Is it too early to sow sunflowers?

[selfraising]

Can I sow sunflowers now or should I wait. I was planning to sow them in pots to start with to stop slug damage. Do they need to go in a propagator or would they be alright on the windowsill?

[piskieinboots]

they're pretty tough I find, in pots on the window sill has worked for me in the past - and now is fine too

[selfraising]

Great, thanks piskie, I will get sowing! Would it be better to sow one seed per pot? Sorry about the daft questions but I've not grown them before.

[piskieinboots]

no worries, questions are good

One per pot 3 inch pot, yes

[rogesse]

I have absolutely no patience - my first lot are sown, sproated, leafing up and outside hardening off already!

I would reccommend giving them an open cloche made out of a soft drink bottle to keep the slugs at bay.... and to remove it before the sunflower gets too big or you are stuck with it (done that - looks unsightly).

I love sunflowers - this year I'm trying a variety called 'Sparky' - it is supposed to have quilled petals and flower profusely.

[selfraising]

I have absolutely no patience - my first lot are sown, sproated, leafing up and outside hardening off already!

I would reccommend giving them an open cloche made out of a soft drink bottle to keep the slugs at bay.... and to remove it before the sunflower gets too big or you are stuck with it (done that - looks unsightly).

That's a good idea, will try that

I love sunflowers - this year I'm trying a variety called 'Sparky' - it is supposed to have quilled petals and flower profusely.

Sounds lovely! I'm trying pastiche, tiffany, shine, velvet queen and giant singles..hope they all germinate

[jackie j]

I sow mine at intervals so if the slugs do get them I have more coming up. They do need protecting from the slugs. Mine are saved seed from ones I grew last year and they were over 9ft tall. Also got some red ones but they dont seem to be germinating, but the packet I bought was out of date but as I only paid 30p I'm not fussed.

[Snadger]

Sunflowers are a hardy annual so you've just reminded me to sow mine!

[selfraising]

Sunflowers are a hardy annual so you've just reminded me to sow mine!

Go for it!! Are they going to be big ones?

[Two_Sheds]

Every year I find the self-sown ones (from spilled birdseed) do much, much better than the ones I sow in pots and transplant

[coreopsis]

I can't wait to plant mine.I love them,they are so big and "smiley"
Thank you Jackie

[Pumpkin Becki]

My friendly grey squirrel (affectionately know as Mr Naughty) 'plants' lots of sunflower seeds for us each year and promptly forgets where he left them! I let them grow wherever they come up, but I find the birdseed ones are quite small and short compared to ones you might buy to grow.

[windowsillqueen]

I'm so exited - spring is coming and we can start planting stuff!! This thread has given me a great idea - I have a scruffy end of the garden which happens to be a sun trap. It has a number of pet dogs buried under the soil though, and even though they are probably ten years dead, I'm too squeemish to put my veg patch on it!! So I want to sow lots of lovely tall plants like gladioli, holly hocks - and you've just reminded me about sunflowers!! Agree with the plastic bottle cloch - always works for me.

[kirsty b]

Got some red sunflowers in a tray, the ones that came with GW mag this month and some yellow ones that Steve got for our littlun to grow from Save Our Bees. They are already germinated, according to pack they will get to about 2m. Having some for the garden, and the rest are going down the plot.

[zazen999]

After reading this, I've also sown a tray of sunflowers. They are outdoors so will germinate in their own sweet time.