Sunflowers easily reach heights of three meters outdoors. With good care, they can sometimes even grow five meters high in a favorable location. What you need to do to optimally care for your sunflowers.

Sunflowers should even be watered several times on hot days

How often do you need to water sunflowers?

Sunflowers need to be watered every day unless it has rained. On hot summer days, the plants need water even more frequently.

When does the sunflower need fertilizer?

Because of their long roots and height, sunflowers need a lot of nutrients. Fertilize the plants at least once a week with a nitrogenous fertilizer. It is even better to provide them with new nutrients twice a week.

Suitable fertilizers are nettle manure, horn shavings,(32.93€) mature compost or cattle manure.(18.80€)

It is better to avoid artificial fertilizers if you intend to eat the kernels yourself or harvest them for pets and birds.

Do sunflowers need support stakes?

Setting support posts is particularly recommended in drafty places. The huge stalks with the heavy heads break too easily due to a strong gust of wind.

Use sturdy metal supports or tie the sunflower to several long bamboo sticks.

Can sunflowers be transplanted?

Transplanting is not recommended. Larger plants have very sprawling roots that can only be partially pulled out of the ground when digging up.

In addition, the slender stems break off very easily when you move the plant. It is therefore better to let the sunflower grow where it is.

Need to prune sunflowers?

Annual sunflowers are not cut at all during the summer unless you want to cut flowers for the vase or for drying.

You should simply leave the faded plants in the fall, as they provide food for birds and other beneficial insects.

If there is no other option, cut the stems just above the ground. Leave the roots in the ground. They decompose there, loosening the soil and enriching it with nutrients.

What diseases can occur?

  • leaf spot disease
  • powdery mildew
  • Wrong mildew
  • Various fungal diseases

You can see that the sunflower is sick by looking at the leaves. If these become discolored or stained, fungi or viruses may be to blame. Affected leaves should be removed and discarded.

What pests do you need to watch out for?

All pests that also occur elsewhere in the garden spread on sunflowers. Observe the plants carefully and collect aphids, bugs, caterpillars and other pests or use non-toxic sprays.

Can the sunflower be overwintered?

Except for the perennial sunflowers, sunflowers are annual. They have to be sown again every year. Hibernation is not possible.

tips and tricks

Sunflowers are among the most frequently portrayed flowers of all. The most famous sunflower painting in the world comes from the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. He chose the sunflower motif for a whole series of paintings.

Category:

Vegetable garden