Have you always loved the appearance of giant, beautiful sunflowers? If they are one of your favorite flowers, you might want to start growing them in your garden. Are you wondering how you can grow giant sunflowers that stand taller than you?
While it may seem impossible, it is entirely possible. It takes effort, the best seeds, good soil, and plenty of sunlight to get your sunflowers to grow and thrive. If you are willing to put forth the effort, you can eventually see the fruits of your labor as your flowers begin stretching out in no time. Follow these helpful tips for growing giant sunflowers without stress.
Provide Your Flowers With Plenty of Sunlight
Sunflowers need more sunlight than most other plants. If you want them to thrive, you need to plant them in an area where the sunlight hits them for at least six hours. While six hours is the minimum amount of full sun that your sunflowers will need, it is far better to let them get even more sunlight than that. Because they rely so heavily upon the sun to thrive and grow taller, it is vital to select the perfect space in your garden area.
Before you start planting your sunflower seeds, do some research on your backyard or garden to see which areas get hit with the most sunlight. You may want to keep track of the sunlight for several days at a time to help you determine the ideal spot for growing sunflowers. If you can make sure they get plenty of sun, you can expect to see some massive flowers growing at a fast rate of speed.
Choose the Right Types of Sunflowers to Grow
Make sure you are selecting the suitable types of sunflowers when you want them to grow tall. One of the essential tips for growing giant sunflowers is having the right seeds in the soil. You may not have known that there are different sunflower varieties to choose from. When you want giant ones surrounding you in your personal space, be sure to select one of the following options.
Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan seeds are one of the best types of seeds to purchase when you want to grow giant sunflowers on your land. These gorgeous sunflowers can grow up to 18 feet tall. Can you imagine having such tall flowers on your land? While not all will grow as tall as 18 feet, you have a far better chance of growing giant sunflowers when using these seeds.
Sunzilla
Sunzilla sunflowers are giant, beautiful flowers known for their lovely appearance and incredibly tall lengths. They are not difficult to grow and typically end up reaching heights of at least 14 feet. These beautiful flowers produce delicious sunflower seeds that you can eat and share with loved ones!
American Giant
It has this name for a reason. The American Giant sunflower can grow up to 14 feet tall and a single foot wide, making them large and beautiful flowers to grow in your open area.
Their brown centers and bright yellow petals make them easy on the eyes. If you want to have the perfect addition to your garden, these sunflowers are a top choice.
Besides these three options, many other types of sunflowers can grow tall. Get more information on the various types before you decide to grow your sunflowers.
Other Sunflower Varieties to Consider
- Tall Sungold – Teddy Bear style, only gets about 6 feet tall. The Sungold is 100% Heirloom/Non-Hybrid/Non-GMO. And it is available in the Sungold dwarf size as well that will only reach about 24 inches tall.
- The Evening Sun – Should reach about 7 feet. Beautiful reddish orange color.
- Mammoth Russian Sunflower – 12 to 14 feet in height with huge flower head!
Tips for Growing Giant Sunflowers
Plants Your Seeds Away From Trees
When you want your sunflower plants to thrive, you need to make sure that you do not plant them close to trees. If you have trees on your land, put the sunflowers in a spot far from them to keep them from encountering tree roots. Unfortunately, roots from a tree can damage the sunflower roots, preventing them from growing to their fullest potential.
If you do not have trees on your land or in the area where you plan on growing your sunflowers, this is a worry that you do not need to have.
Select the Right Soil to Use
Choose high-quality soil for your sunflowers. The soil needs to contain plenty of nutrients and organic matter to encourage the healthy growth of these flowers. It is best to choose an alkaline soil that has an overall pH of at least 6.0. Search for the right soil before you get started to maximize your chances of successfully growing giant sunflowers.
Protect the Seeds From Pests
While humans are naturally attracted to the beauty of sunflowers, these gorgeous flowers attract more than just humans. Pests can get into the seeds and the flowers as they begin to grow. You want to put a stop to the pests before they can cause damage to your flowers.
If you are not sure how to keep the pests away, consider using a vegetable oil spray. The spray is safe to use on your sunflowers yet effective enough to eliminate damage caused by pests. Mix sunflower oil or vegetable oil with water and spray it around the soil to keep various insects from coming near your plants.
It is important to remove weeds and any debris, such as tree branches, before planting your sunflowers. If you plant these flowers in an area full of weeds, twigs, and more, pests will become more attracted to that area.
Add High-Quality Fertilizer to Your Soil
Another one of the most important tips for growing giant sunflowers is to use fertilizer on your soil. The fertilizer adds nitrogen to the soil that encourages healthy growth and gets the plant to grow taller and thicker.
You do not need to add fertilizer to the soil each day. It is best to add the fertilizer once every few weeks. You can water the plants after adding fertilizer to the soil to ensure it soaks into the ground instead of blowing away with the wind.
Awesome Soil Amendments
How to Improve Soil Without a Compost Pile
Time to Grow Sunflowers!
Now that you know the best tips for growing giant sunflowers, you may want to purchase your seeds and soil to get started. Before you know it, these beautiful flowers will begin blooming, standing tall in your garden for everyone to see.
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