Sunflowers

Sunflowers may be associated with summer but now is the time to start planting your seeds for a fantastic display and to provide a very important source of early winter food for birds. The best sunflowers for wildlife are the varieties that produce large, single flower heads with lots of seeds in the middle.

Growing Sunflowers

They need direct sunlight, so sow each seed in a small 3� pot on a windowsill or in a sunny spot in a green house in the garden, so that they can germinate. You need to remember to keep the compost moist and water regularly because they dry out. As they grow you have to support the stalk by tying them against a stick. Re-pot them into bigger pots as they grow bigger or plant them in the garden in early May. In the garden space them out 3�/90cms apart, or plant them in big 2�/60cm diameter pots and place them on a patio or veranda, as they grow tall and also have large roots.

Water them regularly, support them by tying them to a stout cane and you will see them grow! Then you can take a photo of your giant sunflower and put it into our Gallery section on the website.

Leave the seed heads on and you will be rewarded with birds such as Goldfinches flocking to eat the seeds later in the year. Even the squirrels will be unable to resist!

Other good plants to grow for birds to eat in early winter are teasels they are loved by Goldfinches and Chaffinches.

Interesting facts about sunflowers