Sunflowers bring instant joy to the garden with their big, bold faces that kids especially adore. They’re easy to grow and come in all shapes and sizes, from towering giants to compact varieties perfect for pots, and even colourful reds and oranges.
To get them started, prepare the soil with compost. Kids will love watching them sprout and stretch skyward. Sunflowers are quick to reward and make wonderful cut flowers too. Pick up a packet of seed next time you’re in the garden centre and get planting!
How to Plant
- Prepare the soil: Enrich your soil with organic compost or soil improver to give young seedlings the best possible start.
- Sow the seeds: Plant seeds directly where you’d like them to grow, about 2–3cm deep, spaced according to the packet instructions (usually 20–40cm apart depending on variety).
- Mulch well: Cover the soil with a layer of sugar cane mulch or similar organic mulch to hold in moisture, keep weeds down, and create the perfect environment for germination.
- Watering: Keep soil moist (but not waterlogged) until seeds sprout. Sunflowers love regular watering, especially as they start to stretch skyward.
Growing On
Within a week or two, seedlings will poke through the soil. This is a pure moment of magic for kids. From there, sunflowers grow quickly and strongly, reaching for the sky each day. They thrive in full sun (at least 6–8 hours daily), and love a sheltered spot away from strong winds.
Benefits Beyond Beauty
- Pollinator magnet: Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects adore sunflowers, making them fantastic companions for veggie gardens.
- Cut flowers: Their long, sturdy stems make sunflowers excellent for vases. Bringing them indoors adds a burst of cheer to any room.
- Seeds for wildlife (and kids!): As flowers mature, they set seeds that birds love or you can harvest them to roast for a homegrown snack.
To read more tips from Phil head to his website! Grow Your Food – with Phil Dudman
