How to Grow a Dwarf Sunflower

Dwarf sunflowers work as cut plants.

Sunflowers are tall, bright additions to the garden. However, if you don't have space or you want to grow them as container plants, you should opt for dwarf varieties. These grow from 1 to 4 feet high, depending on the variety, and come in different colors, including white, yellow and purple. Like the full-size variety, they are easy to grow and thrive in almost any growing conditions. Dwarf sunflowers have a shorter growing period, so plant them in June or very early July for a fall harvest.

Things You'll Need

• Rototiller
• Compost or well-rotted manure
• Hoe
• Paper bag

Instructions

1. Prepare the soil for planting by removing large stones or sticks and tilling it so the soil is loose. Amend the soil compost or well-rotted manure for nutrients, and sand to increase drainage. Ideal soil feels like a wrung-out sponge when squeezed.

2. Build a 4-inch-high furrow for the sunflowers seeds. Plant the seeds 1/2 inch deep and 6 inches apart.

3. Thin the seedlings by plucking out the less vibrant ones so that the sunflower plants are 2 feet apart.

4. Water the plants regularly to keep them from drying out. Avoid watering the leaves because this stresses the plants. Watering amounts vary depending on weather and soil conditions. Try 1 inch of water a week and increase if necessary.

5. Fill the furrow around the sunflowers with soil as the sunflowers grow to encourage deeper root growth.

6. Pull weeds as soon as you see them. This is particularly important when the sunflowers are less than five weeks old. Pull the weeds regularly by hand to make the weeding process easier.

7. Harvest the seed heads when they start to hang from the weight of the seeds. Watch the back of the sunflower head for color changes. When it is a greenish-yellow the sunflower is maturing. Cut the head off, leaving 1 foot of stem, and hang it upside down to dry. Cover with a paper bag to protect the seeds.

References

• Washington State University: Sunflowers
• The University of Texas Medical Branch: Dwarf Sunflowers

Resources

• The University of Minnesota Extension: Sunflowers
• WSU Whatcom County Extension: Sunflowers, Part II: More About Common and Not-So-Common Sunflowers
• The University of Missouri Extension: Sunflower: An American Native
• North Carolina State University Extension: Ornamental Sunflower Varieties Tested in 2001