Growing Sunflowers - A Favorite for Kids

The sunflower is synonymous with summertime and gardening. This big, colorful plant is fun to grow for its flower and its seeds. Growing sunflowers is a favorite activity of young gardeners who like to help mom and dad dig in the dirt.

Several varieties of sunflower seeds are available for planting. Check your local garden supply store to see which types grow best in your area. Sunflowers can grow as high as 12 feet. Dwarf varieties like Teddy Bear and Sun Spot grow just two-feet tall.

Sunflowers require full sun and should be planted after the danger of frost is past in your planting zones. Plant seeds one-inch deep and space the seeds six inches apart.

When the sunflower plants mature and their big flowers bloom, the birds will be after the seeds. If you plan to harvest and roast the seeds, you’ll need to protect your crop. Cover the seed heads with cheesecloth or a mesh bag. Old panty hose also work well for protecting the sunflower.

Using the Seed from Your Sunflowers

When the seed head begins to turn brown, it’s time to harvest your sunflower. Cut the sunflower off with a small piece of stem still attached. Hang the sunflower upside down in a dry, well-ventilated place like a porch or garage.

When the seed heads are dry, rub them gently and the seeds should fall off. Set a few seeds aside. Use these free seeds to plant next years sunflower crop. Soak the remaining seeds overnight in salt water. Drain the seeds and spread them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Roast them in an over set at 200 degrees for three hours. Stir the seeds occasionally during cooking.

Cool roasted seeds and store them in an airtight container. Take your seeds to the baseball game and brag, "I grew these myself!"

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