How tall do sunflowers grow?
Sunflowers can grow up to 14 feet in height. On average, though, sunflowers usually reach between 9 to 11 feet high.
When do sunflowers bloom?
These stunning yellow flowers bloom during summer and the beginnings of autumn.
How to care for sunflowers
To keep sunflowers alive and fresh, you just need to give them a good home. Make sure to provide them with good quality potting soil and some drainage material so the plant can retain moisture. Then, you just need to make sure they gets lots of exposure to direct sunlight and that you water them at least once a day.
Now, into our garden, we go!
As you watch your sunflower grow you might like to have a look at some of our other sunflower-themed activities!
Another easy growing activity for kids is this adorable growing cress heads. You could also investigate some of the other fastest growing seeds for science projects.
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Sunflowers in Pots - Supplies:
- A Sunflower's Life Cycle Book (optional)
- Our Sunflower Activity Printable (optional - get it our shop!)
- Small planting pots or cups (with holes on the bottom)
- Kid-friendly soil
- Sunflower seeds
- Garden shovel or scoop
- Additional: wooden dowels, popsicle sticks, stakes, etc.
How to Grow Sunflowers in Pots - Directions:
STEP 1 - Get everything ready
Gather all you'll need and get the little ones ready for their gardening experience!
STEP 2 - Add soil to the pot
To start, take the pots you've chosen to grow your sunflowers in and scoop some soil into them.
STEP 2 - Plant the sunflower seed:
Make a hole right in the middle of the soil of about an inch deep with your finger.
Add one seed per cup into each hole and then cover the seed entirely with soil.
PRO TIP:
Sometimes, seeds don't grow due to health or environmental reasons. I always recommend trying to find healthy seeds in the seed bag. To avoid getting frustrated, try planting at least 3 to 6 pots.
STEP 3 - Water your sunflower:
Now, take water and pour it over your seed until the soil is wet. Let the pot drain before moving on to the next step.
STEP 4 - Find a sunny spot!
Sunflowers love everything sunny, so make sure to find a spot full of sunlight so these charming flowers can grow healthy and strong.
STEP 5 - Observe and take notes:
This is the step where patience is needed. Every day, you should check the pot for growth. Use this opportunity to talk about what happens when plants grow.
For example, you can observe and write down when the plant starts to shed the seed's cover and the sprouting process begins.
You can also discuss all the different reasons as to why certain plants may not survive. Some of these reasons are unhealthy seeds, plants getting more water than they need, locations not being best, and how some natural conditions, insects, and animals can hurt the growing plants.
To make this part more entertaining and educational, you might want to check out our set of Sunflower Life Cycle Activities from the Messy Little Monster Shop.
You might also like to read a book or two about the sunflower life cycle like this A Sunflower's Life Cycle book.
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