Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Big, cheerful, and almost impossible to fail with. Direct-sow the seeds, give them sun, and watch them track the light skyward — then leave the seed heads for the birds.
Growing conditions
How to grow it
- 1
Direct-sow in place
Sunflowers resent , so sow seeds 2–3 cm deep right where they'll grow, once frost has passed. takes 7–10 days.
- 2
Thin the seedlings
When seedlings are ~8 cm tall, thin to the strongest one every 30–45 cm so each has room to bulk up without competing for light and water.
- 3
Water deeply while young, then ease off
Water to establish a strong taproot, then water sparingly — established sunflowers are quite drought-tolerant.
- 4
Stake the giants
Tall varieties can topple in wind or under a heavy head. loosely so the stem can still flex a little, which keeps it strong.
- 5
Leave the heads for pollinators and birds
The flower draws bees for ; once it fades, leave the seed head to dry and the birds, or harvest the seeds yourself.
Gardener's notes
- Sow a few seeds every 2 weeks for continuous blooms.
- Young sunflowers track the sun (heliotropism); mature heads usually settle facing east.