A sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is one of the most rewarding flowering plants in the summer garden. If the conditions are right, the sunflower grows amazingly fast and reaches a considerable size with this growth.
In a nutshell
- common sunflower belongs to annual flowering plants
- produce one or two flowers each year
- Growth is primarily influenced by certain site factors and maintenance
- preferably sunny, warm location
- Watering and fertilizing is also extremely important
sun lover
The name already suggests it: Helianthus annuus, the common sunflower, is an absolute sun lover. She feels at home even in the strongest midday sun in summer. Sun is essential for them and has a significant influence on their growth. Overall, the following factors in particular play a role in their growth:
- sunny location
- adequate water supply
- adequate nutrient supply (fertilization)
The sowing date is also important for the formation of the flower. In open ground, sunflower seeds can be sown in open ground in April-May. It is important that no more frost is to be feared. The earlier you sow, the earlier Helianthus annuus will bloom.
Sunflower growth
If the above conditions are met, sunflowers will grow extremely quickly. The plant only needs about three months until it is in full bloom. Depending on the sowing date, this will be between the months of July and October. In this short time, the plants usually reach a considerable height of one to two meters. Sometimes it also happens that individual sunflowers up to three meters can grow big. However, as fast as they grow, they also die off after flowering. Usually only the hairy stalk and the leaves remain, which are best disposed of in the compost of the annual plant.
Good care
Proper care of the sunflower is of great importance for its growth. The most important thing is the adequate supply of water and nutrients. In concrete terms this means:
- In summer, it is best to water the plant well in the root area early in the morning or late in the evening
- make sure that the area around the roots is always moist
- However, waterlogging must be avoided when watering
- ideally use a fertilizer made for flowering plants
- fertilize at least once a month
Tip: It is best to pour fertilizer as liquid fertilizer into the irrigation water.
You should also make sure that the plant does not bend, as this could counteract the growth of the sunflower. It may be necessary to provide them with a climbing aid, on which they can then continue to grow.
frequently asked Questions
Can you grow sunflowers indoors?Yes, this is possible and is even often done. The advantage of this: If the young plants are then allowed to go outside, they already have a certain strength and then continue to grow faster. But beware: transplanting outdoors should only be done when frost is no longer to be expected.
Is a support for the sunflower absolutely necessary?No, sunflowers usually do well without supports. However, it may be the case that the flower is so large that the plant would buckle under its weight. Then a certain amount of help with a wooden support is helpful.
Can you just leave the falling seed lying around?Yes, of course you can. Birds and other animals will be happy about it. However, one should not expect that new sunflowers will automatically grow from the seeds in the coming year. Ice and frost in winter usually prevent this. The seeds usually do not survive the cold season outdoors. It is always better to collect them, dry them and keep them warm in a paper bag until the next sowing.