Sunflowers are the perfect starter flower for any young, budding gardener and May is the ideal time to plant those seeds. Teaching your children or grandchildren to plant and grow sunflowers is more than a lesson in gardening, it starts the journey to appreciating and understanding the natural world. So, gather your supplies and plant a few seeds each to see whose Sunflower can grow the tallest.
What do I need to start?
Simply put, you’ll need a nice sunny spot in your flower bed, a pack of Sunflower seeds and a cute little watering can so they can give their seeds a drink. Once you’ve found the ideal spot with 6-8 hours of daily sunlight, plant each seed in its own 2cm deep hole and space the holes 15cm-30cm apart. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged with consistent watering and add stakes for support once they begin to grow.
How can I explain the process of growing a Sunflower?
Visual aids are the best way to help children learn new information, whether that involves a fully choreographed expressive dance routine or something more traditional, we are here for it. How about combining the fresh Spring air and their creative flare and teach the life cycle of a Sunflower through colouring?
Our Sunflower pencil case not only includes a stunning flower garden scene filled to the brim with Sunflowers and a simple diagram showing the life cycle of a Sunflower, but every pencil arrives with your own pack of Sunflower seeds. With the included wash out pens, they can colour, learn, wash and repeat to their heart’s content whilst they experience their Sunflowers growing in real time.
The colour in & grow Sunflower pencil case was designed in collaboration with Beth’s Sunflowers, a blood cancer charity that raises funds through the sale of Sunflower seeds with a touching backstory. The sale of every Sunflower pencil case provides a £5 donation to Beth’s Sunflowers, so you’re giving back with every purchase! To learn more about Beth’s Sunflowers, head to their website.
Is there anything else I need to know?
Sunflowers seedlings are a yummy snack for slugs and snails, so using some form of barrier to protect them at this stage is important. Once your Sunflowers begin to droop, lose their petals or turn brown in late Summer/early Autumn, simply cut off the sunflower head. You can choose to leave the sunflower head out for the birds to munch on or harvest the seeds ready for next year.
