Here are 5 easy tips to help you grow beautiful sunflowers in your garden this year!
Today I am sharing with you 5 Tips on How to Grow Sunflowers in your Garden this summer. These are tips that I have learned over the years of planting sunflowers in our very own garden here at Walking on Sunshine.
Who doesn't love a beautiful field of sunflowers? For as long as I can remember I have loved sunflowers. Here's a photo of my niece, Gracie, standing besides one of our biggest sunflowers ever last summer.
5 Tips on How to Grow Sunflowers in Your Garden
- Sunflowers are easy to grow and will brighten up any garden with their large heads and petals. Sunflower seeds can be harvested to enjoy as a snack! Although most sunflowers are yellow, there are varieties that range in color from red to orange.
- Sunflowers are very hardy plants. Some varieties can grow up to 15 feet tall so make sure you find an area that can accommodate their size. Sunflowers LOVE warm climates with full sunshine during the day.
- If possible, plant the sunflowers on the north side of your garden. This prevents the large sunflower stalks from shading other plants in the garden. Be mindful that you may have to stake the sunflowers as they grow to keep them from falling over.
Type of Soil
- Sunflowers prefer a slightly acidic soil but they are also pretty resilient and can grow in most types of soil.
- Make sure the soil drains well.
- Even though sunflowers are pretty resilient they can be harmed when the soil is flooded.
How to Plant
- Plant the sunflower seeds when the soil temperatures have warmed.
- Make sure you plant the seeds at least 6 inches apart and cover the seeds with ¼ inch of soil.
- Keep the soil moist and the seeds should sprout in 10 to 14 days.
How to Water
- Sunflowers are hardy plants!
- Only water the sunflowers when the top of the soil is dry to the touch.
- Sunflowers are drought tolerant and do not grow well in waterlogged soil, so be careful.
When to Harvest
- Sunflowers are ready for harvesting when the back of the flower has turned from green to yellow or even brown.
- Cut the flower head at the base and hang so it completely drys out.
- When the seeds are completely dry, you can harvest them for planting next year or to enjoy as a snack.
I think this is one of my favorite photos from our garden last year. I love how the sunflowers are forming and getting ready to bloom.
Enjoy
- My final tip isn't really on how to grow sunflowers, but rather how to enjoy them!
- Once they've grown take a lot of photos and step back and enjoy the beauty in your garden!
- Fill up a mason jar with a few of your sunflowers.
More Beautiful Gardening Tips and Ideas:
- How to Grow Hostas
- Tips on Growing Tomatoes
- Mistakes to Avoid when Growing Tomatoes in Containers
- Outdoor Gardening Inspiration
- How to Build your First Garden
- How to Grow Mint in your Garden
Linda Norton says
One year I saved the sunflower seeds to replant next year and stored them in the freezer. When I planted they never came up. Would that be because of the freezer?
Lois says
I think the freezer might have killed the seeds. You can always dry the seeds and then store them in paper envelopes. Thank you for visiting.
Buy Seeds says
We love the tips about harvesting, and we'll let our customers know about it.
thanks.
Bernie Jesmer says
One of my favorites is to grow sunflowers,The problem I have is getting my share before the birds get to them but I don't mine shareing lol.
Lauren | Mom Home Guide says
Great tips! Pinning!
Lois says
Thank you!
Kim says
Have you ever had to deal with the fuzzy black caterpillars on your sunflowers? Completely destroyed mine! I don’t know how to stop them.
Lois says
No! I haven't had that problem! We did get a bug in the sunflowers one year and nearly destroyed everything. The bug chewed the plants down to the ground! But the sunflowers just started growing again and didn't get as big as they normally would, but they were still pretty. I'm sorry I can't help you with this problem! Thank you for visiting.
nihal says
Many thanks for sharing these useful information about planting and taking care of sunflowers with us
Carolyn Hughes says
REALLY LOVE SUNFLOWERS SO WENT RIGHT TO YOUR PAGE- LIKED IT A LOT.
From Southern British Columbia in Canada's Only TRUE DESERT.
Lois says
Thanks! Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers to grow as well.
Paris Rivera says
What kind of sunflowers are you growing, i know they vary in size and color but what type of seed did you buy to get them to grow that tall and full?
Lois says
I usually pick out different packets of seeds every year. I don't really pay that much attention to the type or brand. I'll make sure to take notes this year as to the name and type of seeds we plant. Thanks for visiting Paris!
Ron Rogers says
Thank you
Sean Goulding says
I sowed in Australia this year when I came home to Ireland I sowed the same variety great fun
aginglikeafinewine.com says
Though I have never grown sunflowers (not sure why!), I would like to try them one day. Thank you for sharing this very helpful info.
Olga says
Love it! My pumpkin likes sunflowers...I wonder if I could grow them?