Sunflowers convey bright color to the garden . With flowers ranging from just a few inches in diameter to large than a foot across , these bloom come in marvellous variety and small dwarf plants desirable for growing in a pot on a balcony . Petal color roam from pale yellow to deep orange and ruddy . Some varieties are grown for their eatable come while others are grown as an ornamental . While sunflowers can be begin successfully when direct - seeded in the garden , originate helianthus indoors give you a jump - start on the growing time of year .
Step 1
replete item-by-item peat pots with a potting soil admixture . Make your own mix by combining 1 - part peat moss and 1 - part compost with 1 - part vermiculite .
Step 2
Sow two seed per peat toilet . Sow in the center of the sens and cover with 1/2 inch of potting soil for dwarf varieties and 1 column inch for giant variety .
Step 3
Water the stain until it is equally moist throughout . Cover in plastic wrapper and place in a warm , sunny windowpane to germinate . sprouting fill more or less 14 days .
Step 4
murder the plastic once seed germinate . keep watering to keep the soil moist but not quaggy . If both seeds germinate , remove the weaker seedling once the strong seedling has produced its second set of leaves .
Step 5
Transplant outdoors once all peril of frost has passed in your orbit . Harden off the seedlings by setting them outdoors for 2 to 4 time of day a mean solar day for 7 days before transplanting .
Step 6
Cut off the bottom of the peat crapper with a piercing knife . Plant each helianthus , pot included , so the top of the pot brim is just under the soil surface . Space giant sunflowers 3 feet apart and dwarf form 1 foot aside .
Tip
alternatively of transplant out of doors , transplant midget varieties into permanent 8 - in pots once they develop their third set of leaves . Sunflowers require well - drain dirt in full sun . Apply a phosphoric fertilizer to the sunflowers when they begin to forge buds to further expectant flush . Harvest helianthus seeds after the petals whither off and when the flower back starts to yellow .
Warning
Cover seed heads with a mesh bag if chick or squirrels are stealing the seeds . Sunflowers are not hoarfrost - hardy and a mild frost will kill or damage the plants .
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