{"product_id":"sunflower-plant-seeds","title":"Sunflower plant – Seeds","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(11, 111, 18);\"\u003eSize: 1 packet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEssential sunflower growing equipment list\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo grow sunflowers at home in your garden, you will need:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSunflower seeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrowel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePotting mixture\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear plastic bags or propagator\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhen to plant sunflowers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSow sunflower seeds indoors in pots in April and plant out in May once all risk of frost is past. Follow this process for super summer sunflowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFill small pots with multipurpose compost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant one seed per pot, 1.5cm deep.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater the pots and cover them with clear plastic bags.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlace the pots somewhere cool and bright, such as a windowsill that doesn’t get direct sunlight.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce the seeds have germinated, remove the plastic bags. Keep the compost moist.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarden plants off for two weeks before planting outside, by placing the pots outside during the day and bringing them back inside at night.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBefore planting sunflowers outside, clear the ground of weeds, and dig in lots of compost or well-rotted farmyard manure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace the plants 45cm (18in) apart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater well after planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can also sow sunflower seeds outdoors in late May. Here’s how to do it:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear the ground of weeds and dig in plenty of compost or well-rotted farmyard manure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRake the ground to create a level surface with a fine, crumbly texture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSow seeds 1.5cm deep, 10cm apart and water well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce the seedlings have germinated, thin them out to 45cm apart.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere to grow Sunflowers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSunflowers have two essential needs – fertile soil and lots of sun. Once you’ve ticked those boxes, you can let your imagination run wild when planting sunflowers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant dwarf varieties in containers and create your own ‘Van Gogh’-style effects. If you have the space, why not plant an avenue of sunflowers along a path? Or simply plant sunflowers in blocks in your borders for maximum impact in summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing sunflowers for picking\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are growing sunflowers for picking to use in arrangements, you need bushy plants that will produce plenty of blooms. To create bushy sunflowers, pinch out the growing tips of the plants (the cluster of leaves at the top of the plant). The plants will respond by putting out lots of flower-bearing side shoots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor tall sunflowers, pinch out the tips when the plants reach 20cm (8in) tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCut back or pinch out dwarf sunflowers once they are 10-15cm (4-6in) tall, leaving just two pairs of leaves on the stem. When the plant has grown another 7-10cm (3-4in), repeat the process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to care for sunflowers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRun through the following steps to give your sunflowers the care and attention they deserve:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSupport tall sunflowers with stakes as they grow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce the flowers appear, feed sunflowers weekly with a high potassium feed (tomato feed is ideal).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater regularly during dry periods, especially the tall varieties, as it’s difficult for them to recover if they are allowed to dry out and wilt.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce the flowers have finished, leave the heads on the plants for the birds – finches and sparrows love them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn late autumn, pull up the plants and compost them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to collect sunflower seeds\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTo collect sunflower seeds, wait till the petals start to drop. You may need to cover the flowers with nets to protect them from birds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCut the flowers off with a long stem.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCover the flowerheads with paper bags and hang the flowers somewhere warm and well-ventilated for a few weeks to dry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce the flowers have finished you can leave the seed heads on the plants for the birds – finches and sparrows love them and you can also collect your own seed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStore seeds in an airtight container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’ve never grown a sunflower, now’s the time to start. And with so many beautiful varieties available, the only difficulty about growing sunflowers is choosing which one to grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFascinating facts about sunflowers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe tallest sunflower on record was grown in Germany in 2014 and reached 9.17m (30ft).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe central disc of a sunflower is made up of many individual tiny flowers. The petals around the edge of the sunflower are there to attract pollinators to the flowers in the centre.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSunflowers are heliotropic – this means they follow the sun, tracking its position so that the developing flowerbuds are always facing the sun. Fully-grown sunflowers don’t tend to follow the sun, as the flowerheads are too heavy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIf sunflowers aren’t pollinated by insects in the normal way, they can pollinate themselves. Each tiny flower in the central disc is able to curl its pollen-laden stigma around and transfer pollen to the flower’s anther, which will then develop into a seed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon pests and diseases in sunflowers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSunflower leaves turning yellow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSunflower leaves turning yellow may be caused by \u003cstrong\u003esclerotinia disease\u003c\/strong\u003e, a soil-borne fungus. Affected plants turn yellow, wilt and die. The stems often rot near the base, and white fluffy fungal growth appears at the rotting area, followed by black seed-like structures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemove and destroy any affected plants immediately. Do not put them on a compost heap, as this will contaminate the compost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo chemical controls are available.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSlugs and snails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCommon sunflower pests include slugs and snails, which will attack young sunflower seedlings, and can be identified by the slime trails that they leave, as well as the damage they do. As the plants grow taller they are less at risk of damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSow seeds in pots placed out of reach of slugs and snails.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck plants at night and remove slugs and snails by hand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCovering the soil around plants with crushed eggshells or a grit barrier.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScatter environmentally-friendly slug pellets if other methods are insufficient.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey features of sunflowers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"table-responsive\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"table table-striped table-bordered\"\u003e\n\u003ccolgroup\u003e\n\u003ccol\u003e\n\u003ccol\u003e\n\u003c\/colgroup\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFlowering season(s)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSummer, Autumn\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eFoliage season(s)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpring, Summer, Autumn\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSunlight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSoil type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSoil pH\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeutral\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSoil moisture\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMoist but well-drained\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eUltimate height\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 5.4m (18ft)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eUltimate spread\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 90cm (3ft)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eTime to ultimate height\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 months\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"DHARA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67781051580615,"sku":null,"price":425.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/6176\/5575\/files\/30-sunflower-flower-tall-sungold-30-seeds-with-100-natural-cow-original-imag3t4zpwzcxqg4-ezgif.com-optiwebp_0650fc7f-158e-4c33-bc85-ca409004fa6a.webp?v=1790657831","url":"https:\/\/www.dharaearth.store\/products\/sunflower-plant-seeds","provider":"DHARA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}