How to Grow Sunflowers in Pots

Sunflowers are native to the Americas. Sunflower oil is used to make biodiesel or cooking oil, and sunflower seeds can be a delicious snack. A sunflower also creates a fresh accent that brightens up any doorway or balcony. Growing sunflowers in pots is a very easy hobby that even children can do. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Table of Contents

Choose sunflower seeds and plant pots

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Buy sunflower seeds. You can buy sunflower seeds at nurseries, gardening centers, or order them online. If you like rare varieties of sunflowers, it may be easier to order them online. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Sunflower seeds are also available at supermarkets or convenience stores, but they are meant to be eaten, not grown. Once roasted, sunflower seeds will not germinate.
If you have a fully grown sunflower available, you can store sunflower seeds in an airtight jar and refrigerate. Try to sow the seeds as soon as possible, as older seeds can be harder to germinate.
It’s best to choose a dwarf sunflower variety, as larger varieties only do well when planted in the ground.

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Choose sunflower varieties. A package of sunflower seeds (or a listing on the website) will state the name of the sunflower variety and type, as well as the maximum size of the plant. If you buy seeds from a nursery or gardening center, you can also ask the staff there to help you pick them. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Single-stemmed sunflower varieties will produce one flower from one seed. If you want flowers to bloom all summer, you’ll have to replant every 10-14 days. In return, single-flowered varieties of sunflower have less pollen, so the pollen is less likely to fall on your patio, furniture, and clothing.
Branched sunflower varieties produce more flowers throughout the season, and you won’t have to replant. This sunflower also has some strange colors like wine red and chocolate color.

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Choose the right planter. Choose a pot size based on the height of the variety and the number of plants you want to grow in each pot. In general, most dwarf sunflower varieties can be grown in pots of 30-40 cm. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Mammoth sunflower varieties need pots with a minimum capacity of 20 liters.
If you are using a previously used container for something else, be sure to wash and disinfect it. You may need to drill holes for drainage in the bottom. Seeds can rot if the pot does not have drainage holes.
Be sure to place a dish in the bottom of the pot to catch the water that runs out.

Pour potting soil and organic compost into the pot. Choose a nutrient-rich topsoil or potting soil for sunflowers. Organic compost will also provide a source of nutrients for the plants. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Good quality topsoil will have a pH between 5.5 and 7.5 and have an organic content of more than 3%. These numbers are indicated on the packaging. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
If you’ve used high-quality topsoil, you won’t need to add drainage material such as sand or rocks to the bottom of the pot, as doing so will actually hinder water flow and may prevent the pot from draining well. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Planting sunflowers

Press each seed into the soil to a depth of about 2.5 cm. If you plant many seeds in one pot, you need to sow the seeds 10 -13 cm apart. You can spread a thin layer of compost on top of the soil after sowing the seeds. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

By leaving space within 10-13 cm around each seed. Do not plant the seeds too close to the pot.

Water the seeds daily. Sunflowers need more water than most other plants while growing. Make sure the soil is always moist and well-drained. Water the plant every week at least 8 liters during seed germination. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Sunflowers that are not watered enough in the early stages will have thin, weak stems and will not be able to hold the heavy flowers upright.
The soil is well drained if the water flows relatively quickly. Stagnant or stagnant water in the pot is a sign that the pot has a drainage problem. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Monitor seed germination. Within 1 week to 10 days, sunflower seeds will begin to germinate and grow into seedlings. During this time, continue to water daily and make sure the soil stays moist, especially around the seeds. ^{[11] X Research Source}

If you plant sunflowers outside, you can place a basket over the seedlings or fence them with nets to protect them from birds.

Taking care of sunflowers

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Add fertilizer to the plant, if desired. Although sunflower plants don’t need extra fertilizer to grow, fertilizer can help keep flowers fresh and vibrant. Start with a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer, then switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer as the plants begin to bud. ^{[12] X Research Source}

You can also mix diluted fertilizer into the water to water your plants. Be careful not to over-fertilize as the stem can break. ^{[13] X Research Source}

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Leave sunflowers in direct sunlight. As the seedlings grow, they will need as much sun as possible so that the stems are strong and able to support the large flowers. At maturity, sunflower plants need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Sunflowers move with the sun. If not placed in direct sunlight, they will bend towards the sun and damage the stem.

Water the plant several times a week. Sunflowers need to be watered more often than other plants. You should check the soil about every 1-2 days – the soil should always be moist. Normally, you need to water sunflower plants 8 liters of water per week. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Sunflowers grown outdoors up to 30-60 cm tall may only need rainwater, ^{[16] X Research source} but you may need extra watering on hot, dry days.
When the plant blooms, water around the roots to a range of 8-10 cm. ^{[17] X Research Source}
Keep a spray bottle ready to spray flowers regularly.

Attach stakes to the tree if necessary. Some dwarf sunflower varieties may not grow as tall as a pole, but if the plants reach a height of 90 cm or more, they may need to lean on something to keep the flowers from drooping. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Don’t stick stakes right inside the planter. When the plant is fully grown, it can overturn the pot. You should tie the stake to a wall, drain or something.

Harvest sunflower seeds. If the sunflower variety you are growing has edible seeds, let the flowers die on the plant. Sunflower seeds will ripen and dry out. If growing sunflowers outdoors, you should use a paper bag or net to shield the birds from eating all the seeds. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Usually, sunflower seeds that are black or gray with white stripes are edible seeds.
If the back of the flower turns brown, the seed is usually harvestable. ^{[20] X Research Source}
Once the sunflower seeds are dry, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 months. You can also freeze the seeds if you need to store them longer.
Sunflower buds are also edible. Blanch first to remove bitterness, then steam or boil for 3 minutes. Flower buds dipped in garlic butter are also delicious.

Advice

There are many non-profit organizations such as the Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org) that sell rare varieties of sunflowers. ^{[21] X Research Source}
Although most people prefer to eat roasted sunflower seeds, you can also eat them raw. Sunflower seeds are rich in B vitamins and vitamin E, in addition to being a source of protein. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Warning

Sunflowers don’t like to be replanted, so you should choose a pot big enough for the plant to grow to its full size. ^{[23] X Research Sources}
Not all sunflower seeds have edible seeds. If you are going to harvest sunflower seeds for a snack, make sure the variety you grow has edible seeds. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Steps

Choose sunflower seeds and plant pots

Planting sunflowers

Taking care of sunflowers

Advice

Warning

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