Aimee Stern. I have been working with scientists and engineers on explaining their research and other work to the general public for almost a decade. I've explained the science of many things and how they connect to the real lives of real people.
Sunflower seeds are best sown outdoors directly into the garden. After planting, cover them with a screen, as the birds and animals love to dig the seeds out. You can also start them in a seedbed and transfer them when they are small. If you plant sunflowers indoors, use individual peat pots. Start two to three weeks before the last frost date for your area. Plant one or two seeds per pot, thinning to one before planting outdoors. If you grow them to feed the birds, look for seedlings growing near the base of last year's crop.
Sunflowers grow best in full sun, getting 6+ hours per day. They will grow in just about any type of soil, but because they have deep roots and are heavy feeders, you may want to amend the soil before sowing.Till the soil 12-18 deep and amend it with compost, seaweed, fish emulsion, or composted manure.hen, for the largest sunflowers, when your plants are 2-3' tall, thin them to two feet apart. When plants are closer together, they compete for nutrients and don't grow as large. Keep the planting area weed-free to eliminate nutrient and moisture competition.