Can You Grow Sunflowers In Pots
Dwarf sunflowers can be grown in 6 inch diameter containers with a soil based potting mix.
Can you grow sunflowers in pots. Yes you can grow sunflowers in pots. These beautiful native american flowers must be planted in full sun or they can topple over while trying to reach sun. Mammoth varieties should be grown in at least a 5 gallon pot. As a rough guide a dwarf sunflower can be planted in a 12 to 16 in 30 to 41 cm pot while large sunflowers require a container size of at least 5 gallons 19 l.
However they will require a larger pot. Smaller varieties will do well grown as sunflowers in planters. When seedlings are several inches tall transplant them to larger pots that are at least 12 18 inches deep while making sure that they are spread out. Gardeners with smaller spaces can choose from compact varieties such as big smile which grows 10 to 24 inches tall with 3 to 6 inch flowers and little becka which grows about 3 feet tall with 6 inch bi color red and yellow flowers.
Most smaller sunflower varieties grow well in a pot providing flowers and. But growing these beauties in your balcony container garden will attract attention from the people in your neighborhood as well as a lot of wildlife. You can grow nearly any sunflower variety in a container as long as you use a pot that s large enough to accommodate it. For sunflower varieties taller than 3 or 4 feet 1 meter or so you should support the plant with stakes as it grows.
Cultivars that grow to 2 feet meter or less should be planted in a 10 to 12 inch 25 30 cm diameter planter while those that grow 4 feet 1 m or taller require a larger 3 to 5 gallon 11 19 liter or even larger pot. Sow seeds 4 5 inches apart and 1 2 inch deep directly into pots filled with well moistened good quality potting mix. A planter full of bright yellow or orange annual sunflowers helianthus annus can brighten up a deck patio or balcony. The dwarf sunflower varieties are best for container growing unless you have a very large pot to accommodate the larger varieties.
It takes approximately 8 10 days to germinate. Although most potted sunflowers are dwarf varieties growing to less than 4 feet mammoth varieties can also be grown in containers. You should use a pot that is at least 18 inches 46 centimeters wide by 18 inches deep. Depending on the cultivar up to three sunflower plants can be planted in each 6 inch diameter container.
Generally dwarf varieties should be grown or transplanted in a 1 to 2 gallon pot. Ten foot giant sunflowers really can be grown in plant containers even in small 3 gallon nursery pots. Yes you certainly can plant a sunflower in a pot.