Planting sunflowers: instructions for growing in pots, the flowerbed & on the balcony

Different types of growth of the sunflower make it suitable for the flowerbed, balcony or as a potted plant on the table. We show you how to go about planting sunflowers.

Large sunflowers (Helianthus) swaying in the breeze at the edge of a shimmering field of golden wheat are the epitome of rural summer idyll. No wonder that many gardens are also peppered with these bright yellow flowers from June to October. However, if you thought that a large flowerbed was essential for such a splendid sunny display of flowers, you were far wrong. Low-growing varieties are excellent for planting in pots and also thrive on the balcony as well as on the windowsill.

Planting sunflowers in a pot

Smaller sunflower species are also quite at home in a pot so you can enjoy the plants even outside a garden. Choose a large and sturdy pot with a drainage hole, because sunflowers form strong, deep roots. Follow the following steps when planting sunflowers in a pot:

• Clean pot well
• Spread a drainage layer of clay shards or gravel
• Plant only one sunflower per pot
• Fill the pot with substrate
• Place the pot on a trivet
• Water well

In this dedicated article, we tell you how to care for your sunflower in a pot so that it blooms for an especially long time.

The right pot size

The size of the selected pot will significantly affect the final height of the sunflower later. The larger and deeper the pot, the larger the sunflower can grow. Even for small varieties, use pots of at least 30 to (preferably) even 40 centimetres in diameter. Larger varieties need slightly larger pots with a volume of at least 18 litres. As the plants grow mainly to face the sun, it is advisable to use a heavy clay pot which will not be easily knocked over by the wind.

In this dedicated article, we tell you how to care for your sunflower in a pot so that it blooms for an especially long time.

The right soil for sunflowers

Sunflowers grow in pretty much any garden soil. In soils that are too dry and poor in nutrients, however, the growth height and flowers will be smaller and more inconspicuous, because basically the sunflower has a high nutrient requirement. Compared to other plants, sunflowers require less nitrogen, but instead they need more potassium and phosphorus. The lack of trace nutrients, especially boron, can also quickly become a growth-limiting factor in normal potting soils. An optimal basis for good growth is compost or a compost soil such as our Plantura Organic Enriched Compost. Tested quality composts, such as those processed in our organic soil, contain numerous trace nutrients and many phosphorus compounds, quite different from conventional peat soils. In addition, compost as a recycled product is more environmentally friendly and saves about 30% CO₂ in direct comparison with peat soils.

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In the garden, it is sufficient to plant in compost, but especially in small pots, it is advisable to apply fertiliser in advance. For this purpose, use a product such as our Plantura Flower Food. This meets the needs of thes sunny plants very well. To ensure a long-term supply of nutrients, 150 grams of our fertiliser should be mixed directly into the soil when planting in containers.

Pre-growing sunflowers in a pot

You can grow sunflowers in advance both for the garden and for the pot in the pot. To do this, in late spring, sow several seeds in a pot with potting soil. Even at this stage, the drainage hole must not be missing, otherwise the seeds will quickly go mouldy. Since not all seeds will germinate, sow more seeds than will be needed later. The seeds are put into the soil about two centimetres deep because sunflowers belong to the dark germinators. Keep the soil moist at all times during this process. After about a week, but no later than two, the first seedlings should be visible. Make sure that the distance between the seedlings is about ten centimetres. Discard any weak or malformed plantlets. Even at this tender age, sunflowers need an impressive amount of water. Therefore, take meticulous care to ensure that the substrate in the pot is always moist. When the seedlings are finally large enough, they can be separated.

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Planting sunflowers in the flower bed: step-by-step

These sun-worshippers feel most comfortable in a fully sunny, warm and wind-protected spot. The soil should be moist, humus and loose, because sunflowers need a lot of nutrients and are sensitive to waterlogging. Once you have found the perfect spot in the flowerbed, plant the small sunflowers in mid-May as follows:

1. Planting hole: Twice the size of the root ball
2. Planting distance: 50 cm
3. Mix in some dug-out soil compost or our organic enriched compost
4. Put sunflowers in planting hole
5. Fill planting hole with soil mixture
6. Lightly press down the soil and water well

Heavy soil is mixed with sand to loosen it. Never simply tear faded sunflowers from the ground. If the plants become unsightly, they should be cut off just above the ground. The roots that remain in the soil will subsequently rot. This loosens the soil and releases nutrients.

Growing sunflowers on the balcony

On the balcony, larger varieties can also be grown in a container, but this must be appropriately large. Use pots with a volume of at least 18 to 20 litres. Alternatively, the plants can be placed in a flower box. Otherwise, the procedure for planting is the same as for planting in a pot as mentioned above.

If you are still looking for some inspiration, see our dedicated article in which we present the most beautiful types of sunflowers.