Growing sunflowers

Sunflowers are a great way to add vibrancy and colour to your garden. They are easy to grow needing just 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. They prefer a rich, composted soil but can happily grow in the ground or in containers.

Sunflowers require deep, regular watering to encourage good root growth and a large, healthy flower head. Apply a liquid fertiliser fortnightly to boost their height and improve flower development. It is a good idea to spread a layer of straw mulch around the base to keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from growing nearby.

Late spring or early summer is the ideal time to sow seed when the soil is starting to warm. Good companions to plant alongside sunflowers include cucumbers, melons, sweetcorn, and squash. Depending on the variety, taller sunflowers will become top heavy and may require staking to protect them against damage from wind or rain.

Protect sunflowers from snails and slugs when young. Bait traps, diatomaceous earth, crushed eggshells or organic snail & slug pellets can help protect vulnerable seedlings. They will also need protection from birds, like cockatoos, when the seeds start to form in the centre of the flower, unless you are happy to share your harvest.

 

When your sunflowers have finished flowering, save the seeds to replant next year, or enjoy eating them roasted or raw, by first removing the tough outer shell.