Sowing info
Sow sunflower seeds into individual pots of peat-free, multi-purpose compost in April. Sow one seed per 7.5cm pot. Push the seed 1.5cm into the compost and water in. Place undercover in a greenhouse or similar. When your plants reach about 30cm tall, plant them out into the garden after all risk of frost has passed. Plants grow quickly, so don’t be tempted to start too early.
Growing info
Sunflowers need sun. They do best in fertile soil in a sheltered spot, but will also do well in containers. However, if you want your sunflower to grow really tall, it’s best to plant it in the ground. Tall sunflowers may need staking, however you can strengthen sunflower stems by brushing your hand regularly across seedlings before they are planted out to simulate wind.