How to Grow Sunflowers

Planting Sunflowers

Sunflowers are sun worshipers that grow best in spots that get six to eight hours of direct sun per day.
They have long tap roots that need to go several feet into the ground, so sunflower plants prefer loose, well-drained, somewhat alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

How long does it take for a sunflower to grow?
Do Sunflowers grow well in pots?
How do sunflowers grow for beginners?
What conditions do sunflowers need to grow?
How often should sunflowers be watered?
Should I soak sunflower seeds before planting?
How do you care for potted sunflowers?
What month do sunflowers grow?
Do sunflowers attract bees?
Do sunflower plants like coffee grounds?
Can I plant sunflowers in grass?
What type of soil do sunflowers like?

How long does it take for a sunflower to grow?

Sunflowers grow quickly. Many can achieve up to 12 feet of growth in only 3 months. With the proper growing conditions, sunflowers should reach maturity in 70 to 100 days after planting.

Do Sunflowers grow well in pots?

Container grown sunflowers are a great way to bring color from the garden and landscape onto your patio, porch, or even into your home. ... 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.

How do sunflowers grow for beginners?

How Do I Cultivate Sunflowers?

Space seeds about 6 inches apart in a shallow trench between 1 and 2 inches deep. ...
Cover and keep watered until seeds sprout in 7 to 10 days.
When first true leaves appear (the second set of leaves); thin plants to about 2 feet apart.

What conditions do sunflowers need to grow?

Sunflowers grow best in full, bright sun, and in evenly moist, well-drained soil. The amount of space they need depends on which varieties you are growing. Branching types with multiple blooms on one stem need more space horizontally than large single-flowered types.

How often should sunflowers be watered?

Sow sunflowers in full sun in moderately fertile, well-draining soil. Water them with one inch (2.5 cm.) of water per week depending upon rainfall. Check the soil prior to watering.

Should I soak sunflower seeds before planting?

It is recommended that you only soak most seeds for 12 to 24 hours and no more than 48 hours. ... After soaking your seeds, they can be planted as directed. The benefit of soaking seeds before planting is that your germination time will be reduced, which means you can have happy, growing plants faster.

How do you care for potted sunflowers?

Water the sunflowers when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. In hot weather the plants may require once- or twice-daily watering, so feel the soil at least once daily. The soil is moistened thoroughly when excess water begins to drip from the bottom of the pot. Empty the drip tray after each watering.

What month do sunflowers grow?

Annual sunflowers bloom during summer and into autumn. Sow new plants every few weeks and you'll enjoy non-stop flowers until the first frost. Perennial sunflowers bloom for a period of 8-12 weeks with some beginning as early as July and others finishing as late as October.

Do sunflowers attract bees?

Nature's top pollinators are bees, and sunflowers' showy outer petals draw many different species, including honeybees and bumble bees, to the high-quality nectar. ... The pretty flowers also bring birds to your yard to eat the sunflower seeds.

Do sunflower plants like coffee grounds?

They love coffee grounds and will accelerate their growth when you cut away dying flowers. A nasturtium in flower – This is from the large sprawling one in plot 1.

Can I plant sunflowers in grass?

A Note on Sunflowers and Grass

The hulls have a toxin that will kill the grass. Either harvest the seeds before they start to fall, or plant the sunflowers in a place where the grass does not grow nearby. ... The seeds are large and easy for them to handle and they sprout and grow very quickly.

What type of soil do sunflowers like?

Sunflowers are sun worshipers that grow best in spots that get six to eight hours of direct sun per day. They have long tap roots that need to go several feet into the ground, so sunflower plants prefer loose, well-drained, somewhat alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.