Summer is the best time of year to see sunflowers. Sunflowers are heliotropic annual flowering plants (Helianthus annuus). This flower is heliotropic, which means that it grows in the direction of the sun’s rays. Autumn beauty, Moulin rouge, Mammoth, and Teddy bear are just a few of the gorgeous varieties among the more than 70 available. To learn how to grow sunflowers from seed or stem cuttings, consult our guide.
Seeds and stem cuttings can be used to grow sunflowers. The bottom line is that you want to plant your sunflower seeds about half an inch deep in a sunny, well-draining location. Maintain a distance of two to three feet between rows and a distance of six feet between plants.
Germination can take anywhere from 10 to 14 days. Using stem cuttings to grow sunflowers, select a stem that is at least four to six inches long and has no flower buds. Plant the remaining two to three leaves in the soil after removing the bottom leaves. Eventually, the roots will appear after a few more days of waiting.
If you want to know everything you need to know about growing healthy sunflowers, keep reading.
How to Sow Sunflower Seeds and Get Started
Planting the sunflower seedlings
Soil mix, tools, season, and containers should all be considered before planting seeds. You’ll want to use a medium-sized (4 to 5 inches deep) container with drainage holes on the bottom.
This mix should fill 70% to 75% of the container. Make an even surface by firming up the soil and pressing it down.
After that, place the seeds two to three inches apart on a flat surface. Make sure that the seeds are not too close to the pot’s rims. Immediately after placing the seeds in the container, cover them with a half-inch layer of the same soil mix that you used.
To ensure good soil contact, press the soil again. Contact between the seed and the soil aids in the germination. Do not move the seeds when watering them with a shower.
Seedling Care and feeding
During the first 10 to 12 days, make sure the soil is always moist in the container and place it in direct sunlight. Seeds begin to grow after a week. Every day, make sure to moisten the soil in the pot. It will take about a month and a half for the first true leaves to appear.
NPK 19:19:19 fertilizer mixed in 1-liter water can be used to help seedlings grow faster. Using this fertilizer once every two weeks will ensure that your seedlings grow into strong plants. Transplant the seedlings to their final location when they reach a height of five to six inches.
Transplanting
Using a gardening tool, carefully remove the plant from the root ball without damaging it. Take a 10 to the 12-inch pot for each sunflower plant if you’re going to grow them in a pot. Drainage holes should be lined with small stones and pebbles to prevent the soil from being washed away.
Put your soil mix in, but leave the top two inches of your pot untouched. Place the plant in the center of the hole and cover it with soil to keep it in place.
Drainage holes at the bottom of the plant should be filled to the brim with water. Planting these sunflowers in a larger pot will allow you to keep them together in clumps if desired. Keep a distance of five to six inches between each plant.
Maturity
Before and after flower bud development, watering is critical, and failing to do so can impede the plant’s development. After sowing the seeds, buds will begin to form in 60 to 65 days, and the flowers will begin to bloom in 70 days.
These flowers will continue to bloom for 10 to 15 days after they have been planted. It takes between 100 and 125 days for seedlings to mature. You’ll have enough seeds for the following year if you save the seeds from the brown flowers.
The Stem Cutting Method for Sunflower Plant Propagation
Pick a healthy stem with mature leaves that is four to six inches long. Using a 45-degree angle, cut the bottom of the plant in half. Make sure the plant is well-watered. Dip the cutting in honey and cinnamon powder to hasten to root.
The cutting should be kept in the shade for a few days before being moved to full sunlight. Your sunflower will be ready to bloom in the next 50 to 60 days because sunflowers are fast growers. You can grow sunflowers in pots or directly on the ground, depending on the variety.
Planting dwarf varieties in pots is an option, but larger varieties, such as ‘Mammoth,’ should be done directly in the ground instead. When they die, they leave behind a lot of organic matter in the soil because of their extensive root system.
So, if you want to improve soil fertility, plant these annual flowers in your garden.
a Few Crucial Pointers
These tips will help you avoid any mistakes when planting sunflowers in your garden. Be confident that your garden will be a sight to behold if you follow these pointers. Sunflowers are surprisingly hardy when it comes to caring and feeding.
They don’t ask for anything special aside from routine maintenance. If you keep the growing conditions normal, your sunflower should bloom happily. See what it needs to grow in the sections below.
Season of Sowing
Summer to early fall is the best time to see the vibrant sunflowers in bloom. Seeds should be planted in the spring to allow them to bloom in the rainy and humid summer months.
Mixture of soil
Sunflowers can tolerate a wide range of soil types, but they do best in a mix that drains well and retains moisture. Improved soil mix yields better results for your plant. Grow sunflowers in a loose, well-draining soil mix.
If you want to avoid root rot, use a mixture of 70% coco peat and 30% compost mixed with one tablespoon of powdered antifungals. To create a quality soil mix, thoroughly combine the ingredients listed above. Use a 50/25/25 mix of garden soil, compost, and coco peat for larger plants.
Requirements for Natural Light
A sunny location with five to eight hours of daily direct sunlight is ideal for growing sunflowers. Long, hot summers are required for the best flowering.
Watering
Because sunflowers thrive in the sun, they also require a lot of water. The health of your plant depends on a regular watering schedule. The leaves will begin to droop and the plant will die quickly if you don’t give it enough water.
Put your finger in the soil and see if it’s dry to your second knuckle to determine if your plant needs water.
Requirements for Fertilizers
The heavy fertilizer use of sunflowers is well-known. To encourage new growth and flowering, apply NPK fertilizer to your plant every 10 days or biweekly. To activate nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium after fertilization, water the plant thoroughly.
Nitrogen is a key component in leaf growth, so pay more attention to it. It is the leaves that aid in photosynthesis, which in turn produces flowers, and thus the reason these plants grow so quickly.
When the plant is ready, the flowers will bloom. Fertilize during the active growth period with nitrogen-rich fertilizer to maximize yields. Nitrogen-rich fertilizer can be found in fish fertilizer. Another excellent source of nitrogen is well-aged manure.
This list includes worm castings and seed meals as nitrogen-rich sources of fertilizer.
Temperature
Warm weather is ideal for sunflowers.
However, they don’t give a damn about when you plant your seeds. During the spring and summer months, you can sow the seeds, and you can enjoy the blooms until early autumn. They despise being outside in the cold.
Despite the fact that they are able to withstand mild temperatures, they will not be as contented as they are in warmer conditions. As a result, do not attempt to plant them when it is below freezing outside.
Deadheading
Removing spent or dead flowers from your plant should be a regular part of your routine maintenance.
To “deadhead,” or remove the spent or dead flowers, is a gardening term. This aids the plant in utilizing its resources to produce more flowers, which in turn aids in the plant’s overall fresh growth. It also aids in the plant’s longevity.
So, when the time comes, take care to deadhead your flowers.
Clip off the main flower as soon as it begins to droop, allowing the secondary flowers to thrive.
Conclusion
Pollinators like bees, which aid in seed fertilization, are attracted to sunflowers, making them an essential part of any garden. You’ll have a healthy plant if you follow these simple guidelines.
In comparison to propagation by stem cuttings, we suggest starting sunflowers from seeds if you want better flowering results. Having it around plants that require pollination to produce fruit is a great idea.
