Getting started with sunflowers

Growing sunflowers is easy

1. Find the perfect sunny spot: These bright beauties love the sun, so pick a spot that gets 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. Good drainage is a must as sunflowers hate soggy roots.

2. Planting time: Pop your seeds into moist soil that's been improved with compost and manure. Make sure to give each seed a bit of space - about 50cm apart should do it.

3. Watering routine: Keep the ground moist by watering every day until those seeds sprout, which could take about 10 days. Once your little sunflowers start growing, switch to watering 3-4 times a week, and treat them to a water-soluble fertiliser once a week.

4. Growing up: When your sunflowers hit the half-metre mark, you can ease up a bit and only water them 2-3 times a week, and fertilise every other week.

5. Keep those weeds at bay: Sunflowers love to hog the spotlight, so make sure you pull out any weeds trying to compete. A thin layer of organic mulch will help keep the weeds away and lock in moisture.

6. Supporting the giants: Depending on the variety, your sunflowers might need a little extra support as they grow tall. If you’re growing the giant varieties, a stake will likely be necessary to keep them standing tall and avoid the dreaded droop!

Grow a summer sunflower cubby

To make growing sunflowers even more exciting - why not try a sunflower cubby. 

• Choose a spot for your cubby and dig a large circle - make sure it will be big enough for your kids to fit inside.

• Leave a gap at the front of the circle for a 'doorway'.

• Plant giant sunflower seeds around the circle.

• You can also plant seeds for smaller sunflowers in between the larger ones, for more support at the base of the cubby.