Sunflowers
How to Plant and Grow Sunflowers
Sunflower Seeds to Sunflower Plants
Planting and growing sunflowers is easy. These durable plants can be grown in most area summer months, and can bring great beauty to any landscape or garden. Below are the steps to grow sunflowers from seed:- So, the first step is to find quality sunflower seed. Many of the top online seed stores sell sunflower seeds, and quality will insure a higher germination rate for your baby sunflower plants. You can also harvest your own, and that is detailed here: Collecting and Harvesting Sunflower Seeds
- Planting the Sunflowers. Sunflowers require some degree of warmth to germinate, and the soil should be between 55 and 60 degrees. The warmer the better, and here in Sacramento, our sunflowers grow like weeds in the high heat of the summer. Plant the sunflower seeds in groups of 3 an inch deep in your soil, and about 6 inches apart.
- Thinning your sunflowers. After a few weeks, when you have decent size baby sunflowers, go ahead and thin the herd out to a single plant in each of your groups.
- Caring for sunflowers. Sunflowers are pretty hardy plants and don’t need much care. Insure proper water during early growth, and you can add a small amount of fertilizer if you choose to do so.
Planting and Growing Sunflowers in the Garden
Planting Sunflowers
Ground Temp: 55-60°FPH level: 6.0-7.5
Spacing: 30 inches apart for rows, 6″ spacing
Depth: 1″
Time to Bloom: Sprouts in 7-10 days, bloom in 60-90 days
Notes: Plant in succession every 2-3 weeks.
Sunflower Facts
Botanical Name: HelianthusPlant Type: Perennial or Annual
Bloom Time: Mid-summer to fall
Best Location: Full Sun
Soil: Well-drained, rich, deep and moist
Diseases: Crown gall, leaf spot, mildew, stem rot
Pests: Aphids, beetles
Propagation: Seeds
Zone: 5-9
All About Sunflowers
The Sunflower, or Helianthus, is a genus of plants with about 70 species and resides in the family Asteraceae. It is know for its vibrant beauty and striking colors, along with its symmetry. All sunflowers are native to North America, with the exception of 3 species that reside within South America. The domesticated sunflower, also know as H. annus, is the most familiar and popular of the species, and is an annual. There are perennial versions of sunflowers, but they are quite invasive, and grow rapidly do to the high amount of seeds the flower heads produce. Sunflowers can be quite tall, up to 10 ft, and bear one or more flower heads of varying colors (Yellow, Red, Chocolate, mixed, etc.). The heads produce a large number of seeds that are harvested as food, or can be processed for their oil.
Harvesting Sunflower Seeds
How to Harvest and Collect Seeds from Sunflower Plants
We are getting near the end of our summer growing season here at Celtic Farm, and have started to harvest seeds from spent sunflower plants. We left quite a few to harvest their seeds, and wanted to share how to gather. Below is a guide to gather the seeds.
Drying Sunflower Head