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Sunflowers are the epitome of summer and radiate a good mood in every garden and on the balcony. We have useful tips for your sunflower.

Sunflowers are a must in any garden

Summer, sun, sunflowers - the genus of sunflowers (Helianthus) embodies the summery soul of the floral world. Whether meter-high specimens in the garden, small varieties for the pot or particularly colorful flowers in the vase: the sun worshipers look good everywhere and become a real eye-catcher if they are provided with sufficient sun, water and nutrients. With their nectar and kernels, they not only offer a food source for native insects, birds and other animals. Even the hobby gardener can use their own harvest as a he althy snack, for oil production or as seed for the next season.

Sunflowers: meaning, origin and properties

With its large, yellow blossoms, the sunflower is the epitome of the warm season. Because the large flowers not only resemble a sun, the love of these plants for the life-giving light even goes so far that the flower follows the day above the sun. She doesn't take her eyes off the sun all day and closes her flower in the evening, saddened by the separation. Like chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum) and dahlias (Dahlia), the sunflower belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae ). The genus consists of 67 species, all native to North America. Already around 2500 BC. The sunflower was demonstrably cultivated on this continent. Nowadays, giving a sunflower as a gift is a sincere "I like you" expression.

The blossom of the sunflower follows the day over the sun

There are both annual and perennial plants that can reach heights of 20 centimeters to 4.5 meters. In Europe, the actual sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) are known as cultivated plants. They are used as food, forage crops and also for the production of biodiesel. Sunflower seeds are also real vitamin bombs. They contain vitamins A, B, E and F, and they areRich in vegetable protein and minerals. The roots are strong and deep, allowing sunflowers to loosen the soil for subsequent crops.

Sunflowers: The Blooming Season

The basket-shaped inflorescences appear between June and October, depending on the species. The large pseudo-flowers house thousands of small flower tongues. A single sunflower seed is then formed from each of these.

Sunflower species: diversity in growth and flower colour

The genus of sunflowers (Helianthus) includes 67 species. Among them are annual species like H. annuus, but also perennial species like H. decapetalus or H. microcephalus. But not only the endurance of the species differs. Countless varieties present themselves with single, semi-double or double flowers. Varieties that stay small, such as 'Double Dandy' or 'Little Leo', do particularly well in pots, while large varieties such as 'Prado Red' or 'Sonja' transform your bed into a sunny sea of flowers. The flower colors range from the typical yellow tones such as 'American Giant' to orange varieties such as 'Sunrich Orange' and multicolored varieties such as the red and white 'Floristan'.

An eye-catcher in the garden: 'Floristan'

We have put together a larger selection of annual and perennial types of sunflower for beds and pots for you here.

Buy and care for sunflowers in pots

With sunflowers in a pot, you can let the sun rise anywhere. However, when buying plants, you should always think about the later size of the fully grown plant. After the purchase, it is important to ensure that there is an adequate supply, because the small power plants produce large amounts of biomass and therefore quickly consume water and nutrients.

When growing in pots, it is advisable to buy a small variety

Sunflowers in pots: what to consider when buying

Always ask the retailer about the exact variety of sunflower. Everything is represented, from 30 centimeters to several meters in height. Small varieties such as 'Pacino', 'Sunspot' or 'Orange Sun' are best suited for pot cultivation. Otherwise, the plants in the trade should not stand in water, nor should the soil be completely dry. Yellow and brown leaves indicate improper care and an ailing plant. It is best to choose a plant that grows well, has strong green leaves and the flowers have not all opened yet. Checkalways check the plant for pest infestation.

Care for, fertilize and water sunflowers in pots

Sunflowers need sun, whether in pots or beds. They are only really happy in a spot in full sun. The light gives the plants a lot of energy, which literally explodes the growth of the sun worshipers. Therefore, the cheerful flower needs a lot of water and fertilizer. The following applies to successful care:

  • Watering: Very high water consumption; always keep soil moist; Avoid waterlogging
  • Fertilizer: During the growth phase, fertilize regularly with an organic long-term fertilizer, such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer. Incidentally, the flower does not have to be cut off after it has faded.
As a pot plant, the sunflower needs water and fertilizer

You can find more information about sunflowers in pots here.

Prepare and sow sunflowers

The strikingly striped sunflower seeds are not only excellent to eat, but can also be used to propagate plants. With annual sunflowers, you can save part of the precious harvest to have seed ready for next year. The seeds are sown in March in a large pot with a drainage hole and saucer.

Proceed as follows when sowing sunflowers:

  • Lay drainage layer of gravel or potsherds on the bottom of the pot
  • Fill the pot with potting soil or a mixture of garden soil and mature compost
  • Sow the seeds about 1 cm deep into the ground (dark germ)
  • Water the soil well
  • Keep soil always moist, water regularly and thoroughly
  • Location: Sunny to partial shade; Windowsill
  • Temperature: About 15 - 20 °C
  • Germination time: 8 - 14 days
The seedlings can be pre-grown

Always expect failures when sowing. So put more seeds in the pot than you ultimately want. If too many sunflower seeds have germinated and the pot has become too small, the seedlings are pricked out at least ten centimeters apart or placed in their own pots. Take the opportunity here and sort out weak, small plants. After pricking out, water well again and keep the soil moist. Sunflowers still need a lot of water during germination and as young plants. From a size of 30 centimeters, the water requirement of the plantlets decreases. From mid-May, the little sunshines can finallybe planted out.

Planting and caring for sunflowers in beds

Whether large varieties as background planting or small ones as bright splashes of color between other greenery: Sunflowers look wonderful in every bed. Because the sight of the sun worshipers puts you in a good mood. Proper care is required to ensure that the flowers can shine well into autumn.

Planting sunflowers: when and how?

Sunflowers are planted out in mid-May when there is no longer any danger of frost. To do this, place the plant in a planting hole twice the size of the root ball and fill it with a mixture of garden soil and compost. The planting distance should be about 50 cm. The soil is lightly pressed and then properly watered.

In the case of high-growing sunflowers, care should be taken to ensure sufficient planting distance in the bed

You can find out more about planting sunflowers, whether in beds or pots, here.

Water and fertilize sunflowers in the bed

The sunflower likes to bathe in sunlight, but unfortunately a lot of water is lost through evaporation. The plant has to absorb this again via its roots. Therefore, water sunflowers in the bed generously as soon as the top layer of soil has dried. In summer you may even have to water the can twice a day. Always water only in the morning or evening. The best way to fertilize during growth is with a primarily organic organic fertilizer. Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer is ideal for sunflowers and also strengthens soil life and is therefore less harmful to our environment than mineral fertilizers. Perennial sunflowers will no longer be fertilized from September.

Sunflowers: Sow directly into the bed

Sunflowers can also easily be sown directly into the bed. The seeds are sown two to three centimeters deep in April. Compost is mixed into the garden soil beforehand and it is kept moist from sowing. At temperatures around 15 to 20 °C, the first seedlings should appear in 14 days at the latest.

Sunflowers are easy to sow directly in the bed

Sunflower in Vase

Sunflowers also exude their summery charm in the vase. Here, however, it is important not only to stage the vase as well as possible. With the right cut and under optimal conditions, you can get the most out of the cut flower and keep it in the vase for much longermake durable.

Cutting sunflowers for the vase

Pruning is best done early in the morning on a dry day. Choose a flower that has opened slightly but not fully. Now proceed as follows to cut the selected sunflower:

  • Use clean and sharp secateurs
  • Cut flower to desired stem length
  • Remove Bottom Sheets
  • Cut the cutting surface at an angle
  • Cut the cutting surface about 2 cm deep
  • Soak cut surface in hot water for a few seconds
Cut at an angle makes the sunflowers last longer

The cut sunflower is then placed in a vase filled with fresh water in a place protected from direct sun and drafts.

Caring for sunflowers in the vase

Even when cut flowers stop growing, they still need a certain amount of care. Therefore, trim the cut surface every two days. You should even change the water in the vase every day.

You can find more about sunflowers in vases here.

The water should be lukewarm and changed daily

Harvest sunflower seeds from your own garden

After flowering, the inflorescences are left on the plant because the seeds continue to ripen there. The seeds that ripen on the plant can also be covered with a permeable fabric to keep birds away. It is harvested once the flower head has completely dried. It then hangs down and the sunflower seeds can be easily detached. Gather the bird deterrent fabric at the stem and secure. After that, the flower head is cut off and hung in a dry, airy place. The seeds fall into the fabric all by themselves and can be collected after a few days. Alternatively, you can cut off the head after flowering and let it mature and dry indoors. The seeds are then stored in a dry, cool, airy and dark place until they are sown.

The flower head can be removed to dry

Sunflowers not only look good along the way, they are also colorful eye-catchers in the vase. In this article you will find the best tips for sunflowers in a vase.

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Garden Design