How fast do giant sunflowers grow

Place covers over germinating sunflower seeds and keep them protected until they are several inches tall at least. Options for protecting the seeds and seedlings include fine wire cloches, dollar store mesh waste baskets , or lightweight frost cloths. On the flip side, the hungry critters return when the flower heads start turning to seed. Use bags or netting to protect the flower heads. Or let them dine. You can read more on pests and diseases that affect sunflowers here.

Personally, I am very cautious with fertilizers because of the environmental repercussions, so do your homework first. I avoid synthetic fertilizers and choose organic, slow-release amendments with care.

I also found tips specifically for encouraging extraordinary growth saying to dig shallow trenches in circles around the plant—about 12 to inches out, and add liquid fertilizer there, to reach more of the roots.

More is not more with plants: they can only absorb what they need when they need it under the right conditions and surplus can harm the environment. I mentioned that sunflowers do not like to dry out—or get waterlogged—and that means keeping the water nice and even, right through the growing season. As the plant gets tall and starts to bud, you may notice that sunflowers start needing more water. You may need to increase your watering routine, especially during dry spells and heat waves, which tend to go together.

This is an extra tip if you really want height beyond anything else. To keep your sunflower putting all its energy toward height, you can remove any extra side shoots, and grow just single stalk with a flower on top. You will end up with a giant bean pole, but, if this is what makes you win the neighborhood contest, so be it. TIP: Chickens love to eat sunflower leaves! If you enjoy tips like this, sign up here for the free Empress of Dirt Newsletter.

It can be grown as a perennial up to hardiness Zone 3. You can grow many small varieties of sunflowers in pots and containers. Dwarf sunflowers are perfect for growing in pots. Instead of featuring one sunflower on a single stalk, dwarf varieties are bushy and may feature more than one bloom per plant. The sunflowers grow up to five inches in diameter on stalks up to three feet tall.

No need to wonder about how to care for sunflowers in pots, this annual plant has the same needs for water, fertilization and sunlight in either gardens or containers. When sunflowers are young they exhibit heliotropism. This means their flowering heads track the sun as it moves across the sky.

As the stem matures and becomes woody, the tracking usually becomes less noticeable. The leaves may still follow the sun, but the flower will not. In many varieties, maturity causes the sunflower to face the ground, which reduces the risk of bird damage. Nozzles with Swivel Connect. The swivel allows the nozzles to pivot without. As winter marches on, avid gardeners become more and more eager to get growing.

While you may not be able to dig your spade into the soil just yet, there is plenty. Design a Beautiful Drought Resistant Yard.

Learn everything you need to know about drought tolerant landscaping, including the best type of plants,. Choose a Sunny Spot It almost goes without saying that sunflowers love the sun. Prepare the Soil Well-draining soil is essential. Time It Right Choosing when to plant sunflower seeds requires a bit of waiting. Plant the Seeds Different sunflowers require different planting depths and spacing.

Give Plenty of Moisture Because sunflower seeds contain large amounts of natural oil, they require a lot of water for germination. Thin the Seedlings Once the sunflower seedlings have their first set of true leaves, thin the seedlings to the recommended row spacing for your variety.

Water Although sunflowers require a lot of water to germinate, they only require an inch of water per week during the growing season.

Control Weeds One of the greatest sunflower challenges is weed control. Manage Pests and Disease Although many pests love sunflower plants, the damage is usually minimal. Harvesting Sunflower Seeds Harvesting sunflower seeds is the perfect way to enjoy both the beauty of the flowers in your garden and their delicate seeds. Cover the Sunflower Heads Seeds naturally fall out of the flower heads as they dry. Remove the Seeds Once thoroughly dry, seeds are easy to remove.

Store for Flavor To keep sunflower seeds as fresh as possible, store in airtight glass jars in the refrigerator. Types of Sunflowers Sunflowers come in a wide range of sizes and colors.

Some of the most popular garden sunflowers include: Mammoth — the giant of garden sunflowers. This heirloom plant grows up to feet tall and features huge inch wide blooms with abundant seeds. Quick growth makes for a perfect hedge, screen or sunforest for children. Plant seeds 1-inch deep and space 2-feet apart for the best results.

Autumn Beauty — a vibrant choice for flower gardens. The bold flowers feature 8-inch wide blooms in bright yellow, bronze and purple combinations. Growing up to 4-feet tall and featuring multiple branches, Autumn Beauty makes an excellent cut flower for floral arrangements. Also known as the common sunflower, the plant has edible flower buds which are delicious when battered and fried.

Seeds should be planted 2-inches deep and spaced inches apart. Moulin Rouge — not your typical sunflower. The dark red petals only have a slight hint of yellow at their base, which is highlighted by an ebony center. Reaching only 4-feet tall, the dark blooms are just 4-inches wide. Moulin Rouge is an excellent cut flower because it is pollenless.

Teddy Bear — features fully double, fluffy flowers reaching up to 6 inches in diameter. Without the flat center, the bright deep yellow flowers look like large powder puffs. This dwarf sunflower is ideal for borders and containers.

Thin to one inch once seedlings are three weeks old. How fast do sunflowers grow? How long do sunflowers live? Are sunflowers annuals or perennials? Can you grow sunflowers in a pot? Why do my sunflowers begin to face the ground?

Previous Article. Next Article. Explore more Gardening related topics. Most of Renee's Garden sunflower varieties are from his exuberant collection. Fortunately for home gardeners with giant sunflower aspirations, Tom has also focused on breeding the ultimate tall competition varieties " Giant Edible Sunzilla " and " Heirloom Titan ".

Each year, Tom saves his longest stalk and largest seed head of this variety in his garage to measure against the following years. He currently prizes a foot stalk and a 24 in. In this article, Tom has generously agreed to share his method of growing giants like these in your home garden. Sunflowers need full sun; see hours of direct sunlight per day — the more the better if you are trying to grow them to their maximum potential.

Choose a well-drained location, and prepare your soil by digging an area of about feet in circumference to a depth of about 2 feet. Sunflowers are heavy feeders and deplete the soil more than many other crops — especially if you are growing them to reach a massive height so the nutrient supply must be replenished each season.

Work in a slow release granular fertilizer — one that also contains trace minerals — about 8 in. Tom uses Osmocote, but since I'm an organic gardener and raise rabbits, I plan to mix in a bucketful of composted rabbit manure plus a balanced slow-release granular fish fertilizer. Depending on your soil, you may wish to add, in addition to composted manure and an organic slow-release balanced fertilizer, an organic amendment containing trace minerals such as greensand or dried seaweed.

To sow seeds, water your soil, and press seeds 1 inch deep in clumps of seeds about in. Put snail bait in a circle around the clump I like the product Sluggo because it is non-toxic to humans, pets and wildlife , and cover loosely with netting to protect emerging seedlings from birds. If the soil is kept moist, seedlings will appear within days. When the plants grow to 3 inches, thin them to the most vigorous 3 or 4.

When they are a foot tall, thin them to 2, and when they reach 2 feet high, select the best, most vigorous candidate. The point of this gradual thinning method is to ensure that you're left with at least one good seedling in the event that predators damage any of the others. Remember, it's critical to thin back to the best single seedling if you're going for giant sunflowers.

Leaving even several seedlings growing too close together will keep you from growing a giant in your garden. Feed often and water regularly. While the plant is small, water around the root zone, about in. For larger plants, scrape out a small doughnut-shaped moat about 18 inches around the plant and about four inches deep.