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Sunflowers- how do you grow yours?

Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
in Plants
Started mine off in small pots (6.5cm) and sure enough, only after having sowed them, I read an article about it being best to sow them directly because of their tap roots.

I've just transplanted a lot of them into the flower bed, the roots hadn't got too congested but it's clear to see just how the roots mainly go straight down rather than spreading through the pot. 

Got plenty of seeds left anyway, curious to see how the transplanted ones do this early in spring. Might try and sow them in the taller 9cm pots that the 'cottage garden perennials' are sold in next.
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  • jaffacakesjaffacakes Posts: 434
    I transplanted lots of sunflowers seedlings last year from pots into borders and they grew fine. I did sow some directly also which were a bit behind the ones i got a head start in pots. It was Sunflower Vanilla ice only though which is my favourite  :)
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,947
    I tried them in toilet roll tubes one year and that worked well.
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • Zoomer44Zoomer44 Posts: 3,267
    It's ok to start sunflowers off in pots. They a hardy annual and should be ok in the ground now. I planted some out a few weeks ago.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Hopefully the slugs stay away.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    I put a few pellets down as I don't have enough empty plastic bottles to butcher.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,403
    My seedlings (and sunflower adults) get so attacked by slugs that I don't think a single one would make it if I directly sowed.
  • LynLyn Posts: 22,889
    Ive just sown mine, I make paper pots, deep, then the whole lot gets planted out. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 22,889
    No root disturbance in deep pots, I don’t know if its true,but it’s what I do. Same with other plants with a tap root, Clary sage, runner beans for instance. 
    You can grow them in the grass but they need a strong support, they get very heavy, almost like a trunk and the flower heads can be 12” across. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • AuntyRachAuntyRach Posts: 5,103
    I have always sown seeds in small pots indoors, then potted-on once more before hardening off gradually and then transplanting into the final size pot outside. I think the slugs would destroy any planted directly into my garden. I always wish I had used more sturdy staking though - such as shame to loose flowers after months of care and attention. 
    My garden and I live in South Wales. 
  • FireFire Posts: 17,403
    I'm going all Lemon Queen as they have been highly recommended on the forum for areas out of full sun.
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