Visiting a field full of sunflowers is one of the many activities to look forward to in summer, but if you don’t feel like waiting that long, you can also easily add the flower to your garden. They may not match the grandeur of a sprawling sunflower field, but planting a few certainly brightens up an outdoor space, and they’re relatively straightforward to look after.
Sunflowers are also great for wildlife-friendly gardens, with bees and butterflies feeding on the flowers once they’re in bloom. While they might be intimidating given the heights they can reach, they’re actually incredibly approachable plants that even beginner gardeners can successfully sow following a few steps.
However, if you do want to add them to your outdoor space, either in a pot or directly to flowerbeds, you need to act quickly.
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In a video posted on TikTok, horticulturist @gardening.with.ish shared a few easy steps to follow when it comes to planting “healthy, happy and tall” sunflowers that will bloom by August.
Before choosing your sunflower, the gardener advised viewers to consider where they want to plant them and the amount of space available, reports the Express.
If you’ve got a smaller garden, and want something more manageable in size, Ish recommends the Little Dorrit which is considered a dwarf variety, making it an excellent choice for borders or even pots.
But if you’ve got some space to play with, Ish suggests trying out the giant sunflower, which can reach an impressive 1.8m in height, or the titan variety which measures up to 3m.
Also producing giant flower heads, if you’re looking to attract birds in the garden, the titan variety is a great source of food for them.
You don’t necessarily need to go for a yellow sunflower either, with Ish highlighting the evening red variety which produces deep bronze petals.
While smaller varieties like the Little Dorrit can be planted in pots, larger varieties “need something to anchor into” and fare better when planted directly into the ground.
Smaller varieties of sunflowers can simply be grown in pots around the garden -Credit:PaulMaguire via Getty Images
Getting the soil right is crucial for sunflowers in order to prevent potential root rot. “Sunflowers love a really good well-rotted compost that has a good amount of drainage in it”, said Ish.
He suggests using a multipurpose compost as this “will drain quite nicely but still retain a little bit of moisture which will keep these nice and happy”.
The plant generally requires around six to eight hours of sunlight a day, so ensure that you position them in an area that receives ample sunlight too.
Once your soil is ready, and you’ve found a sunflower-friendly spot in your garden, add the seeds but ensure “you only plant them about 1.5cm deep” with Ish adding that they “really don’t need to be that deep.”
When they start sprouting, water the plant every few days, and as summer approaches, “don’t be afraid to water it everyday” to keep your flowers “happy and hydrated”.