Growing Sunflowers in Containers

Question:

Thank you,
Hardiness Zone: 7a

Joanne from Whitestone, NY

Answer:

• Almost any variety can be grown successfully in containers, as long as you meet its growing conditions and provide it with a big enough pot.
• The really tall or mammoth varieties will likely need staking to remain upright in pots.
• Plant seeds in full sun, using a light potting soil or soil-less mix. Plant the seeds to a depth of 1 inch (6 inches apart) and expect to see them germinate quickly.
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• Days to maturity will vary according to each variety.
• Seedlings of regular varieties will need to be thinned to 12 to 18 inches and given plenty of room to grow and spread out. Dwarf varieties can be packed in a little more closely together, but still need to be spaced at least 4 to 5 inches apart.
• Sunflower roots are quite large and like to spread out. Mammoth varieties grow best in half barrels or containers that are at least 6 to 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Smaller containers will keep plants from reaching their full growth potential.
• Sunflowers grown in containers need to be watered daily and even more frequently during really hot weather. Feed them a 1/2 strength water-soluble fertilizer every other week or so to support big blooms, and mulch around the tops of the containers to help conserve moisture.

If you don't have much time or don't have a green thumb try growing sunflowers. They area very easy to grow and fast growing. This one is in an old cast iron pot on my porch. They come in a large variety of colors. I purchased my seeds from eBay. I also put in some broken pieces of vintage pottery for drainage and color.

By April

Is your variety an annual or perennial? If it's an annual, just pull it up in the fall, and start fresh in the spring (or, you can leave the seed heads for the birds to eat over the winter). I've never had perennial sunflowers, but for our other perennial plants, I cut them back in the fall/early winter. If you're in a very cold area, you might want to pull the container inside, or put it in some other sheltered spot. Some people cover them with something like straw for additional protection from the cold. I've had perennials in the ground make it from year to year, but the same kind of plant in a container wouldn't make it through the winter outside. Don't be too disappointed if it doesn't survive.

If you're not sure what kind you have, take a look at this article, it has some helpful information. Best of luck!
http://www.gard  al-sunflower.htm

If it's a perennial sunflower, plant it in the ground, it will survive better. Plants in pots do not always survive, they freeze easier and get colder in cold and wind. Good luck. :)

I bought sunflowers at a nursery and they were beautiful. However, they have already died. What did I do wrong?

Sunflowers need rain to grow too. If you think they will be flooded and the seeds washed away, just move the pot to a protected area until the rains have passed.

I am going to grow sunflowers in an old wash tub. Do I need to put some holes in the bottom of tub for drainage? Does it need to have rocks in the bottom as well?

Hardiness Zone: 8b

By Shawna from Bossier City, LA

Answers:

Growing Sunflowers in Containers

Yes, drill some holes in the bottom of tub for drainage. And as for the rocks, they aren't necessary. (03/31/2010)

By MCW

Growing Sunflowers in Containers

I've never tried them in containers, but I don't see why they wouldn't do ok! They don't root very deep, so any container 10 or more inches deep should be fine! The lady in the above article was using an old washtub, with drain holes in the bottom. I think it'd be an even better idea to have something underneath the container to catch/hold the water, so it can wick up through the soil if the soil becomes dry.

If you're using a big container and don't want it to be so heavy you can't move it, use empty pop or water bottles (with lids on!) in the bottom. The dirt will filter down through/around them, so it'll still wick up moisture from your drain-pan, but the pot won't weigh a ton, like it would with rocks in the bottom! I've done this in a huge pot, and it works well so far--2 or 3 years. Good luck! (Oh! Make sure your sunflowers have stakes if they're going to be exposed to a lot of wind!) (04/01/2010)

By janiebean