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Growing Sunflowers
– From Teddy Bears To Giants

By Sandy, The Gardener

As the days are now getting longer and warmer we long to spend more time outdoors to come out of our winter shell and embrace the awakening of nature. And what better way to do this than gardening?

The best way to get your kids interested in gardening is to get them growing their own plants. Give them their own small area of the garden where they can plant flowers or vegetables, or some pots to plant some seeds in.

One of the easiest plants to get them started is Sunflowers. Sunflowers are easy to grow and the seeds are cheap to buy. Children of all ages love them, and because they are quick growing they keep you interested over several months.

For the competitive amongst you – see who can grow the tallest sunflower or the largest sunflower head. Choose a variety such as Russian Giant and you can almost literally watch it grow.

How to get started:

Sow the seeds in the spring, once the last frosts have passed. Sunflowers unsurprisingly love the sun, so plant them where they will be in full sun. Sow the seeds about 2cm deep into moist soil, then leave to germinate. After the seedlings pop up, water well and keep fairly moist until the seeds sprout. To get the largest flowers feed them as they grow with fertiliser such as composted manure.

Russian Giants will easily reach two metres tall or higher, and will grow as much as 30cm in one week during the first couple of months. If your children have ever read Jack and the Beanstalk then they will start to imagine that they can climb to the land of giants up in the clouds above.

As proof that sunflowers worship the sun, look at them at different times of the day and you will see they turn their heads to follow the sun’s path. They face the east in the morning, gradually turning until they face west at sunset.

Later in the season, as the petals fall off, the seeds begin to form on the head. If you leave the head standing the birds will start to feast on the seeds as they build up their strength for the winter. If you want to keep the seeds, maybe to grow more sunflowers again next year, then cut off the head and allow the seeds to dry out. You can then rub the seeds to work them loose and store them in a sealed container.

For those looking for more child-size plants try the Teddy Bear sunflowers. These cuddly little plants grow oversized pom-pom style heads that only reach about 60cm in height. Teddy Bear sunflowers are great for growing in pots or containers, and therefore ideal for smaller gardens.

This is a good opportunity to spend some precious time with the children and get them involved in gardening. And as the children get a chance to take in some fresh air they will also learn more about the environment and see nature at work.

About the Author:
Sandy is an amateur gardener who is splitting her time between her gardens in the UK and in Mediterranean France. She presents a personal account of activities and practical tips in her gardening diary. You can visit her website during the summer to compare your sunflowers with hers.

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