Growing Sunflowers
Sunflowers are easy, fast, and well suited to Alabama summers.
They work as:
- Pollinator plants
- Cut flowers
- Bird-food plants
- Garden screens
- Children’s garden projects
Full Sun
Sunflowers need plenty of direct light.
Aim for at least:
- 6–8 hours of sun
Direct Sow
Sunflowers are easy to direct sow after frost danger has passed.
They germinate quickly in warm soil.
Tall vs. Dwarf Types
Choose based on your goal.
Tall Types
Good for:
- Back borders
- Screens
- Seed production
Branching Types
Produce multiple flowers over a longer period.
Single-Stem Types
Useful for cut flowers.
Dwarf Types
Work well in containers.
Spacing
Close spacing produces smaller flowers.
Wide spacing allows larger plants and heads.
Watering
Keep seedlings consistently moist until established.
Mature plants tolerate some drought but perform better with steady water during flowering.
Support
Very tall varieties may need staking in exposed areas.
Planting in groups can also help plants support each other.
Pollinator Value
Open-pollinated sunflowers provide excellent pollen and nectar.
Be aware that some florist hybrids are bred to be pollen-free.
Harvesting Cut Flowers
For cut flowers, harvest as petals begin opening.
Cut early in the morning and place stems in clean water.
Harvesting Seeds
Allow heads to mature and dry.
Protect from birds if you want to save seed.
GardenGrowz Tip
Plant sunflowers every few weeks in spring and early summer for a longer bloom season.