Sunflowers are an easy to grow annual adding a cheerful splash of colour to your growing space. The scientific name Helianthus translates from Greek Helios meaning sun and Anthos meaning flower, the seeds are a good source of protein and healthy fat, some varieties are better for eating, some are better for the birds.
Seed Sowing
Sunflowers are annuals that can be sown in modules from March to June at a depth of 2 cm. Alternatively, you can sow outdoors in rows 40 cm apart from May to June, protecting earlier sown seeds with fleece if there is a risk of frost.
Transplanting
Ensure your seedbed is free from weeds. Sheltered sunny sites are best, as sunflowers don’t like strong winds or shade. They prefer moist but free-draining soils, so incorporating organic matter is beneficial. Large varieties will need more space than smaller ones, so bear that in mind when spacing in your rows. Young plants need hardening off before planting.
Plant Care
Keep the area weed-free and watered during hot spells. You can mulch around the plants to keep in moisture and prevent weeds. Stems will need support, especially in windy growing conditions.
Challenges
Generally pest and disease-free, young seedlings will need protection from slugs. If they are hardened off well, they are less susceptible to attack. Sunflowers do not like cold weather, so if you are in a colder area, sow later for best results. If you want to harvest the seeds, cover them with a net to stop the birds from eating them (maybe leave a few uncovered for the birds too).
Harvest
Pick the flower heads for cut flowers when the blooms are half open. Ideally harvest the flowers in the morning when temperatures are low and plant water content is high. Plants will arrange better if left to sit in water for a few hours after cutting.
When they start to droop, they are forming seeds. If you’re growing for wildlife benefits, just enjoy them where they are and let them set seed for the finches; the stems are good overwintering spots for beneficial insects.
Culinary Ideas And Uses
Sunflower seeds for eating are generally grown in large quantities and shelled by machine, as doing it by hand is very time-consuming. Choose a variety with large flowers and large seeds to make it worth the effort. You can roast them in the shell and crack and nibble your way through them.
Use the petals to decorate salads and cakes.
Seed Saving
Once the seed heads have drooped and turned brown, you can collect the whole heads to dry indoors for at least another week. Rub the seeds away from the seed head; the central ones are usually the largest and best quality. You can separate seeds from chaff before storing in a cool dark place; seeds should remain viable for around 2 years.
Most popular Sunflower
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Sunflower – Giant Yellow (Organic)
£2.20 – £4.00 Add to basket This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageSunflower – Giant Yellow (Organic)
A very large yellow variety of sunflower, producing impressive blooms up to 30cm in diameter. No surprises here! This is a sunflower that does exactly what it says on the tin. Tall and sturdy plants producing huge single yellow flowers. The flowers are much loved by bees and if you leave the plants over the winter they provide a valuable ecological role as winter bird food (the seeds) and a habitat for many insects (the stems). If you have heavy clay soil, incorporating the remains of the plants into the soil in spring will lighten the soil due its high carbon content.
We always grow loads of sunflowers, dotted in amongst our other crops. They are really easy to grow and bring such a shameless joy to the garden. They are pure flower and nothing else!(Approximate seed count – 30)
£2.20 – £4.00 -
Sunflower – Sonja (Organic)
£2.35 – £6.90 Add to basket This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageSunflower – Sonja (Organic)
A wonderful multi-headed variety, particularly for cut flower use. This beauty has become a huge hit on the cut flower scene, producing around eight strong stems per plant. The blooms are a compact 10-15cm diameter, with striking with deep yellow petals and dark centres. The plants are fairly small, growing to around three to four feet tall.
£2.35 – £6.90 -
Sunflower – Vanilla Ice (Organic)
£2.25 Add to basketSunflower – Vanilla Ice (Organic)
Multi branching variety with creamy lemon yellow blooms and dark centres. This is a special sunflower with lots of smaller, very pretty blooms. The pale lemon yellow colour deepening towards the centre which is a dark brown add a delicate touch as a cut flower and in bouquets. It makes a great garden plant too as it flowers over a long time.
(Approximate seed count – 24)
£2.25 -
Sunflower – Teddy Bear (Organic)
£2.35 Add to basketSunflower – Teddy Bear (Organic)
Coming soon… currently being processed and tested
A quirky dwarf variety producing fluffy ultra-double blooms. This unique sunflower is named Teddy Bear due its very soft pompom like blooms with almost no smooth centre. The plants have a branching habit so will produce multiple flowering stems on each plant.
(Approximate seed count – 24)£2.35
