How to Grow Sunflower Plants

Choose a garden spot that receives full sun. Work some compost into the growing spot with the garden spade to improve the soil, if necessary. Use the trowel to dig a 1-inch-deep trench. Fill the trench with water and allow the water to absorb into the soil.

Place the sunflower seeds about 4 inches apart into the trench. Cover the seeds with an inch of loose soil. Lightly pat down the soil to make it firm. Water the seeds lightly again to saturate the soil.

Cut a piece of window screen with the utility knife and place the screen over the area where the sunflower seeds have been planted. The window screen will prevent birds and rodents from disturbing the seeds before the plants have a chance to germinate.

Mark the planting row with a small craft stick so you know where the seeds are been planted.

Keep the soil evenly moist and watch for seedlings within one to two weeks. When the seedlings emerge, remove the window screen.

Thin the seedlings when they are 3 inches tall. Large sunflowers must be spaced about 12 inches apart. Smaller sunflowers can be spaced 6 inches apart.

Fertilize the sunflowers with an all-purpose fertilizer diluted in water every two weeks during the entire growing season.