How to grow Sunflowers

Knowing how to grow Sunflowers will mean you can have giant, beautiful sunflowers bringing so much joy to your garden every year. They are easy to grow and, therefore, great to grow with kids in the garden, but they are perfect for pollinators, and you can even harvest the seeds to sow the following year. Why not compete between your friends to see who can grow the tallest Sunflower or even the most unusual. There are many different varieties available in colours you might not be expecting. 

Sow and care guide to growing Sunflowers 

As you would expect, Sunflowers need plenty of suns! As they grow, you will notice how they turn towards the sun absorbing the rays. You can sow seeds in modules or small pots during early spring protected from frosts or wait and plant them directly in the ground where they will grow when all frosts have passed. Keep the soil moist, and you should see good germination rates. The stems can get tall fast and start to curl or lay down if they aren’t supported, so use a small cane and gently replace it with something more sturdy as they grow taller. Some will support themselves, but in strong winds, they can fall. They are very easy to grow, keep them watered, especially in dry spells and enjoy their sunny faces. 

How to grow different varieties of Sunflowers

Many varieties aren’t all yellow. The bright yellow is the most traditional, but you can also try orange, black and even pink! Some Sunflowers have been bred to grow in a pot and will only reach a couple of feet tall, whereas other giant varieties can easily reach 15ft. Some of our favourites and most popular are:

• Sunflower ‘Titan’
• Sunflower ‘American Giant’
• Sunflower ‘Little Becka’ 
• Sunflower ‘Teddy Bear’
• Sunflower ‘Moulin Rouge’ 

Growing Sunflowers and how to use them

Sunflowers are edible from roasting the entire Sunflower head with some oil drizzled over to roasting just the seeds or sprinkling them on food. Sunflower petals are lovely in salads, and the tiny shoots can be grown as microgreens to add to soups, smoothies and stews. 

Encourage wildlife by growing Sunflowers

The prominent seedheads are a magnet for bees. You will often find more than one bee sharing the nectar at the same time. You’ll see ladybirds and butterflies and many winter birds feasting on the seeds if you leave seedbeds on over the winter period for winter interest. 

Choose your perfect Sunflowers to grow with our range of seeds in store.