Sunflowers can easily reach heights of three meters outdoors. If cared for well, they can occasionally even grow to five meters high in a favorable location. What you need to do to optimally care for your sunflowers.
How do you properly care for sunflowers?
To care for sunflowers optimally, you should water them daily, use nitrogen-containing fertilizer at least weekly, set support posts in windy places and watch out for pests. Pruning is only necessary for cut flowers or in autumn.
How often do you need to water sunflowers?
You have to water sunflowers every day if it hasn't rained. On hot summer days, the plants need water even more frequently.
When does the sunflower need fertilizer?
Sunflowers need a lot of nutrients because of their long roots and height. Fertilize the plants at least once a week with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer. Better yet, provide them with new nutrients twice a week.
Suitable fertilizers are nettle manure, horn shavings (€12.00 on Amazon), mature compost or cattle dung.
It is better to avoid artificial fertilizer if you want to eat the seeds yourself or harvest them for pets and birds.
Do sunflowers need support stakes?
Setting support posts is recommended, especially in drafty areas. The huge stems with the heavy heads break too easily due to a strong gust of wind.
Use sturdy metal supports or tie the sunflower to several long bamboo sticks.
Can sunflowers be transplanted?
Transplanting is not recommended. Larger plants have very extensive roots that can only be partially removed from the ground when digging.
In addition, the slender stems break off very easily when you move the plant. It is therefore better to let the sunflower grow where it is.
Do you need to cut sunflowers?
Annual sunflowers are not cut at all during the summer unless you want to cut cut flowers for the vase or for drying.
You should simply leave the dead plants standing in the fall as they provide food for birds and other beneficial insects.
If there is no other option, cut the stems just above the ground. Leave the roots in the ground. They decompose there and thereby loosen the soil and enrich it with nutrients.
What diseases can occur?
- Leaf spot disease
- Powdery mildew
- Downy mildew
- Various fungal diseases
You can tell that the sunflower is sick by looking at the leaves. If these become discolored or stained, fungi or viruses may be responsible. You should remove and dispose of affected leaves.
What pests do you need to watch out for?
All pests that occur elsewhere in the garden are found on sunflowers. Observe the plants carefully and collect aphids, bugs, caterpillars and other pests or use non-toxic sprays.
Can the sunflower be overwintered?
Sunflowers are annual except for the perennial sunflowers. They have to be re-sown every year. Overwintering is not possible.
Tips & Tricks
Sunflowers are probably one of the most frequently portrayed flowers of all. The most famous sunflower painting in the world comes from the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. He chose the sunflower motif for a whole series of paintings.
