Its large, daisy-like face is a certified crowd-pleaser, and one that can brighten up any and every garden. Usually bright yellow, they also come in red, orange, or brown. The other main characteristic of a sunflower is its height. The tallest varieties can grow to over 16 feet, which is only a few feet less than the average height of a two-story house. See: Garden ideas for borders — for a neat, tidy and decorative look.
The real show-stoppers are the larger varieties of sunflower. All aptly named, the Skyscraper, Giant American and Mammoth sunflower varieties all fall into this bracket.
The smaller varieties tend to deviate a little from the script however. The Firecracker for example only grows to around inches in height and stands out with its blend of mahogany-red and amber-gold leaves.
Also take note of Irish Eyes which comes with the traditional golden leaves, but contains a green center instead of the customary brown. Alternatively, add one bucketful of compost or manure per square metre.
You can either sow directly outside or if choosing to grow your sunflowers earlier in the season start indoors. Sow your seeds about half an inch 1cm deep in a cell tray if growing indoors, and just under an inch 2cm deep if outside. Sunflowers started indoors will grow rapidly because of the warm environment. When growing sunflowers in a pot, first make sure there is a drainage system to accommodate your plant or take more care when watering as to not let the soil stay soggy.
Using store bought soil is a good option however sunflowers are tough and can grow in almost any kind of soil, so long as the soil is not frosty or watery. When planting you should go about two-four inches deep into the soil, a good measurement tool to use is your thumb.
If you have a bit more space, you might want to learn how to grow sunflowers in raised beds. Check out our complete articles on:.
The reason why we only plant one seed per pot is because sunflower seeds tend to branch off and can grow multiple flower heads from one seed. Some varieties can grow up to 8 feet, and need a fairly extensive root system to support a plant that tall. So, a 2-gallon pot can really only accommodate 1 full-grown sunflower.
For larger sunflower varieties, a 5-gallon pot is better. This is called a composite flower. Once your plant begins to sprout, keep up with watering and try to maintain a schedule if possible for best results. You can add humidity in a few different ways like using a cloche. I used one that I was able to make at home. Things to consider when looking for an area in your house to keep your plant are sun, space and safety.
I speak from experience as one day my cat decided to eat all the sunflowers that I had grown over those months. I had chosen a window that was taller versus wider because I wanted my sunflowers to be shone down on and not at. Choosing your window will take some discretion however any window can be used as long as there is significant sunlight.
All of which can be categorized within the Helianthus genus. Interestingly enough, a fun fact is that Helios can translate to sun, and anthos to the meaning of flower. The sunflowers I am about to list are not specifically used for the purpose of growing edible sunflower seeds. These varieties have beautiful flower heads and long stems which make them suitable for scenery and gardening. If your intention is to grow a beautiful plant and try your hand at harvesting sunflower seeds I have created a list farther down that will include varieties that are more suitable for sunflower seed growing and harvesting.
When it comes to growing, sunflowers are either annual or perennial. Annual sunflowers need to be replanted each year, whereas perennials will regrow each season on their own.
Annual sunflowers grow quickly, with a range of large and small seed heads; perennials on the other hand only have small seed heads which tend to grow slower.
To start off our list of sunflowers, this variety is a perfect candidate for your first sunflower in a pot.
The elf sunflower is one of the shorter varieties and only grows to a max height of just sixteen inches. The flower itself can bloom up to four inches. Despite its small stature and height, this flower closely resembles the well known image of the golden sunflower with its yellow petals.
This flower can grow for long periods of time and in smaller spaces which makes it a perfect trial sized plant. Next in line, and very similar to the elf variety is the small but beautiful Pacino sunflower. Besides having a cute name, this flower is adorned with short, bright yellow petals on larger flower heads. This flower only grows to a maximum height of around twenty-four inches, not far off from the Elf variety but with a little extra something.
To add some colour into our list of varieties, I have chosen to add the little Becka. It is a small plant that should not be ignored as it can grow some of the deepest red and orange hues imaginable.
And the windows may also allow for exposure to drafts or cooler temperatures, which can make H. Even though all H. When you have planted a variety that will attain a height over four feet tall, it will need support early on. Bamboo stakes are one good option, like the four-foot natural version sold in stake packs via Amazon. Bamboo Plant Stakes. Use sisal twine or loops of cotton or nylon fabric for this task, and tie the stems so that they still have four inches between them and the supports.
And if you notice that your single-stem dwarf varieties need support later in the season,inch plant supports with a curved top that encircles the stem will usually work. Plant Support Stakes. Water deeply but infrequently, giving the soil a chance to dry out to at least an inch down in between drenchings.
Take particular care that your seedling receives a watering about 20 days before flowering so the roots will grow strong, able to help the plants support their blooms.
And if you have planted a branching variety, keep up this infrequent, deep watering until the last blooms have formed. Make the moisture last longer by mulching the seedlings with a couple of inches of straw once they reach four inches tall. Just be careful not to place any mulch within two inches of the center stem.
Also find a watering can with a long spout, or a hose without a spray nozzle, to use to water at the soil line. When you water overhead with spray, you may promote disease via wet leaves, and you also risk not having enough water reach the soil and roots.
To know when to water, stick your finger into the soil about four inches from the main stem. Be sure to allow any excess water a good 15 minutes to drain, and then pour off any excess from the tray or cachepot below the container. Containers give you the option to bring the whole blooming pot indoors at its peak, or to grow blooms you can pick for floral arrangements.
Pick the blossoms to bring indoors when the flower heads are just starting to show color. Strip any leaves from the lower part of the stalks before placing them in water to complete blooming. Just like all sunflowers, most of the ones grown in containers will grow without encountering many pests or diseases. Squirrels and birds probably pose the biggest threat. You can conveniently toss a row cover or protective netting over a couple of pots versus trying to protect vast spaces.
Placing them on a table or wall, or on top of a cinder block, will make it hard for rabbits to reach them. This growing method also makes it much simpler to eye individual plants and blooms for insect pests and take steps to eradicate them.
A few of the pests that might infest H. Learn more about sunflower pests in our guide , which also delivers tips for coping with them. As for disease, be on the lookout for downy mildew, rust, and powdery mildew.
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