You might wonder why I’m blogging about how to grow a sunflower. After all they are the sort of plant which reliably comes up – and comes up big. That’s why they’re so great for getting kids into gardening.
But I find with gardening, there’s always more to learn, new tips and tricks to try and sunflowers are no exception. There are things which can go wrong and things I could do better. Let’s not forget my sunflowers last year which were meant to be red but turned out orange!
Also, there are over 70 varieties out there. Since most of us only grow one or two sunflowers each year, it could take us years to stumble on the perfect sunflower for our garden. Indeed we might never find it. What a waste of time! And talking of time, April and May are the best months to plant them. Making now the perfect moment to be thinking about them.
So when I was given the chance to pick the brains of Nicholas Watts, who owns and runs Vine House Farm – home to the country’s largest sunflower fields, I jumped! Here Nicholas kindly answers my questions, sharing his top tips on growing and caring for sunflowers – plus lifting the lid on 9 varieties to try.
I began by covering off the basics, and quickly realised, there’s more how to growing a sunflower than I initially thought!
How to grow a sunflower – the basics
- When to grow sunflowers
- The best soil conditions
- Where to grow them
- Watering tips
- Staking
- Dealing with pests
- Good companion plants for sunflowers
When should we grow sunflowers?
“Choosing the right time to plant sunflowers is important. Sow seeds under cover (such as in a greenhouse) in February-March, or sow directly in the ground or in roomy outdoor pots in April and May.”
“At Vine House Farm, we plant seeds at specific times every year, to ensure optimum growth and summer blooms. We drill black sunflower seeds in April and May, depending on the weather and the wetness of the ground.
“We harvest our sunflower seeds from sunflowers in early October. Waiting until this time means the sunflower heads have gone brown and are waiting to die off, and the seeds have dried up.”
What about the soil – what’s best for sunflowers?
“Sunflowers are particularly hungry plants; they need a lot of nutrients to grow their bright petals and seeds, particularly if you’re growing larger varieties.
“Your soil should be nutrient-rich; if you’re planting under cover or in pots, you’ll want to use a peat-free multi-purpose compost. If you’re planting straight into the ground, it’s advisable to dig in organic matter or aged manure. If this isn’t possible, work a slow release fertiliser into the ground. Dig this in when planting, around 8’’ deep into the ground ideally. Depth is very important here, as this will ensure there’s plenty of food available for your sunflower’s long roots.
“If your garden has very clay-heavy soil it won’t drain properly, and this will lead to root rot in your plants. Digging in compost will help with this. Likewise, ensure any potted sunflowers are draining properly.”
Where should I grow my sunflowers?
“Where you plant your sunflower makes all the difference when it comes to growing healthy sunflowers. As the name suggests, sunflowers need lots of sunlight to flourish – at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
“Avoid planting sunflower seeds in shady areas, or where sunlight is only direct for a few hours a day. A lack of sunlight leads to weaker stems, less height and duller flowers. It can also impact a flower’s ability to produce seeds.
“The second thing to bear in mind when choosing where to plant sunflower seeds is wind. If you can, choose less exposed areas of your garden – such as between hedges, or walls. This will stop flowers being blown over in strong breezes. You can, of course, stake sunflowers – and we would encourage this if you opt for taller varieties – but this is not 100% wind-proof.”
Any tips for watering?
“Sunflowers need different amounts of water depending on which stage of the growing process they are in. For example, germinating sunflower seeds need more water than established plants.
“Sunflower seeds take around 10 days to germinate if kept in the right conditions. Keeping soil moist is especially important at this stage. If you are planting them under cover first, water them daily so that soil is moist but not wet, and ensure seedling pots are well drained. To retain plenty of moisture at this stage, cover pots in clingfilm.
“Sunflowers planted outside need to be kept moist, with rainfall and irrigation. The three weeks after they have bloomed are the most important for keeping them watered, as this will develop the thickness of their stems. Be wary of the soil dampness after rainfall and add more water if it is too dry during periods of low precipitation.”
Do I have to stake them?
“Not all sunflowers need to be staked. However, some tall varieties that are likely to be exposed to frequent winds can benefit from being supported, to prevent them from falling down.
“If you are planting sunflowers in areas where there is less than ideal sunlight, you could also consider using a stake for additional support for sunflowers which are unable to grow a strong stalk. To stake a sunflower, you can tie it to a cane, solid stick or fence. Use a thin piece of twine to attach the stake to the stem of the sunflower, tying the two with a figure of eight motion. If needed, attach it in a few different areas along the height of the stem.”
What pests do I need to be aware of?
“A number of garden pests are attracted to sunflowers (and their seeds). Sunflowers are known to be a favourite of slugs and snails, but there are also a number of other garden pests that like to feed on sunflowers.
“Though it can be difficult for many to identify and stop different types of pests from getting to their sunflowers, the best way to start to do this is to first understand how different insects feed on sunflowers at different stages in their life cycle.
“When sunflower seeds start to germinate – in the first 10-15 days after being planted in the ground – they grow into seedlings. They are small and delicate during this stage and tend to attract smaller garden feeders. Wireworms, cutworms and sunflower beetles are common feeders of seedlings. These insects are all very small to the naked eye, so can be difficult to detect. One way to solve this issue is to place a round open object – like a cookie cutter or a cut bottle neck – around the circumference of the seedling. Make sure this is pushed a few inches deep, and this will stop cutworms and other ground-dwelling pests from getting to the fragile plants.
“When sunflowers enter their ‘vegetative state’ – which describes the period their stem and large leaves develop – thistle caterpillars and weevils can also become an issue. A great way to stop these is by placing coffee grounds around the base of flowers. Many of these pests do not like to smell or texture and will be deterred as a result.
“Later, when plants start to flower, lygus bugs, sunflower moths, sunflower midges, aphids and maggots can pose a potential threat. Gently wipe flower petals with a solution of warm water and dish soap, every 2-3 days.
Would companion planting help?
“Yes, I’d try planting strong-smelling companion plants near sunflower beds to deter a host of insects – particularly slugs, snails and caterpillars. Lavender, mint, rosemary, fennel, onions, garlic or geraniums are all great options.”
Well that’s really covered off how to grow a sunflower. So, which varieties do you recommend I try?
“With more than 70 varieties of sunflowers to choose from, there really is a sunflower for everyone.
“When it comes to height, some sunflowers grow to be 20ft tall, while others just a few centimetres. It’s important to choose the right breed to suit your garden size, layout and care abilities – as they will be different for each variety. Look on seed packets for ‘dwarf’ and ‘tall’ breeds for an indication of their height.”
Tall Varieties
“If you’re afer something tall, good varieties include ‘Russian Mammoths’, ‘Titan’ and ‘Giant Yellow’ breeds.
Dwarf Varieties
“Some of our favourite, easy-to-grow dwarf varieties at Vine House Farm include ‘Sunspot’, ‘Topolino’ and, for hayfever sufferers, ‘Teddy Bears’. “
Something a bit different
“For those who prefer less conventional-looking sunflowers, the deep-red coloured ‘Valentine’ dwarf variety, the similarly coloured but larger ‘Velvet Queen’ and the bronze-petalled ‘Earth Walker’ tall are all very easy to grow.”
A Closer Look at Some of These Varieties
Nicholas has whetted my appetite with these suggestions, so I decided to take a closer look at a few of them…here’s what I’ve found.
Russian Mammoths
Wowsers! These are absolutely huge sunflowers. They can grow to 3-4m (10-14ft) tall, and have bright golden-yellow flowers that span up to 35cm (14’’) across.
Titan
Titan sunflowers grow to around 3.5m (12ft), with flowerheads that span between 10-15 cm (4 – 6’’) across. They’re easy-to-grow variety (music to my ears). Plus while the flowers feature gorgeous bright petals, this is a pollen-free variety. So, like ‘Teddy Bears’ it’s also ideal for hayfever sufferers.
Giant Yellow
Giant Yellow is a sunflower which ‘does what it says on the tin.’ It’s big and yes, you guessed it, yellow. This beautiful daisy-like sunflower can grow to a height of approximately 1.8–2.7m (6–9ft) tall. The flower petals are big and bold.
Sunspot
Want a traditional flower that is easy to grow and doesn’t take up too much space or have a slightly windy garden? Then the dwarf variety, Sunspot is for you. The petals on this variety are bright yellow, and the flower heads give plenty of seeds when they’re blooming, so the birds will love them. But Sunspot also has particularly sturdy stalks. This makes them a better option for more exposed garden spaces.
Teddy Bear
One look at this sunflower and you can see how it got its endearing name. With almost fluffy-looking petals, Teddy Bear dwarf sunflowers feature bright yellow blooms.
Not only does the Teddy Bear variety look like no other, but it is also a great option for those short on space. They only grow to about 1m (3ft) tall. Despite their diminutive stature, there’s nothing small about their flowers. They produce flower heads that span up to 15 cm (6’’) across.
Topolino
Topolino sunflowers sound smaller, and they are, with their stalks reaching a maximum of 40cm (16’’) tall. But there’s still plenty of bang for your buck with this beautiful variety as it produces lots of flowers, which branch out instead of growing on single-stem stalks. This means with Topolino you get traditional sunflower blooms but a bumper crop of seeds for birds and other wildlife. I’m really tempted to try this variety this year. I’ll plant them as a temporary way to jazz up the front of our our old green shed which will be coming down later in the year.
Velvet Queen
Velvet Queen features dramatic, dark red flowers, and grows to around 1.8m (6ft) tall. I think I bought this variety last year, and it was only when the flowers opened that I realised there must have been a seed mix up!
Valentine
Valentine is a variety of dwarf sunflower, that is unusual in a more subtle way. Its petals are a much paler, delicious lemon sorbet colour. I think if you’re after the form and stature of a sunflower but with a twist, this is a brilliant choice. Valentine sunflowers grow to around 1.5m (5ft) tall.
Earth Walker
Earth Walker sunflowers grow to approximately 1.8m (6ft) tall. Nothing unusual in that. However this variety has flowers in shades of bronze, copper and burnt orange. A really different colour option to try.
We’ve learnt how to grow a sunflower and some varieties to try…now let’s grow them!
I hope you’ll agree with me that Nicholas has shared some fantastic tips, many of which are new to me. I particularly like the tricks for fending off pests, and the nuances of the watering regime which I really didn’t fully appreciate before.
Armed with this know-how hopefully we can all go away and grow some glorious sunflowers. This will be jolly good news for the birds and insects which value them so much as a food source. Indeed, if you want to attract more birds into your garden, and sunshine into your life, it seems to me that growing sunflowers will definitely help!
Happy gardening x