How to Grow Tall Sunflower From Seed (Helianthus Giganteus)

This video shows you how to grow Tall/Giant Sunflower (Helianthus Giganteus) from seed. This is a native perennial sunflower that can get up to 8' tall. Being a sunflower, it prefers full sun and enjoys moist soil. It can get aggressive via rhizomes/sucker roots. It puts out many blooms approximately 4-5" in diameter.
DETAILED ARTICLE ON TALL/GIANT SUNFLOWER:
growitbuildit....
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE:
growitbuildit....
BECOME A PATRON:
/ growitbuildit
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP:
/ gardeningwithnativeplants
JOIN OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER:
sendfox.com/gr...
PURCHASE SEEDS FOR MANY OF THE FLOWERS WE REFERENCE:
amzn.to/36IQA67 (affiliate link)
SHOP OUR RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE:
growitbuildit....
Shop our ETSY where you can buy instant digital downloads of select photos we have taken:
www.etsy.com/s...

[@HenhousetheRed]

How did helianthus giganteus do in your rocky clay soil? Did you find it aggressive?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - It has done well. I should add that my soil is actually sandy loam, but behaves like clay as it is very compacted. This year isn't the greatest for the plant. We've had extreme drought so it is only about 5' tall. In all other years it has been 7-8'+. But it is blooming now, just a bit shorter. It has not been very aggressive. It is clump forming and about 4' diameter. It grew to that size of clump by year three. As I'm writing this, the sunflowers and just starting to bloom. As far as self-seeding, I haven't had any that I know of - the birds get to them really quickly. If you want to save seed, you need to place mesh bags around the seed heads just after blooming. Side note - this year I tried splitting off a few shoots in Spring and potting them up. It has worked, and they are blooming in pots right now. I plant on rewilding them in a powerline cut this Fall/Winter.

[@HenhousetheRed]

@@growitbuildit Thanks for answering!!

[@zoza7345]

Thank you sir for showing us how to grow these, if I have them in my room and put them infront of the window will that be good for them? Oh and how much should I water these?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - I don't think you should try to grow this plant indoors. This is a perennial flower, and the roots can get 3' (1 meter) deep. You can certainly try though - I would love to hear back if you have success. It is possible to grow the regular, annual sunflowers indoors if they receive enough sunlight (6 hours per day). I would suggest buying dwarf sunflower seeds. Just make sure the pot is large, and that it has drain holes. Sunflowers don't like to sit in water, but need moist soil. Good luck!

[@mollypitcher9380]

Hi! Following the timeline of starting in February, do you expect to get flowers this same growing season? THANKS!!!

[@growitbuildit]

Hi - yes, you can get blooms if you get them in the ground early enough. I did! The plant will not be full size, but you will get some color.

[@mollypitcher9380]

@@growitbuildit thank you!!

[@KishorTwist]

I like to pre-germinate seeds on wet paper towel in a closed container to get them sprouting and then plant them either directly into soil or on starter pots. Personally, it helps get better growing rates.

[@growitbuildit]

That would work too if you stratify them!

[@grahamthomas6283]

When did you collect the seed thanks for your time 🐞🐦👍👍👍👍👍

[@growitbuildit]

Hi Graham, I actually had bought these seeds a couple years ago. But my tall sunflower just finished blooming, so perhaps in a week or two the seed heads will be ready. You just need to wait until they are brown/dry. Then just clip off the seed heads, then dry them for about a week (just to be sure) in a cool dry place. Finally, break up the seed heads and separate the seeds. Then just bag/tag them until you wish to winter sow them, or plant outside in late fall.