Sunflower Growing Guides, Tips, and Information | Gardener's Path (2024)

Fall-blooming perennials, swamp sunflowers have narrow leaves and masses of bright yellow, two-inch flowers. The plants reach five feet or taller, ideal for native plantings and borders. They thrive in soggy soil, coastal areas, or near ponds. We share tips for sowing and growing this beautiful pollinator magnet.

Are you growing sunflowers and wondering when and how you should harvest them to enjoy your own fresh sunflower seeds? In this guide, you’ll learn all the top tips on when and how to harvest delicious, nutritious, homegrown sunflower seeds. Plus, we include instructions for roasting and recipe ideas. Read more now.

Selecting the best sunflower cultivar to grow in your garden is a labor of love. This guide introduces many of the most popular, including mammoth seed-producers, sweet dwarfs for container gardening, and mid-size favorites in a range of colors. Discover 15 of the most popular sunflower varieties to choose from now.

Is there anything more cheerful than the sight of a sunflower nodding in the gentle breeze? Not only are sunflowers beautiful, but they’re also edible. And if you think seeds are just for snacking, think again. Discover everything you need to know to grow sunflowers in your garden with this growing guide. Read more now.

Home gardeners can grow sunflowers as a cover crop that will prevent erosion, build soil, retain moisture, and suppress weeds. This atypical choice provides flowers and seed heads for the birds while building your raised bed or garden soil. This guide explains how to grow the flowers for maximum benefit and beauty.

Best uses for black oil sunflowers include native and wildlife plantings, flower gardens, and microgreens. The disease-resistant plants have striking blooms that produce seeds that appeal to songbirds and pollinators alike. Our tips make it simple to grow your own supply of birdseed for the winter. Read more now.

No garden space? No problem! You can grow dwarf and mid-size varieties of sunflowers in pots or planters. This guide includes the best container growing tips and techniques. Choose the top sunflowers, a full sun spot, and sow wisely, and soon you’ll have your own pot of golden flowers for seed or floral arrangements.

Among the best sunflower varieties to grow in the garden, some are perennial and others annual. Our guide explains how to tell the two apart using botanical names and other clues. Then, choose the type that will work best for your growing situation. Is your sunflower a perennial? With these tips, you’ll know for sure.

Why are your sunflowers drooping? Whether the flowers are facing the ground or your seedlings are slumped, you can use these tips to play detective and possibly revive them. Causes include pests, transplant shock, and seed heads forming. Learn ways to spot trouble and possible solutions with this handy guide.

When your easy-care, cheerful sunflower plants refuse to bloom, the cause could be a disease, poor location, or a sunflower variety that takes a while to flower. To get to the root of the problem, check out these possible explanations and what to do for each. Here’s how to coax your sunflowers to bloom. Read more.

There is nothing more disappointing than finding caterpillars chewing the seedlings to bits, aphids sucking on the stems, or larvae wriggling in the flower heads of the sunflowers you planted. Read more now to learn everything you need to know about common Helianthus insect pests and how to deal with them.

Sunflowers that don’t produce pollen were bred for pro florists and are now available to home gardeners. Here’s a fresh-picked roundup of popular pollenless varieties with unique blooms, available in a rainbow of colors and sizes. Some are suited for containers too. Ready to grow your own? Read more on Gardener’s Path.

For huge, double-petalled blooms on shorter plants, sweet, sunny ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers are a colorful addition to the summer garden. This easy-to-grow dwarf cultivar adds texture to borders and beds, and is a cutting garden favorite. Find top tips for growing ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers in your landscape. Read more now.

Are wildlife pests trying to make a meal from your sunflowers? Try these kind and effective tricks to protect sunflower blooms from squirrels and birds. Nets (for the flowers!) and scary Mylar are two of the best ways to preserve your flowers for yourself, and seeds for the songbird feeder. Read more now.