Protect your sunflowers from moths slugs and birds by covering the heads with plastic netting. Needs water to get established, but can tolerate mild drought after established.1
Sow one seed per pot using a 10cm / 4 inch size plant pot and place in an airing cupboard for a couple of days until the seedling pushes through.
Alternatively, germinate in a cold frame or on a windowsill and grow on in bright conditions under glass.
Try not to let the seedling grow too tall before it is planted out, this is prevented by coo bright conditions
By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Sunflower about 21 days before your last frost date .
Condition the seedling to cooler outside conditions gradually. Plant outside as soon as danger of a hard frost is past, as the young plant will quickly grow a taproot. Seedlings will tolerate temperatures down to 29 F (-1 C). Young seedlings need protection from slugs.
Choose a bright, sunny spot out of the wind
Flowers can be cut for the house. If left to mature on the plant, the seeds help the birds through the winter. Alternatively the sees can be harvested after the flower has ended. Cut the head on a dry day and place in a paper bag to continue to dry off. The seeds will easily drop out of the flower head when they are ripe
Covering the seed head with netting, floating row cover, or a paper bag can help keep the birds off the seeds while they ripen on the plant. As soon as you see birds going for the seeds they are likely ready to be harvested.
Seed viability is five years.
These estimates for how long Sunflower takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
Average 8 days | Min 1 days | Max 22 days (594)
Average 22 days | Min 1 days | Max 57 days (141)
Average 63 days | Min 23 days | Max 209 days (12)
Our when to plant Sunflower estimates are relative to your last frost date.
The sunflower gets its name from the Greek word “Helios” (meaning sun) and “anthos” (meaning flower)
The botanical epithet is from the Latin angustifolius meaning “annual”.2
The botanical epithet is from the Latin helianthus meaning “sun-flower”
Used medicinally throughout the ages for wart removal, snake bite and sunstroke treatment.
The Aztecs worshipped sunflowers – they placed sunflower images made of gold in their temples.
Is associated with the zodiac sign Leo (23 July to 22 August) because of their mutual relationship with the Sun.
The Navajo made a tea with the leaves as a treatment for feverish pregnant women.
Sunflower oil was also utilised as a skin wash.
Tournesol, Girasol, Sonnenblume, Slonecznik, Blodyn haul, Zonnebloem, Duwwar al shams, Suncokret, Sunflower
Helianthus annuus L.
Misspellings: Helianthus annus