Sunflower 'Sun King'

keep well watered, as flower heads develop plants may need staking for support.

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water often. Keep in mind when planting that Sun King is thought of as half hardy, so it will need cloching or fleece protection when the temperature dips. Sun King needs a loamy and clay soil with a ph of 5.7 to 8.1 (weakly acidic soil to weakly alkaline soil).

Look to ensure a distance 11.7 inches (30.0 cm) between seeds when sowing - bury at a depth of at least 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) deep. Soil temperature should be kept higher than 13°C / 55°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Sun King about 21 days before your last frost date.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Sun King is a half hardy plant.

The botanical epithet is from the Latin annuus meaning “annual”.¹

¹ Latin Dictionary