Growing Sunflowers

Every year we grow sunflowers in our garden. Most of the other plants are veggies, but sunflowers are just so jubilant, towering over everything else with their huge, sunny presence that we can’t resist planting a few. There’s not a ton of skill required. First, choose your seeds. My favourite this year are from Baker Creek: Lemon Queen which boasts tall plants, lemony yellow blooms and classic, chocolate-coloured centres. Be sure to plants your seeds in the spring or early summer, right in the ground in full sun in well-drained soil. Make sure you give the seeds plenty of space to spring up. if you keep them watered and pinch off side shoots, you should end up with some beauties. I love to cut the best ones and use sunflowers in fall containers.

Cutting Sunflowers

Sunflowers are too gorgeous to relegate to outdoor spaces. The blooms can brighten your home when you use sunflowers in fall containers indoors. In USDA zones 2-11 most sunflowers open from July through August. I have some still opening now, in September. I suggest cutting the stem in the early morning, when the blooms are less likely to wilt. After making a clean cut to the stalk, place them in vases or containers filled with room-temperature water. You can support large blooms with floral sticks and wire, or choose a vessel that supports the long stems. Cut sunflowers should last a week or longer indoors.

Sunflowers in Fall Arrangements

I simply love to use sunflowers in fall containers. You can find infinite inspiration online and I saw some great ideas on this fun blog. I love a silver pitcher vase filled with whispy grasses, warm coloured roses, asters and of course some sunflowers. Queen Anne’s lace, apples and gourds would be amazing, too. A personal favourite is a tall glass vase loaded with just sunflowers. I love to use fresh flowers, but many folks enjoy drying them and including them on wreaths, or tabletops for even longer impact. Give fall decorating with sunflowers a try. They aren’t just for summer.