Sunflower - growing advice

xyz123

Hi

Our 3 year old was given some sunflower to grow from nursery and obviously is being very inpatient. I don't know the variety, assuming it is not one of those giant sunflowers, what size pot is normally needed. Not sure how is root system of sunflower. Currently the plant is growing in a small plastic water cup. Am I better off taking bottom of cup off and then planting whole thing as one or shall I try to move it to the pot? Ta

Davesnave

You can't assume it isn't the large variety as that is the cheapest sort of seed.

It won't benefit from staying in a small cup, so bite the bullet and plant it without any restriction in a larger pot, or even better, in the garden. Protect from slugs though, or it may quickly vanish.

ljonski

in these situations a empty toilet roll could have been planted in the pot or ground without too much disturbance. i would also have put it in a greenhouse to give it a real spurt before planting it in the ground. As Dave says Sunflowers are the favourite food of slugs and snails!

DaftyDuck

I am an award-winning sunflower-grower**

I have, since that time a while back, grown sunflowers of immense stature***

Hmmm...

My secret, such as it is, is to plant in smallish pots, wait until roots poke through slightly and a potful root ball is formed, then pot them up double-size. Each time I add soil I also add fertiliser, and always copiously water from the bottom - but never leave standing in the stuff. I'd start with a ten centimetre pot, and move steadily to a bucket-sized one. Give maximum light once the plant is six inches tall, and expose it to winds for a good strong stem. Then, when I've done all that, I plant them out, alongside ones that have been poked in the ground by 'er outdoors....

But, as Dave says, the seed is important. "Ordinary" sunflowers are pretty giant, and they are the most common. You can buy super-giant seed (Russian/Mongolian are huge, but the American F1 seed is even bigger {would be wouldn'titjust} but costly). However, those supergiants often need support, and you are quite likely to get a reliably bigger plant from common tall sunflower seed from any cheap seed packet. Multi-head plants are actually far prettier, in my opinion.


**I was about six - there were only eight or nine in school bothering, and about four or five gave up by day two, so my excellence could be in some doubt!!! I did win some sweeties and a card, and my plant towered over little me :D

*** My wife, who just sticks hers in the ground and boogies off, often grows them even taller, so my excellence is further questionable.... :rotfl::rotfl:

xyz123

DaftyDuck wrote: »

I am an award-winning sunflower-grower**

I have, since that time a while back, grown sunflowers of immense stature***

Hmmm...

My secret, such as it is, is to plant in smallish pots, wait until roots poke through slightly and a potful root ball is formed, then pot them up double-size. Each time I add soil I also add fertiliser, and always copiously water from the bottom - but never leave standing in the stuff. I'd start with a ten centimetre pot, and move steadily to a bucket-sized one. Give maximum light once the plant is six inches tall, and expose it to winds for a good strong stem. Then, when I've done all that, I plant them out, alongside ones that have been poked in the ground by 'er outdoors....

But, as Dave says, the seed is important. "Ordinary" sunflowers are pretty giant, and they are the most common. You can buy super-giant seed (Russian/Mongolian are huge, but the American F1 seed is even bigger {would be wouldn'titjust} but costly). However, those supergiants often need support, and you are quite likely to get a reliably bigger plant from common tall sunflower seed from any cheap seed packet. Multi-head plants are actually far prettier, in my opinion.


**I was about six - there were only eight or nine in school bothering, and about four or five gave up by day two, so my excellence could be in some doubt!!! I did win some sweeties and a card, and my plant towered over little me :D

*** My wife, who just sticks hers in the ground and boogies off, often grows them even taller, so my excellence is further questionable.... :rotfl::rotfl:

Thanks for detailed reply . I will try that.

Am I better off keeping it in conservatory or put outside with first pot of about 10 cm. At the moment plant s quite small (has about 6 smallish leaves and is about 3 to 4 inches tall.

DaftyDuck

It may grow taller in the conservatory, but it will grow a stronger, thicker stem outside. I'd switch between the two. Def outside for rain, reasonable winds, to toughen it up. Frankly, if it didn't have to go back to school, it'd be best off planted out by now.

xyz123

DaftyDuck wrote: »

It may grow taller in the conservatory, but it will grow a stronger, thicker stem outside. I'd switch between the two. Def outside for rain, reasonable winds, to toughen it up. Frankly, if it didn't have to go back to school, it'd be best off planted out by now.

Thanks. Final question if it's OK. I saw sunflower roots go down. So am I better off selecting a narrow and deep pot? Ta

Davesnave

If it's only small, you still have time to buy some American seed and thrash the hell out of those other kids when it comes to size. These things can have a major effect on life chances, y'know!

When I was 9, I won the prize for the best hyacinth. I had to choose a book from those selected by the Head, but they were all rather easy, undemanding reads....and I told him so.

I didn't score highly for tact, but I'm convinced that one innocent action led to my inclusion in the grammar school stream for the following year.

Oh, narrow deep pot, yeah, but not massive at this stage.....