In a hot summer it can take only 60 days from sowing the sunflower seeds to the flowers blooming! How tall can you grow yours?
You can either plant your seeds directly into the garden from April or, to get really tall plants you could plant them earlier indoors – anytime from March onwards.
To sow outdoors
- Sow thinly, 12 mm (1/2 inch) deep in drills 30cm (12 inches) apart
- The soil should be well composted and raked finely
- Germination takes only 21 days
- When large enough to handle – thin the seedlings to 30cm (12 inches) apart
To sow indoors – for earlier flowering
- Use 7.5cm (3inch) pots (yoghurt pots would be ideal) and a good sowing compost
- Plant one seed per pot – about one inch deep
- Add some water to the pot
- Cover with polythene to retain the heat
- Remove the cover when leaves appear
- When the seedlings are large enough to be handled re-pot them, or plant them outside when all risk of frost has passed. The seedlings would prefer to be acclimatised gradually to life outside. They prefer a sunny open site, but will grow in most sites and soils.
- To really thrive they will need plenty of direct sun and good drainage
- When the 2nd set of leaves appear you can feed them once a week for three weeks and then once a fortnight
- All your sunflower plants will need to be staked, and tied so that they grow tall and strong. To do this, tie them every six inches with soft ties
- Remember – your plants can grow up to 12 inches every day
Happy growing!
CAUTION:
Over the last two years some nurseries have reported their sunflower seedlings disappearing overnight! The main causes of these have turned out to be hungry rabbits and pigeons.
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