is native to Central North America and has been grown for centuries. Required fields are marked *. We always make a chart which takes pride of place on the fridge and is eagerly updated. Dwarf sunflowers work well as cutting flowers for indoors. As the flower grows, water the root zone in a 3 to 4 in (7.6 to 10.2 cm) radius around the plant itself. ", "The article was very thorough and practical. If you're not sure what size you need, opt for a larger pot. When it comes to colour, you’re not limited to yellow. Choose the best window spot for placement of the container, the part of your house that gets plentiful sunshine throughout the growing season days. Puddling or standing water in your pot indicates a drainage problem. You can also add diluted fertilizer to your sunflower's water. If chipmunks and squirrels are a problem in your area, … Sunflowers are pretty carefree; however, certain pests can pose problems. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. ", "Was great because most questions are what I needed to know. [2] X Research source Sunflower seeds are also sold in grocery and convenience stores, but these are for eating, not for growing. It's easy and uncomplicated. 7 August 2020. ", beautiful and cheerful flowers, they make you smile every time you look at them. I love plants, though I'm not so good with them, and this helped, "I'm in a competition (garden club) for growing the best sunflower. Most varieties don’t, although you might get new sunflowers from seeds produced by your old ones. The Ultimate Sunflower Care Guide Ftd Com. This article was co-authored by Artemisia Nursery. The Ultimate Sunflower Care Guide Ftd Com. Take care not to over-fertilize your sunflower – the stem may break. Once you’ve got your sunflower seeds, you’ll need some basic equipment to plant them. Ensure the soil is fertile and well-draining and keep watered and fertilized as appropriate. I am looking forward to, " I have a sunflower that is established. There are 26 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. ", out a lot! A simpler approach, which works well with kids, is to head down to the garden centre or go online, and let them have fun choosing whichever packet of seeds they like best. Sunflowers are not too fussy about the type of soil, so they can be sown in most areas of the garden and in large pots on deck gardens. Plant Nursery & Garden Shop. Reply ↓ Grow Me on May 11, 2015 at 7:06 am said: The best place to look is on this page and read through all the advice people have left. If your sunflowers are outside, they should be fine with rain water after they reach 1 to 2 feet (0.30 to 0.61 m) in height. They like to snatch your sunflower seeds and make a meal out of them. Caring for Sunflowers. I got a lot information bout sunflower careyou. Expert Interview. We love exploring, creating and growing things and my blog shares ideas, inspiration and tips for making the most of busy family life, indoors and out. Copyright Growing Family 2015. Just pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest. Don’t allow plants to dry out as very tall varieties will have a job to recover. This is a lovely visual way to explain to children how the amount of soil and nutrients affects the way plants grow. Once dried, you can keep the seeds in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 4 months. You can grow them in shades of orange, pink, red and even white. As a rough guide, a dwarf sunflower can be planted in a 12 to 16 in (30 to 41 cm) pot, while large sunflowers require a container size of at least 5 gallons (19 L). Approved. Most importantly, they love being planted in a spot that has 6–8 hours of sunlight each day. Admin note: This post for growing sunflower … Protect the Seeds and Seedlings. A greenhouse, cold frame, or simply a windowsill indoors are all ideal. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Some varieties of sunflower grow much bigger than others, so check the height information on your packet of seeds. If you want a little more height and dramatic color, consider the red-orange ‘Autumn Beauty’ that grows up to five feet tall. Next, pop a few seeds into the kids’ palms, and ask them to drop one into each hole. If you already have a fully grown sunflower plant, put the seeds from the flower in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. Grow a sunflower in a pot. Without them, your seeds may rot. Don’t tie your string too tight, because the stem will get thicker as the plant grows. Several times a week. Place the pots in full sun and water consistently. Drawing on the knowledge of the founders, Artemisia Nursery also offers consultations, designs, and installations. They are delicious tossed in. Definitely want to do this so many thanks for sharing! However, with proper care, your potted sunflower should live for several months, and you may be able to grow a new one from its seeds. If you don't have enough space for sunflowers in the garden, you don't have to do without them. Dwarf sunflowers dont need a lot of fertilizer if the soil in their container is rich in. Special sunflowers also thrive in pots. Blanch them first to remove bitterness, then steam or boil them for 3 minutes. Artemisia Nursery. Your soil is well-drained if water flows through it relatively quickly. Their oil is used for biodiesel and cooking oil, and their seeds can make tasty snacks. Plant the sunflower and fill in around the roots with additional soil, then water well. Their ideal soil conditions lie between a pH level of 6.0 and 7.5, however, they’re pretty hardy so will grow in most soils with some care. If you’ve left it a bit late to plant your sunflower seeds, don’t panic. A member of the Aster family, sunflowers are some of the funnest and easiest flowers you can grow, and they make for some pretty spectacular gardens! We planted these seeds in mid-April, and kept the pots indoors for the first couple of weeks. Compensate if the potting soil dries out from heat or sun. It’s one of the most critical items when caring for sunflower, especially if it is grown in pots. Wherever you put your pots, check the compost regularly, and water them if it feels dry. ... Would you like a reminder of these sunflower care tips? If you’re growing sunflowers in a pot in late spring, it’s usually fine to leave them outside. Once the plant is established, water deeply though infrequently to encourage deep rooting. Sow seeds 4 5 inches apart and 12 inch deep directly into pots filled with well moistened good quality potting mix. Move your pots outdoors when the risk of frost has gone. Prado Yellow, *Choco Sun and *Hallo are all good for bold yellows. Most sunflowers are annuals, meaning they only last for one growing season. Sunflower seeds are excellent sources of several B vitamins and vitamin E, and are high in protein. If there’s still a chance of overnight frost outdoors, you need to give your pots a bit of protection or the seeds won’t germinate and grow well. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. ", along my plants. If you have a perennial variety, yes. However, if you only have space in containers, go with as large of a container as possible, and choose a dwarf variety or smaller variety if possible. [1] However, single-stem varieties are pollen-less, so they won't drop pollen on your porch, furniture, or clothes. Pick a bright and sunny location (Sunfinity needs at least 6+ hours of mid-day sun to thrive) Sunfinity can be planted both in the ground or in large pots In The Garden. My kids love doing this every year, and it’s perfect for sneaking a bit of maths into the project. Quality topsoil will have a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5, and have more than 3 percent organic content. So you’ve grown a bumper crop of sunflowers, now it’s time for some cool activities! A sunflower also makes a bright and happy addition to any sunny window or balcony. Thank you for linking up X #HomeEtc, Yay, have fun – and be prepared to get a little bit competitive . Sunflowers need a lot of room to grow. The ‘Italian White’ also grows to five feet, but has creamy white flowers with petals that have an almost ruffled appearance. If you’re in a rush, choose a fast-growing variety. Having 6 to 8 hours of sun during the day will optimize the sunflower growing to its utmost. DOWNLOAD IMAGE. This article was co-authored by Artemisia Nursery. In fact, container gardening has gotten so popular in the past few years that there are now literally dozens of varieties of sunflowers available that have been developed specifically for growing in containers (e.g. Great! Finish off by watering your plant. ", "Really useful and easy to understand info in one place - great job! How often should you water a potted sunflower? Then, push the seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) beneath the surface of the soil with at least 4 inches (10 cm) between each seed. And now is a great time to get planting! Thank you so much. % of people told us that this article helped them. Reply ↓ Kim on May 18, 2015 at 4:04 pm said: Im bought sunflower seed and plant it in the pot. How to Care for Sunflowers: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow In order to adequately water a sunflower, you should feel the soil and when the first inch appears dry, it is time to water. You can of course split up the crowded plants and pot them into individual pots if they’re struggling. You can also freeze them if you need them for longer. And of course, you can’t grow sunflowers without having a height competition! 'Big Smile', 'Italian White', 'Music Box', 'Elite Sun', etc. Dwarf sunflowers are perfect for growing in pots. Branching sunflowers produce many flowers over the course of the season without having to be replanted. Kids love this job! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Plant in Pots. Generally, sunflower seeds that are black or gray with white stripes are edible. Sunflowers can withstand periods of shade, however, for optimal growth sunflowers need long periods of direct sun. Watering should equal 1 inch per week. We also love growing a dwarf variety called *Teddy Bear (pictured above), which is very compact and has wonderfully soft, fluffy flower heads which are low enough for children to touch. In addition to California native plants, Artemisia Nursery offers a selection of succulents, heirloom veggie and herb starts, house plants, pottery, and gardening tools and supplies. First of all, you need your seeds! Planting sunflower seeds is really quick and easy. As well as producing seriously impressive blooms, sunflower seeds are easy for little hands to deal with, and pretty low maintenance to grow. Also, be sure to put plenty of fertilizer in the soil to give the seeds what they need to grow. Watch out for birds and squirrels. Branching sunflowers also have some of the more unusual colors, including burgundy and chocolate. If you’re new to growing sunflowers with kids, here are some tips on how to make it a success. The best time to plant sunflower seeds is spring. Planting: For annual sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), sow seeds outdoors after the threat of frost has passed. Your sunflowers should bloom in about 12 weeks. However, most sunflowers are annuals. Then take your plant out of it’s old pot, pop it into the new one, and fill up any gaps around the sides and top with more compost. If you have a small garden or if you intend to plant the sunflower in a pot, this is one of the dwarf varieties that can prove to be promising. Do you have that information available somewhere? Only the right varieties are important for this. Its average height will be only one to two feet. Tie the stake to a drainpipe, wall, or other object. Whether youve got one pot on your doorstep or balcony. Buy sunflower seeds for growing. This article has been viewed 1,021,342 times. Water: Once sunflowers are established they will tolerate some drought. The heliotropic heads of sunflowers follow the path of the sun. Deciding Where To Plant . Artemisia Nursery is a worker-owned small business with plans to become a worker-owned cooperative. Care Guide; Contact; Step 1: Prep. Catherine Hughes is a home & garden blogger sharing ideas, inspiration & tips for making the most of busy family life, indoors and out. If you’d like some more inspiration for fun things to do in the garden with the kids, you might like to take a look at these other posts. Plant sunflower seeds 1 inch deep into the potting soil, and they should germinate within 5 to 10 days. Sunflowers need good drainage, so if the problem persists even after you cut back on watering, consider repotting the plant with a faster-draining soil mix. There's more to sunflowers than being a 'Jack and the Beanstalk' plant to grow during the summer holidays, however, as they are also a major commercial seed oil and cut-flower crop. To learn how to care for your growing sunflower, scroll down! Artemisia Nursery is a retail plant nursery in Northeast Los Angeles specializing in California native plants. Generally, dwarf varieties should be grown or transplanted in a 1 to 2 gallon pot. *Velvet Queen, *Red Giant and *Prado Red are all exotic red shades. Consider choosing a dwarf variety of sunflowers to grow in your container, if possible. Mexican Sunflower Care Information About Tithonia Mexican. Artemisia Nursery is a retail plant nursery in Northeast Los Angeles specializing in California native plants. Necessary Gear . You do need to provide them with a container that’s the right size for the plant. , I don’t have anything on harvesting seeds for eating I’m afraid – but this article might be a good place to start: https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/easy-to-grow-edible-seeds-and-grains/, Your email address will not be published. I shall take great pleasure in updating you all when this lovely sunflower becomes available outside the UK. We are familiar with sunflowers. At the moment I’m winning, which is making them look after their plants very diligently! These figures will be listed on the bag. Add a layer of drainage material such as gravel, terracotta pot pieces, or polystyrene foam to the bottom of the pot and then add the potting medium, filling the container to about halfway. A small hand shovel; A watering can; Step by Step Guide. When you’ve received you Sunbelievable sunflower plant plugs re-pot them in small pots and grow them on. Your email address will not be published. So try and pick the sunniest area that you can grow them in, whether they’re in pots or in the ground. My kids always want to know which seed they planted, so we put their names on the back of the labels as well. Mammoth varieties should be grown in at least a 5 gallon pot. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between watering, but check the soil every few days to prevent the container from drying out completely, particularly during hot, dry spells. Caring for Plants in Pots Sunflowers grown in containers dry out faster than flowers grown in the ground. Though most people roast sunflower seeds before eating them, you can also eat them raw. Full-sized sunflowers do best when they're either grown in the ground or transplanted into the ground once they sprout their second set of leaves. This article received 20 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. ", self-seeded sunflower from last year, and it's now time to see if I can grow some in pots. Growing a sunflower in a pot is an easy project that even small children can enjoy. Growing sunflowers in a pot or planter does require some special care however. If you want rarer varieties, you may have better luck online. A good quality general purpose potting soil will work well. https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/easy-to-grow-edible-seeds-and-grains/, Small plant pots – if you’re buying new pots, try to avoid plastic. Temperature:The … In the UK this is April and May. Yes, if outdoor plotting is not available, sunflowers can be grown in pots. They are such, "This entire article helped me out tremendously! Keep reading to learn how to replant sunflowers, the best time of year to move, the necessary gear plus a few tips and tricks. You could keep an insect diary, draw pictures of your sunflower visitors, or make a bar chart from your observations. In short, Sunflowers are one of the most simpliest garden plants to keep and look after correctly, they will give you an abundance of bright and spectacular Sunflower heads throughout the flowering months. Doing so actually hinders water movement and can prevent your pot from draining properly. How can I grow sunflowers in a container? This article has been viewed 1,021,342 times. It told me exactly what I needed to know. Sunflower care in pots. Being guided step by step with the pictures and all! Sunflowers don't like to be transplanted, so start with a container large enough for the fully grown flower. In hot climates, sunflowers may need to be watered several times a day. Although most potted sunflowers are dwarf varieties, growing to less than 4 feet, mammoth varieties can also be grown in containers; however, they will require a larger pot. Don't sow them too close to the edges of the container. Yes, you certainly can plant a sunflower in a pot. All this choice means it’s easy to find one that suits your space, colour scheme and garden style. Annual sunflowers need plenty of water. Be sure to give them well-drained, loose soil. Make sure you have a radius of 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 cm) around all sides of each seed. In ideal conditions, sunflowers need a lot of sun. Start off by filling your plant pots with compost, until they’re about two thirds full. Vermin, such as chipmunks and squirrels, can be problematic when sunflower seeds are first planted and before they are established, as these critters love to eat the seeds. My kids always want to grow a giant sunflower variety, so we usually end up choosing one of those. But once the sunflower plant's stem stiffens and becomes … We'll save them money on fresh flowers, too! Soil: Any; clay, sandy, silt or loam. Sunflowers are annuals that grow well in fertile, well-drained soil. Sunflowers get their name from their behaviour. When your sunflower reaches full size, it may tip the pot over. Follow these 6 tips for growing sunflowers in your garden and enjoy a garden-full of beautiful yellow flowers all summer long! As your sunflowers grow taller, you will probably need to support the stems with canes. Learn how your comment data is processed. Water the seeds every day to keep the soil moist. X Thank you, Hardiness Zone: 7a Joanne from Whitestone, NY Answer: Sunflowers do great in containers. My container mammoth sunflowers grew perfectly following these, "The simplicity of the explanation was helpful and I needed to know about pot sizes and that was clearly stated. Growing sunflower as a potted plant - tips on pot size, sowing, location & care. Place the pot in an indoor or outdoor spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. If you're repurposing a container that was previously used for something else, make sure it's clean and sterile. Also deadhead blooms that were chewed by insects or otherwise look withered. Full sunshine is ideal. Sunflower is very vulnerable to drought and must be watered whenever the ground is dry. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Not all sunflower seeds can be eaten. How often should I water a fully bloomed sunflower? If rain falls, it is not necessary to water. It is possible to grow sunflowers indoors but you need to provide optimal conditions and it's best moved outdoors once frost is no longer a concern. Perennial Helianthus. To learn how to care for your growing sunflower, scroll down! Keep in mind that perennial sunflowers usually produce smaller blossoms than annuals. Caring for sunflowers. If not in direct sunlight, they will bend towards the sun, which may damage the stem over time. The flowers actually track the daily movement of the sun. The planting rules are different depending on whether the Helianthus is a perennial or an annual. Watering sunflower. Sunflowers will still grow if you plant the seeds in early summer, you will just need to wait a bit longer for those amazing flowers! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Grow-a-Sunflower-in-a-Pot-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-a-Sunflower-in-a-Pot-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c9\/Grow-a-Sunflower-in-a-Pot-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid234816-v4-728px-Grow-a-Sunflower-in-a-Pot-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"410","licensing":"