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When and how to plant sunflower seeds


3 Options for Lots of Beautiful Blooms

Sunflowers are among the most colorful and cheerful plants for gardens. They are quick to grow, attractive to pollinators, and downright beautiful. If you’re wondering when to plant sunflowers for the greatest chance of success, you’ve come to the right place. This article introduces three different planting times for sunflowers and discusses the pros and cons of each method. You’ll also find step-by-step instructions for getting the job done.

There are many different varieties of sunflowers. All can be started from seed by planting at one of three times.

Sunflower planting times

As a horticulturist and former cut flower farmer, I’ve grown dozens of different varieties of sunflowers. Over the years, I’ve found that knowing when to plant sunflowers can mean the difference between a large and successful show of blooms and one that’s less than ideal. If you plant them at the wrong time, the seeds could rot or they could fail to germinate. Did you know that there are three different times to plant sunflowers? Each one occurs in a different location, demands a different level of effort, and requires different tools and equipment for getting the job done.

Your options for when to plant sunflowers include:

1. Early spring – sow sunflowers indoors, under grow lights
2. Mid spring – sow sunflowers outdoors, directly into the garden
3. In winter – sow seeds in plastic milk jugs outdoors using a method known as winter sowing.
Let me share the ins and outs of each of these three sunflower growing options.

Sunflowers are easy to grow from seed planted in the early spring, mid spring, or even the winter using different techniques.

Option 1 – Early Spring: When to plant sunflowers indoors

Admittedly, this is my least favorite time and method for planting sunflowers, simply because it requires special equipment and more attention from the gardener. However, it’s probably the safest way to grow sunflowers since the young seedlings are protected from the elements and grown in a very controlled environment. Watering and fertilizing chores are carefully managed, and you have better control over how and when the plants are eventually placed out into the garden. This timing involves sowing sunflower seeds indoors under grow lights and then transplanting the seedlings out into the garden when the danger of frost has passed for your growing zone.

Tools you’ll need:

Peat pellets are a simple way to start sunflower seeds with no mess.

Steps for planting sunflowers indoors under grow lights in early spring

Step 1: Decide on the proper timing
When to plant sunflowers indoors depends on when your last spring frost occurs. Here in Pennsylvania, our last spring frost is usually around May 15th. From your own region’s last frost date, subtract 4 weeks; that’s your target date for planting sunflower seeds indoors. If you plant too early, they’ll be leggy and weak. If you plant too late, they won’t be large enough when it’s time to move the plants out into the garden.

Step 2: Sow the seeds
I like to use peat pellets for planting sunflower seeds indoors because there is no root disturbance when you move them out into the garden. Plus, peat pellets are easy to use. But a pot of potting soil works just as well for starting sunflower seeds. Sow one seed per peat pellet or small pot. Plant to a depth of a half inch. Cover the seed with soil and water it in.

If you don’t have peat pellets, regular garden pots also make great containers for starting sunflower seeds.

Step 3: Turn on the grow lights
Growing sunflowers indoors means you’ll need grow lights. Sunflower seedlings get very leggy when grown with just window light, even if it’s a bright window. Leggy seedlings often result in mature plants with weak stems that don’t stand up straight in the garden. Use grow lights and keep them 4-5 inches above the tops of the plants. Run them for 16-18 hours per day.

Step 4: Care for the seedlings
Keep the seedlings watered and fertilize once a week with a liquid organic fertilizer.

Step 5: Move the plants outside
Another downside of using this method of when to plant sunflowers is the need to slowly acclimate the seedlings before transplanting them outdoors full time. About a week before your last frost is expected, take the seedlings outside for a few hours every day. Start them in the shade, and then gradually increase the amount of sunlight they receive every day, as well as the amount of time the plants are outdoors, until they’re outside day and night. Now it’s time to plant them into the garden.

Sunflower seedlings started indoors are ready to go out into the garden about 4 weeks after sowing the seeds.

Option 2 – Mid Spring: When to plant sunflowers outdoors

For me, this is the easiest and most practical way to grow sunflowers. If you’re wondering when to plant sunflowers with the least amount of effort, this is it! The seeds are sown directly out into the garden. You get to skip the grow lights, acclimatization, transplanting, and general babying your sunflower plants. This is the tough-love version of growing sunflowers. The biggest downside to sowing sunflowers outdoors is the pests. Birds, chipmunks, and mice enjoy eating the seeds, and slugs, bunnies, and deer sometimes nibble on the plants themselves (more on managing these pests later). I always over-plant, knowing that I may lose some of the plants to these critters.

Tools you’ll need:

Directly sowing sunflower seeds into the garden is the easiest method of planting and the one I use most in my own garden.

Steps for planting sunflowers outdoors in mid spring

Step 1: Decide on the proper timing
When to plant sunflowers outdoors depends on your last average frost date, just like it does when starting the seeds indoors. Except you can delay the process by a month or more. I start planting sunflower seeds within 7-10 days of my last frost date, and I continue to sow more seeds for several weeks beyond that date. This gives me a staggered bloom time and keeps my garden colorful for the longest amount of time.

Step 2: Prepare the planting site
When planting sunflower seeds outdoors, choose a site that receives a minimum of 8 hours of full sun per day (They don’t call them sunflowers for nothing!). Remove any weeds and cultivate or turn the soil over a bit to loosen it. If you’d like, you can amend the planting area with a few shovels full of compost, but you don’t need to. Average garden soil is just fine for these tough plants.

Step 3: Plant the seeds
Sow the sunflower seeds directly into the garden soil. Use a trowel to dig individual holes about 1-inch-deep, or dig a trench or furrow to plant a row of seeds. Plant the seeds about 6 to 8 inches apart for dense plantings or 12 to 15 inches apart for wider spacing (this is ideal for branching sunflower varieties that produce multiple flowering branches, rather than those that produce a single flower on a tall, upright stalk). Don’t sow the seeds deeper than 1 inch or they could fail to germinate.

Step 4: Thin the seedlings if necessary
If you sowed the seeds a little too thick, don’t be afraid to thin out some of the seedlings. Try to dig them out carefully because if there is a decent root system intact, you can move the thinned seedlings to a new spot in the garden.

A friend who grows cut flowers on her farm plants her sunflower seeds in a grid, using a mesh net as a planting guide to ensure proper spacing.

Option 3 – Winter: When to plant sunflowers using winter sowing

The third time to plant sunflowers is in winter. Yep, winter. Using a technique known as winter sowing to start your sunflowers is fun and simple. If you’ve ever had volunteer sunflower plants pop up from seed dropped around a bird feeder, you’re already familiar with an unplanned version of winter sowing. But intentional winter sowing allows you to control the process more carefully, ensuring you grow the varieties you love, instead of just the black oil sunflowers found in most birdseed blends. The process can take place any time during the winter. Another big plus of planting sunflower seeds in winter this way is that they’ll germinate at exactly the right time, and there will be no need to acclimatize the seedlings to outdoor growing conditions because they’ll already be living there.

Tools you’ll need:

Sunflower seedlings are more cold tolerant than you might think, especially when they’re started outdoors via winter sowing.

Steps for planting sunflower seeds by winter sowing

Step 1: Prepare the jugs for planting
Use the scissors to cut the top of the jug off about one-third of the way up from the bottom. Cut it almost all the way around, leaving a two-inch-wide section uncut to keep the top and bottom of the jug connected. Then, use the scissors to pierce several drainage holes into the bottom of the jug.

Step 2: Fill the bottom of the jug with soil and plant the seeds
Hold the top of the jug off to the side while you fill the bottom of the jug with potting soil. Once filled, sow the seeds 1 inch deep, spacing them 1-2 inches apart. Sowing thickly is fine because you’ll be transplanting them out into the garden when they’re very small. Water the seeds in.

Step 3: Close the jug
Use a piece of duct tape to reattach the top of the jug to the bottom. This makes a mini greenhouse to protect the seedlings.

Step 4: Wait
Put the jugs in a sheltered spot in the garden for the rest of the winter. Snow, rain, or sleet won’t negatively impact the seeds nestled inside. When spring arrives, the seeds will sprout at exactly the right time. Remove the duct tape and open the top of the jug on very warm days (over 70°F), just remember to close it back up at night. Water if necessary.

Step 5: Transplant
Around the time of your last expected spring frost or when the plants reach 2 inches in height (whichever comes first), transplant the seedlings out into the garden. Sunflower seeds grown through winter sowing are more tolerant of cold temperatures than those grown indoors. They’ll tolerate a few light spring frosts without issue.

Sunflowers in the vegetable garden help support pollinators and other beneficial insects, but they are not completely free of troubles.

Why aren’t my sunflowers growing?

Knowing when to plant sunflowers is only part of your success. Knowing how to overcome possible problems is also an important factor. If you’ve done everything right, and your sunflowers either don’t germinate or something nibbles them off, the list below should help.

Plant sunflowers in flower beds, perennial borders, vegetable gardens, containers, and anywhere else you’d like. Just be sure the site receives full sun.

You’re now fully prepared to get started growing your own collection of cheerful sunflowers. Knowing when to plant sunflowers and the best techniques for each different time is key to growing a beautiful sunflower garden, no matter which varieties you decide to grow.

Want to learn more about growing flowering plants? Please visit the following articles:

How to Grow Sunflowers (& Common Mistakes To Avoid)

Ready to plant sunflowers? Find out the best time to sow the seeds, how much sun they need, right soil type, good and bad companion plants, plus care and harvest tips for growing these annual flowers.

If you specifically want to grow really tall sunflowers or sunflowers with giant flower heads, see 12 Tips for Growing Giant Sunflowers.

Sunflowers are easy to grow and often the only challenge is preventing wildlife like birds and squirrels from stealing the freshly sown seeds. But, not to worry, I have tips for this below.

Once the plant is past the seedling stage, sunflowers are good, sun-tolerant plants that require minimal care.

Because they are annuals, you will need to sow new seeds each year. Some may self-seed as well. Don’t be surprised if the blooms are a bit different than the parent they came from: that’s normal for hybrid seeds.

Sunflower |
Helianthus annuus

Sunflower Growing Guide
Annual or perennial flowering plant
• Full sun 6-8 hours per day
• Well-draining soil
• Ideal seed sowing soil temperature:
70° to 75°F (21° to 25°C) after risk of frost has passed

Shop Online: Buy sunflower seeds | Botanical Interests (US shipping)

Contents

Empress of Dirt

Sunflower Growing Tips

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1Growing Tips

2Choosing Seeds

With over 70 species and lots of varieties, there are many choices!

How tall do sunflowers grow?

Sunflowers range in height from just one-foot tall to the “giant” varieties which can reach 15-feet (4.5 m) or more. See Giant and Dwarf Seeds for growing different heights.

If you live in a cold climate, choose varieties that grow from seed to maturity in the number of days available between last frost in spring and first frost in fall.

Most take between 50 and 120 days, but there are exceptions.

Find Your Frost Dates & Hardiness Zone

Sunflower Seed Buying Tips

Here are some sunflowers seeds at Botanical Interests (US Shipping).

Every type of sunflower is different and not all sunflowers produce edible seeds. Sunflowers may be bred for specific colors, heights, flower sizes, types of seed (for birds or humans), to be pollen-free, and more. Check your seed packets to see what yours has to offer.

Giant Sunflowers

If you want large sunflowers, watch for the words ‘mammoth’, ‘giant’, ‘titan’, ‘monster’, or ‘tall’ in the names or descriptions.

I have a long list of recommended seeds for growing giant sunflowers here.

Sometimes these adjectives mean the plant will grow tall, sometimes it means the flower head will be very large but the plant may not be particularly tall.

‘Sunzillas’ produce massive heads. Mammoths grow 12-feet tall. There are many other hybrids developed to grow taller.

Dwarf Sunflowers

These are the ones that grow nicely in containers because they do not need the root space that larger ones do.

I’ve listed suggested varieties in the section on growing sunflowers in containers.

SHOP FOR SUNFLOWER SEEDS HERE

Look for interesting varieties including dwarf, tall, massive, and colorful ones.

3When to Plant

With seeds selected that you know have time to go from seed to harvest in your growing season, you can sow the seeds as soon as the risk of frost has passed for the season.

If you have time, you will get the best germination rates if you wait until soil temperatures are consistently 70° to 75°F (21° to 25°C).

But, for many of us, we need to sow sooner, and you can get by with soil temperatures of 55°F (13°C) or warmer—just be sure to protect them from critters and cover them if temperatures drop.

I’ve had late frosts after sowing but the sunflower seeds survived fine because they had not sprouted yet. If you expect a frost after sowing, cover the soil with a blanket for the night (and don’t forget to remove it in the morning).

You can also start sunflower seeds indoor in small containers for transplanting outdoors, although it is preferable to sow them directly outdoors if possible. Wait until your young plants have at least two sets of true leaves and a sturdy stem before transplanting. The stronger the young plant, the better your odds.

How late can you plant sunflowers?

How late you can plant sunflowers depends on which type you are growing and where you are in the growing season.

Step one is to look up how many days you have between now and your average first frost in fall. You can look this up using the link below.

If, for example, there are 100 days until first frost, you may still have time plant a sunflower that matures in under that number of days—preferably with a buffer of a few weeks.

For the 100 day example, a variety that shows “days to maturity” around 75 days should do fine. This would allow a buffer period in case your weather is not optimal and allow for slower growth as the days shorten as we head into fall.

Find Your Frost Dates & Hardiness Zone

4Where to Plant

Can you grow sunflowers in grass?

No, not if you’re starting from seed because the grass will likely out-compete the seedling.

If you have established sunflowers in pots ready for transplanting, you can remove a section of the grass and plant there. It’s not ideal, though, because sunflowers are resource hogs and like some room around the roots. If you do try it, cover any bare soil around the sunflower in mulch to help prevent the grass from filling back in and keep the soil moist.

Related: 10 Flower Growing Secrets & Common Mistakes

5How to Plant

When you are ready, read your seed packet for specific instructions on how to plant sunflower seeds: different varieties have different needs.

Sunflower seeds average a germination rate of 75% so 3 out of every 4 should sprout.

Related: How to Read Seed Packets

Spacing Examples
Protect Your Seeds
What do sunflower seedlings look like?

This image shows sunflower seedlings:

If you planted your sunflower seeds individually, they will resemble the image (above). You may also find clusters of them in your garden where chipmunks or squirrels buried a bunch of seeds.

Sometimes sunflowers also grow with the seed shell sitting on the seedling as shown in the image inset. It will eventually fall off and it’s just funny, not harmful in any way.

Fun Facts

A plant’s tendency to turn toward the sun is known as heliotropism.

During vegetative growth up until bud formation, sunflower stems track ths sun.

This movement stops after the bud stage, leaving the flowers in an east-facing position.

Read More: How Sunflowers Track the Sun

How much can a sunflower grow in a week?

It depends on what type you are growing. Assuming growing conditions are optimal, a sunflower that will be 6-feet tall at maturity in 85 days (12 weeks) would average 6-inches of growth a week. In reality, there will be slower and faster weeks depending on conditions and the growth phase.

A smaller variety of sunflower may grow just an inch or two a week.

A giant or mammoth variety may grow a foot per week.

Do sunflowers need support?

It depends. If you are growing average size sunflowers (up to approximately 6-feet) tall in a sheltered area, supports should not be needed.

If you are growing tall (mammoth) varieties or ones with giant (heavy) flowerheads, you may need some support. I grow the larger ones near a fence so I can secure the stem with ties (strips of torn up cotton t-shirts work well).

6Sunflower Companion Planting

Before we jump into this topic, I have to say that I think much of what is said about companion planting in the gardening world tends to be too vague to use as garden instruction—if it’s even factual—and often, it’s not.

If this topic interests you, the book Plant Partners by Jessica Walliser explores what the science tells us based on specific plant relationships (you can read a selection from Plant Partners here).

Beware of simple soundbites like ‘carrots love tomatoes’ because that really doesn’t tell us anything (and it’s not really accurate).

The most important thing for successful plant growing is to provide the basics: good soil, adequate light, water, air, and root space. What we often think is a companion planting conflict is more likely just competition for resources. Keep this in mind when you read this next section.

What is companion planting?

Plants are sensitive to their surroundings. Not just the soil quality, amount of sun, and moisture levels, but which other plants are growing nearby. In some cases, plants send out biochemicals to try and thwart other plants. This is known as allelopathy and the practice that accommodates it is called companion planting.

Allelopathy is a common biological phenomenon by which one organism produces biochemicals that influence the growth, survival, development, and reproduction of other organisms.

From a scientific perspective, allelopathy is difficult to prove in home garden settings. Much of what we hear is anecdotal.

With sunflowers, the thought is that they produce compounds that inhibit growth in some other plants, stopping seed germination and growth.

You may suspect this is happening when sunflower seed hulls (the shells of the seeds) accumulate below bird feeders, causing the grass lawn to die. The hulls are otherwise harmless, though, and gradually decompose.

Sunflower Foes

What not to grow with sunflowers

The two plants suspected to be negatively affected by sunflowers are:

Both may struggle if planted too close to sunflowers.

Sunflower Bros

Good companion plants according to other gardeners

Plants said to benefit from sunflowers growing nearby are:

But, as said, there does not seem to be solid evidence of this and it’s best to focus on good plant spacing and providing suitable growing conditions. Every plant needs adequate root space to grow, and sunflowers are big resource hogs. If we focus on providing each plant with the required growing conditions, the rest sorts itself out.

Related: Science-Based Companion Planting Tips for Growing Vegetables

7Growing in Containers

Because larger sunflowers grow deep, tuberous roots, it’s best to only plant smaller varieties in smaller containers (under 10-inches wide).

As with most container growing, you will need to add  fertilizer to provide sufficient nutrients. I use organic, slow-release fertilizers.

Here’s some examples of sunflowers that grow well in containers:

8Pests and Diseases

Critters

Seeds and Seedling Stage

I always have to protect my sunflowers after sowing or they will be stolen by the wild things!

Birds, squirrels, mice, chipmunks, and anything else with a beating heart may try to dig up or eat the seeds and seedlings.

I use glass cloches, wire waste baskets from the Dollar Store, old soda bottles, or whatever I can find to cover the seeds and keep them protected. The mesh waste baskets are my favorites while the plant is under 12-inches tall. You may need to secure the basket to the ground with a clip or tent peg.

If you do this, you do have to be mindful that the soil stays watered, and—if using a glass cloche—to be sure the inside does not overheat.

If voles or other tunnelling animals are the issue, consider growing in large pots instead of the ground.

Once the seedlings are a few inches tall, the mammals and birds tend to back off until seed harvest time.

If you have slugs and snails in your garden, they too may come looking for dinner.

Deer too will also eat sunflowers if they notice them. Other than deer fence, I don’t have a solution for that one.

Flowering and Seeding

The flowering phase is the next one to attract wildlife. That’s when the birds and squirrels and all their friends return, hoping to nosh on the seeds.

You can put net or organza bags over the flower heads to deter them. The old school way is to tie large paper bags around them. I find mesh gift bags definitely slows the critters down.

Insects

There are several insects that attack sunflowers including sunflower moths, thrips, whiteflies, and various caterpillars.

Mildew and More

Sunflowers are susceptible to a number of fungal diseases including mildews and rusts, white mold, and Verticillum wilt. It’s the combination of humid days and cooler nights that tends to cause the most trouble.

Because sunflowers are annuals, it may not be worthwhile to treat the problem. If it’s bad, I just remove the plant to prevent spreading and sow your seeds in a different location the following year.

9Sunflower Care

I regard sunflowers as low-maintenance plants. Once I’ve got them past the seedling stage, I usually do nothing other than watering any in containers.

Some growers like to add fertilizer when the flower heads are blooming (I do not), which generally takes place over a period of 5 to 10 days. This can also be a time where the plant takes up a lot of water and may need additional watering.

10 Harvesting Sunflowers

If you check your sunflowers during the main growth phase, you’ll notice that the stalks are green, unless there is drought or disease.

Once the plant starts working on seed production, the stalks start turning yellow.

When the seeds are ready for harvesting, the stalks are brown.

Not all varieties produce seeds so check before you sow if this is important.

You’ll also notice that as the plant matures, the flower head starts facing down toward the ground. That’s when all those seeds (up to 1400 on one flower head) start forming behind the little floret petals.

If you want to save the seeds, you will need to cover the flower heads, either with netting, organza, or a paper bag, to keep the critters from eating everything. Even then, I have a few squirrels who will suck on the seeds right through the netting!

It is also possible to harvest the flower heads earlier and hang them up to dry—again, somewhere where the critters can’t get them, and remove the seeds later.

All seeds should be cleaned and dried before storing, otherwise they get moldy. Some instructions advice gently boiling them in salted water before consumption.

The alternative is to simply leave your sunflowers in the garden. As winter sets in, those wild things living in your garden will appreciate the fuel.

More info: How to collect, dry and roast squash and sunflower seeds | OSU Extension Service

11Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to plant sunflowers?

The ideal time to plant sunflowers is after the risk of frost has passed and soil temperatures are 70° to 75°F (21° to 25°C).

You can also sow the seeds when the soil is consistently 55°F (13°C) or warmer. This just means germination will be slower.

What month do you plant sunflowers?

For many cold climate gardeners, June is the month to sow sunflower seeds directly outside. This is after last frost when the soil is warming up. Faster growing sunflowers may still have time to mature when planted in July.

Do sunflowers grow back year after year?

No, sunflowers are annuals not perennials and do not regrow each year. As annuals, they complete their entire lifecycle in a single growing season. If seeds fall to the ground, they may survive the winter and sprout next year. Otherwise you need to sow fresh seeds each year.

Do sunflowers need a lot of sun?

Yes, sunflowers are sun lovers and like 6 to 8 hours of full sun each day.

How late can I plant sunflowers?

How late you can plant sunflowers depends on the variety you are growing and the date of your average first frost. Most sunflowers need between 50 and 120 days (3 to 4 months) from seed to maturity. Count how many days you have available before frosts set in and choose a variety that fits that timeline.

Are sunflowers hard to grow?

No, sunflowers are generally not difficult to grow. The main challenge is preventing wildlife from stealing the freshly sown seeds and eating the seedlings. From there, the main growing phase is low maintenance, where you may just need to water if conditions are dry, and fertilizer if soil is depleted. Once seeds start forming in the flower heads, you may need to cover the flowers to keep animals from eating all the seeds, unless you’re like me and that’s why you’re growing them.

Can I transplant sunflowers?

Sunflowers are not fond of transplanting but it can be done with care early on. The seedlings transplant okay, but, once the plant is larger, the roots are deep and quite sensitive. And because they have taproots, if the taproot breaks during transplanting, it’s game over. So, transplanting after seedling stage is at your own risk.

How deep do sunflower roots grow?

Some of the larger sunflower varieties can send roots down as deep as four feet. It all depends on the size of the sunflower and if the soil allows the roots to grow freely. Coincidentally, the farther the roots can go, the taller the sunflower can grow (for the big types).

When do sunflowers stop growing?

Sunflowers stop growing when the flowers begin turning to seed. During this phase, the stalks turn from green to yellow and then brown, and the flower heads start facing the ground instead of east.

Can I grow sunflowers in pots?

Yes, some varieties of sunflowers do fine in containers. Choose dwarf varieties with smaller roots for best results.

How do you grow giant sunflowers?

Growing tall sunflowers and/or sunflowers with giant flowerheads starts with the right seeds. Look for specific species with those traits. From there, you need the right growing conditions including adequate fertilizer.

Can you grow sunflowers from cuttings?

No, you cannot grow sunflowers from cuttings. The only way to grow sunflowers is from seeds. They cannot be propagated from cuttings.

Can sunflowers grow from bird seed?

Yes, bird seed mixes that include sunflower seeds can produce sunflowers. If the seeds fall to the ground and have the right growing conditions, they can sprout and grow into sunflowers. Sometimes animals also carry the sunflower seeds from the feeders and hide them. If you notice sunflowers popping up in your garden, an animal likely buried the seed at just the right depth and location for germination.

Why didn’t my sunflowers produce seeds?

Some varieties of sunflowers produce little or no seeds. Those that do produce seeds will require pollination to do so. If your sunflowers did not produce seeds, check which variety they are and consider whether bees and other pollinators were present during flowering.

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How to grow a sunflower in your garden

This amazing and beautiful tall annual plant with huge bright yellow flowers from the Compositae family can be found today on the plots of many amateur gardeners.

Its correct biological name is sunflower. And he has a lot of undeniable advantages. Firstly, the sunflower is so beautiful that it can become the main decoration of the garden.

Its bright yellow flowers up to 1 m in diameter with long petals and a huge seed basket, crowning powerful stems with large green leaves, tower even over two-meter fences and are always turned towards the sun.

Secondly, sunflower seeds contain a lot of vitamins and nutrients needed by the human body.

Previously, sunflower could be found only in the southern regions of our country, but now, with the creation of ultra-early, cold-resistant varieties that are not afraid of sharp weather anomalies, it ripens well in the north of Russia.

And the yields of tasty, large seeds in the northern sunflower are sometimes larger than in the traditional southern varieties.

Growing such a sunflower on your own plot is not at all difficult. This is one of the most unpretentious crops that does not require very careful care.

However, some of its biological features must be taken into account. Therefore, today we will talk about how to properly grow a sunflower on your site.

SUNFLOWER HISTORY

Several wild sunflower species are found in North America. But these wild plants are absolutely not similar to modern varieties.

Their plants are not so tall, and their seeds are small and tasteless. But it was they who became the progenitors of the cultivated sunflower, which even the ancient Indian tribes cultivated on their plantations and used for food.

Cultivated sunflower seeds were brought to Europe by the expedition of Christopher Columbus, who discovered America. From the annals we know that the first sunflower crop was obtained in the Madrid botanical garden in 1510.

The culture very quickly "settled" in Europe and until the end of the 17th century was planted exclusively as an ornamental plant.

It was at this time that sunflower seeds were brought to Russia, where at first they were also considered as decorative. In the south of the country, the local population "tasted" sunflower seeds, and they became a favorite treat for both landowners and peasants.

In 1779, Dmitry Bokarev, a peasant from the Voronezh province, for the first time obtained sunflower oil from sunflower seeds in a manual oil churn. His experience was quickly picked up by Russian producers, who put the production of sunflower oil on an industrial basis.

After that, sunflower, as an oilseed crop, began to be widely sown in all the southern regions of the country.

BIOLOGICAL PORTRAIT

Sunflower is an annual oil crop. Its northern food varieties - Ultraran (ripening period 80 - 90 days, for example, Poseidon 625 , Oreshek ) and early (ripening period 105 - 115 days, for example, Squirrel ).

Such tight deadlines allow already in August - early September to collect a full-fledged crop of ripe seeds. The best sowing dates are the end of May directly to the garden.

The height of plants of northern varieties is up to 2 m. Their stems are straight, powerful, covered with stiff hairs. The leaves are bright green, large, oval-heart-shaped with serrated edges, covered with a delicate fluff.

Baskets up to 50 cm in diameter. In each, up to 1500 seeds-seeds can ripen.

Marginal flowers orange-yellow, sterile, median - bisexual very small. Ripened seeds up to 30 mm long, black, brown, purple or striped. They contain up to 60% sunflower oil.

Cake obtained after pressing the oil is a valuable feed for livestock and poultry. Silage made from sunflower leaves and stems is also used to feed farm animals.

Sunflower is a cross-pollinated crop. Therefore, we do not recommend planting varieties of different ripening periods nearby.

Do not grow sunflowers in one place for more than 4 years. After this period, pathogenic microflora accumulates in the earth, and the earth is depleted, first of all, there is a lack of nitrogen, since a culture needs a lot of nutrition for normal growth and development.

There are edible and ornamental varieties of sunflower. And decorative today are very popular with landscape designers around the world.

The most unusual varieties were first bred by breeders in the USA and Japan. But now European and domestic flower growers are not far behind them.

Among the most interesting decorative varieties, you can see bright multi -color (for example, Velvet and Formula of love ) and low terry (for example, Teddy bear and Orange sun ).

Agrotechnics for food and ornamental sunflowers is absolutely the same.

HOW TO GROW A SUNFLOWER IN YOUR GARDEN

Choosing a location . The name itself suggests that for a sunflower it is necessary to choose the sunniest place on the site. The plant should be exposed to bright sunlight throughout the day.

Sunflower does not tolerate close groundwater. Its powerful branched root system goes into the lower layers of the soil to a depth of 2.5 m and from there it gets nutrients and moisture.

When the groundwater is close to the ground, as well as in flooded lowlands, the roots of the plant may begin to rot.

Soils. The best soils for sunflowers are chernozems and fertile loams. But in the northern regions, it is necessary to create an artificial nutrient mixture for them in the garden, otherwise you will not get a strong, healthy plant.

For digging a plot for sunflowers per 1 sq. m, add: 2 buckets of rotted manure (or compost) and leafy soil, a bucket of sand, half a bucket of wood ash, 2 tbsp. spoons of double superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

Double the application rate on sandy soils.

Sunflower will not grow on heavy acidic clays. Such lands must first be deoxidized with dolomite flour (at the rate of 2 kg per 5 sq. M of the garden area).

Seeding Before sowing, soak the seeds for a day in a solution of Zircon and Cytovit preparations (4 drops per glass of water).

Seeds are best sown after 20 May directly into the garden. Make straight grooves in the garden, and in them holes 4-5 cm deep at a distance of 50-60 cm from one another and put 2 seeds in each (in case one does not sprout). Distance between rows - 60 - 80 cm.

The greater the distance between plants, the larger you will get both seeds and baskets themselves.

Level the furrows and water the entire bed very well (at least three watering cans per square meter). After that, cover the bed with a transparent film so that the seeds are warm, then they will germinate faster.

During the day, lift the film several times for 20 minutes to allow oxygen to reach the crops and water the bed.

Sprouts will appear in 7 to 10 days (depending on variety). After that, remove the film and mulch the bed with straw with a layer of 5 cm. The mulch will prevent the growth of weeds and retain moisture around the plants.

If you plan to plant no more than 10 sunflowers, you can sow their seeds between rows of potatoes, beets, peas and other vegetables.

Irrig. Sunflowers need a lot of water to grow quickly. Water it abundantly and regularly so that the earth in the garden is always very moist, but without the formation of puddles.

After each watering, loosen the crops and re-mulch with straw. Make sure that no soil crust forms on top.

In extreme heat, water sunflowers twice a day - early in the morning and in the evening after 6 pm.

Fertilizers . The sunflower is a very powerful plant, so it also needs good regular nutrition. Give your plants the first nitrogen fertilization in the 2-3 true leaf phase. It is best to use a solution of urea for this (2 tablespoons per bucket of water for one plant).

At the beginning of the formation of seed heads, apply potassium sulfate and superphosphate for loosening in the same doses as when sowing.

Bird repellent. Sunflower sprouts are a favorite delicacy for birds. Therefore, stretch white threads between young sprouts, tying them to small pegs.

After a couple of weeks the plants will be much taller and the birds will no longer be interested in them.

However, when the seeds begin to ripen, the birds will not miss such a delicacy. A whole flock of birds is able to peck out all the young seeds in one day. Therefore, we recommend that you tie the heads of plants with ordinary gauze.

Under it, the seeds will ripen faster and remain intact and inaccessible to birds.

Garter . Tall sunflower varieties with large seed heads are recommended to be tied to stakes, 1.5 - 1.8 m high. This will protect the stems from breakage.

Harvest . Start it when the seeds turn black, the heads lean towards the ground, and the extreme petals begin to dry out and crumble.

Carefully cut the ripened heads and place them in the sun in a dry, well-ventilated area for a couple of days. To extract the seeds, spread an old sheet or some other light-colored cloth over it, rub the heads against each other until all the seeds fall out.

THE BEST SUNFLOWER VARIETIES FROM OUR COLLECTION

We have told you how to grow sunflowers in your garden. In conclusion, we present the best varieties of this wonderful crop from our unique collection of seeds.

Our collection:

Food varieties:

Squirrel, Poseidon 625, Oreshek.

Ornamental varieties:

Velvet, Formula of Love, Orange Sun, Teddy Bear.

Read more about these varieties on our website or in the SEEDS 2021 catalog.

And you can buy them for May sowing from us today!

When to plant and how to grow a sunflower from a seed

11/18/2020

Learn how to grow a sunflower in the country. There are few people who would not like to click sunflower seeds. It's easy and tasty, and very useful too. I’ll tell you when to plant and how easy it is to care for this “sunny flower”.

Sunflower is a flower of the Astrov family. The correct name for the plant is sunflower. We will learn to plant a common type of oilseed; Few people know that its counterpart is the tuberous sunflower, better known as Jerusalem artichoke or ground pear.

When to plant and how to grow a sunflower from seeds

Variety

It is best to sow in our conditions early-ripening varieties (with a growing season of 84-86 days). For example: Umnik, Buzuluk, Nut. The next option is mid-season (90-95 days): Master, Flagship. The days indicated on the seed bags usually indicate the biological ripeness of the crop. Do not forget to add another 10 days - before the harvest days.

When choosing a variety, pay attention to hybrids that are resistant to downy mildew, rot and Phomopsis (gray stem spot) - the most dangerous fungal diseases of sunflower. Preventive measures will help protect against them: proper crop rotation, the use of high-quality fungicides, sanitizing the site and removing all plant residues after harvesting.

Site selection

Sunflower loves the sun! Its peculiarity is known - to turn its flower "head" behind the sun. Therefore, this tall plant (sometimes it can reach up to 3 m) must certainly be planted in a sunny place, followed by a garter to a support. Optimal landing next to the fence, lattice, pergola. Very often sunflowers grow along the fence. It is customary to plant them, decorating the wall of an old barn, a summer toilet, a compost heap.

Soil

The recommendations for growing sunflowers say that they need fertile soil with a neutral reaction.

Plant a crop after cereals (winter wheat, corn). And even better - after legumes, nightshade or beets, which "leave" a lot of nitrogen in the soil.

Preparing Seeds

Dress (soak overnight) the planting material using one of the methods described in the article Preparing Seeds for Planting.

Planting

For example, you can plant seeds immediately in a permanent place in May (in our climate from May 5 to May 20). Make a hole or groove. And put the seed to a depth of 5 cm, sprinkled and leveled with loose earth. Planting pattern, approximately like this - 30 cm x 70 cm, square-nested. For evenness, pull the cord lengthwise, then across - at the intersection point and there will be a landing site. At a temperature of 20-25 ° C, seedlings will appear in a couple of weeks.

Another option is to grow sunflower seedlings at home 20-25 days before planting in the garden. Be sure to find out if your variety can be transplanted in the future. It turns out that not all sunflowers tolerate this.

Learn more