Growing sunflowers with kids
Sunflowers are huge, cheerful, fast-growing flowers that last all summer! What's more, you can eat the seeds - just sprinkle them over cereal, salad or eat them on their own as a delicious, healthy snack. Birds love eating them too.
What you'll need:
• Packet of sunflower seeds
• Containers and multi-purpose
compost (if using)
• Garden canes and string
• Watering can
Step 1: Prepare the ground
• Choose a sunny spot. Sunflowers like to grow in full sun.
• If sowing in the ground, remove any weeds.
• Rake the soil to a fine, crumbly texture.
• Sunflowers grow best in the ground - but you can also grow
small ones in pots. If you're using them, fill with compost.
Step 2: Sow your seeds
• Choose a packet of sunflower seeds - remember to check how
tall they'll grow!
• Make some holes 1.5cm deep. Leave a 10cm space between
each seed.
• Carefully drop the seeds in and cover with soil.
• Water the seeds gently.
• If growing in pots, use one seed per pot.
Step 3: Care for your sunflowers
• Slugs and snails like to eat the new shoots! Protect them by
placing half of a plastic bottle over your seedlings.
• Water your plants regularly.
• Thin your plants out as they grow, to about 45cm apart.
• Feed your sunflowers with tomato feed just before they flower!
• Once your sunflowers grow taller than you, support the stem
with a cane and tie it on loosely with string.
• After flowering, leave the faded heads so the birds can eat the
seeds - and harvest some for next year's crop!
Popular sunflower varieties
There's plenty more information in the downloadable guide . Print it out for more detailed instructions and even more sunflowers facts!
Click the image to download the full pdf guide