How to Plant Sunflowers
Are you curious about how to plant sunflowers? You’ve come to the right place.
Sunflowers are the epitome of summer, large and in charge, and one of the most iconic flower varieties grown in the garden. Their shape, size, and colors are unmistakable, and their benefits for the garden are many.
Their scientific name, Helianthus annuus, comes from the Greek words helios, meaning “sun”, and anthos, meaning “flower”.
When it comes to sunflowers, there are many different varieties worth growing. There is bound to be a variety that prefers your local climate and soil, and that matches your intended usage (for example, pollen-free varieties that are best for bouquets).
So if you are curious to learn about sunflowers, your search is over.
Keep reading to learn about the best ways to plant and care for sunflowers, and how to use them once they’ve bloomed.
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Can You Plant Sunflowers Straight Into the Ground?
Yes, you can sow sunflowers directly into the ground. Sunflowers provide many benefits regardless of if you start them indoors or outside.
Sunflowers attract helpful pollinating insects like bees and butterflies.
Sunflowers can provide shade for other plants that prefer dappled sunlight.
The roots of sunflower can detox the soil of heavy metals.
Their beautiful and classic aesthetic is unmatched.
Their seeds can be harvested, processed, and consumed.
Here’s a helpful video to watch as you learn how to grow sunflowers:
Sowing sunflowers outdoors precisely where you want them to grow is probably the most popular method. It is also very reliable because the germination rate of sunflowers is so high.
However, you can also start sunflowers indoors in containers. If you do start your seeds indoors, we recommend using a peat-based biodegradable pot so that when it comes to transplanting them outside, you can plant the pot directly into the ground without uprooting the seedling.
Doing this will help you avoid damaging the brittle seedling stem.
Do Sunflowers Need to Be Planted in Full Sun?
Yes, sunflowers require full sun. This normally means that sunflowers need between 6 and 8 hours of sunlight every day. In order for them to bloom, sunflowers need long and hot summer-like conditions, so ample exposure to the sun is a must.
Sunflowers are actually heliotropic, meaning they turn their flowers to follow the sun throughout the day. In the mornings, they position themselves facing east, then follow the sun west. At night, they reposition themselves to face east again.
It should be noted that this heliotropism only occurs during the early stages of a sunflower’s growth. Once the flower head grows heavy with seeds, the flower is less prone to rotating. Instead, the flower chooses a comfortable eastwardly direction and remains there until it dies off.
What Are the Steps to Planting a Sunflower?
Planting sunflowers is not an overly complicated process. In fact, because sunflowers are known to be so robust, there is very little pressure to plant them absolutely perfectly. Instead, they’ll do their best to thrive in practically any condition. Nonetheless, below you’ll find our preferred process for planting sunflowers.
Select the Best Spot
Strategizing about the best spot for your sunflowers is an essential first step. The first thing to think about is where they can receive the most sunlight. Try to avoid planting sunflowers in areas where buildings, bushes, and trees might shade them.
On the other hand, it’s also helpful to think about where the sunflowers themselves will be casting shade once they mature and grow tall. Ideally, you don’t want to plant sunflowers in areas where their shade will negatively affect another sun-loving plant with unwanted shade.
Prepare the Soil
We always like to recommend preparing the soil before planting. Sunflowers prefer well-draining soil. The soil should not pool after it rains. If you think your area has too compact soil, you can till and aerate the soil ahead of time. You can also add compost or mulch to help lighten up the soil.
Sunflowers prefer slightly acidic soil, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. It’s best to test your soil with a home kit before planting. If necessary, you can amend your soil with compost to help either increase or decrease the soil pH.
Choose the Right Time
Choosing the right time to plant sunflowers requires a bit of patience. You do not want to get overzealous and grow them too early. Instead, you want to wait until about three weeks after the last frost.
Typically, the soil has reached a temperature of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at this time. As the soil continues to warm with spring weather, the seeds will germinate with soil temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunflower seeds will begin to germinate between 10 and 14 days when soil temperatures are correct.
Plant the Seeds
Planting sunflower seeds requires a little bit of attention to detail. The specifics of seed depth and spacing will depend on the variety of sunflower you are growing. There are some general guidelines to follow that are helpful.
Generally speaking, sunflower seeds should be planted about ½ inch below the soil. The space in between the seeds should be at least 6 inches. If you are planting multiple rows of sunflowers, it’s best to plant the rows with 2 to 3 feet of space between them.
When planting sunflowers, I recommend putting 5 to 6 seeds in each hole. This will increase your seeds’ chances of success because you are bound to get some duds. Later on in the process, you will thin out the seedlings if multiple sprouts come from the same area.
Hydrate Thoroughly
Sunflower seeds require a lot of water for the germination process. After planting the seeds in their respective holes, make sure to hydrate the area thoroughly. During the first two weeks, keep the soil moist with frequent but light waterings.
Then, when germination occurs and exciting new growth appears, you will know you did your job correctly!
Thin Out The Seedlings
You probably planted multiple seeds into each new hole if you took our advice during the planting step. This may mean that multiple sprouts may be growing in one place, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Thinning out seedlings is vital to avoid overcrowding.
Once the seedlings have their first set of leaves, you can begin to thin out the crowd. Simply separate and pull out seedlings until you achieve the recommended spacing for your variety. Thinning seedlings is a good idea because overcrowding commonly results in smaller flowers.
Once you have the desired volume of seedlings, simply take care of them like normal and enjoy the show!
Best Sunflower Varieties to Grow
Nowadays, there are myriad varieties of sunflowers to grow. The right one for you will depend on the intended usage of the plant.
Do you want some giant sunflowers to decorate your yard?
Do you want to grow sunflowers for bouquets? For their seeds? Or maybe, do you want to try a colored variety of sunflower?
The exact variety you choose will depend on the answers to the above questions. To help you start brainstorming, here are a few of our favorite varieties.
Skyscraper
The Skyscraper Sunflower is one of the tallest and most popular varieties. In the right conditions, it can grow upwards of 12 feet tall. The seed heads are equally large, with flower petals that can sometimes grow to 14 inches long.
A durable stalk holds up the Skyscraper Sunflower. However, adding additional support may be required to help the flower grow. Just keep an eye on it, and if it begins to droop, you can add support.
American Giant
The American Giant is the only other variety that can grow larger than the Skyscraper. This variety of sunflower can grow to be 15 feet tall! So it’s no wonder we’ve come to call this thing ‘giant’.
If you’ve chosen this variety, make sure to plant it with ample space. Its roots will need to spread widely to establish themselves. Also, remember to make sure the overhead area is clear for this variety to mature. And to consider what plants will grow in the shade of this towering sunflower.
Sundance Kid
Not all sunflowers are enormous. There are also dwarf varieties, and the Sundance Kid is one of the most popular. The Sundance Kid was once of the first dwarf varieties to be domesticated. It only grows between 1 and 2 feet tall.
It has unique bi-color red and yellow petals that look fantastic in bouquets. For that reason, we love growing the Sundance Kid to help decorate our home and to give as gifts to friends and family.
Suntastic Yellow
Another popular dwarf variety is the Suntastic Yellow Sunflower. This variety does not grow very tall. In fact, it often only reaches about 20 inches tall. Because this variety is smaller, it’s commonly grown in groupings of 3 or 4 plants.
What the Suntastic lacks in height is made up for in color. The blooms, albeit small, boast incredibly bright hues of yellow that can brighten up any space. The Suntastic Yellow is another variety that we love to incorporate into homemade flower arrangements.
Earthwalker
If you are curious about growing a ‘non-traditional’ variety of sunflower, then how about you try out the Earthwalker variety. Instead of yellow flower petals, the Earthwalker is known for its earth hues of brown, red, burgundy, and gold.
The Earthwalker can grow between 6 and 9 feet tall when grown in the right conditions. Its unique coloring and larger size make for a commanding centerpiece to any outdoor garden.
Titan
Not all sunflowers produce edible seeds, especially ornamental varieties. The Titan, on the other hand, is known for its big and delicious sunflower seeds. The seed head of the Titan can even grow to be 2 feet in width!
How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds
If you want to grow sunflowers to harvest and eat their seeds, follow these quick and easy steps:
Cut off the seed heads once all the flowers have dropped off and the head begins to droop (leave a portion of the stem on the seed head for more effortless hanging)
Hang up the seed head to dry and attach a bag below it to catch any falling seeds. Leave the seed heads for a couple of weeks to allow them to dry out completely.
Once dry, scrape the seeds from the head and collect them for processing.
Then, enjoy to your liking. You can roast them up or eat the seeds raw. Either way is delicious and nutritious.
Uses for Sunflowers
Sunflowers are not only grown for their good looks. They are helpful in many other ways as well:
Healthy snack: if you grow a variety that produces edible seeds, you can harvest and process them to keep around the house as a snack or salad topping. You can even make sunflower oil.
Homemade bird feed: you might not be a fan of sunflower seeds, but birds sure are. You can grow sunflowers to harvest their seeds to use in your bird feeders.
Beautiful flower arrangements: dwarf and pollen-free varieties of sunflowers are ideal for homemade flower arrangments and gifts
Attract wildlife: sunflowers are great at attracting wildlife. Pollinating insects and birds both love their bright colors, pollen and seeds.
Greenhouse Tips for Sunflowers
Sunflowers don’t only have to be grown outdoors. Sunflowers can also be grown indoors in greenhouses or even under grow lights in your home. If you want to try out sunflowers, here are a couple of tips:
Select a dwarf variety of sunflower, like Elf, Little Becka, or Sundance Kid. These usually only grow between 16 and 36 inches tall.
Plant seeds ½ inches deep in individual peat pots with well-draining potting soil.
If you’re starting indoors and it’s cool, consider putting your seed trays on heat mats until they germinate.
Mist your seedlings with water daily until they’re ready to be transplanted.
Whether indoors or outdoors, sunflowers are the perfect summer flower. Their cheery aesthetic and simple maintenance requirements make them a joy to grow season after season.
Ready to start growing your own sunflowers? Make sure you add them to your gardening plans this year - and consider planting a variety for endless color.
Do you grow sunflowers in your garden? What are your best tips?
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