Sunflowers are loved for their sunny and joy-inducing blooms, guaranteed to brighten up your garden. After all, it’s in their name. But if you want a set of sunflowers decorating your garden this summer, then you need to know when to plant sunflower seeds.
If you already have some of these happy blooms in your borders, then you can learn how to propagate sunflowers from cuttings. But if you’re starting from scratch, a pack of sunflower seeds is your best bet. Alternatively, you could harvest your own sunflower seeds.
But the timing of planting is crucial as sunflowers are warmth-loving plants. And if there is something they can’t stand, it’s low temperatures. So just keep that in mind when deciding when you’re going to plant your seeds. So don't go rushing your seeds into seedling stays just yet, this is the optimal time that gardening experts recommend planting sunflower seeds.
When to plant sunflower seeds
Unlike the best time when to plant peonies, which need to be planted in autumn in order to start flowering in late spring, sunflower seeds are best to be planted in spring as they are not hardy enough to survive through winter.
‘If you're sowing your sunflower seeds into the ground, then you should plant them in late April or May,’ says Steve Chilton, garden expert at LeisureBench. ‘This is because the risk of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. Sunflowers are warm-season plants that thrive in temperatures around 20°C-25°C.’
Steve is a passionate and knowledgeable garden expert with several years of experience within the field. As the director of LeisureBench, an industry-leading garden furniture company, Steve has developed strong expertise for all things nature and plants.
But if you are planting your seeds in pots rather than the ground, you can do so a month earlier. ‘If you're sowing your sunflower seeds in pots, then you can plant them in late March or April,’ Steve adds.
From there, sunflowers don’t take long to fully mature and flower as they are one of the best flowering plants to grow in August.
Where to buy sunflower seeds
- Giant yellow sunflower seeds at Amazon
- Sunflower Seeds - Titan at Suttons
- Sunflower (Organic) Seeds - Medium Red Flower at Dobbies
FAQs
How long do sunflowers take to grow from seed?
‘Sunflowers typically grow and flower within 70 to 100 days after planting,’ says Petar Ivanov, gardening expert from Fantastic Gardeners.
Steve adds, ‘Sunflowers will flower most likely in August, and they have pretty rapid growth. The warmer the weather, generally the quicker a sunflower will grow.’
Petar Ivanov is one of the company's top-performing experts and manages over six teams of gardeners, delivering stunning landscape results and fostering a deep connection with nature through his work.
Should I put sunflower seeds in water before planting?
Soaking sunflower seeds prior to planting is not absolutely necessary.
‘It's actually advised to plant them directly in well-prepared soil and, afterwards, water them well to maintain consistent soil hydration for successful germination,’ Petar says.
However, there are times when soaking your seeds might help, Steve says.
‘If you plant your sunflower seeds out of season, then it might improve germination rates, as when you soak them, you help soften the seed coat which therefore prompts the germination process,’ he explains.
But as long as your planting soil has adequate moisture, the temperature is at least 20°C and the plant receives enough sunlight, your sunflowers should be perfectly healthy and blooming come summer.
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