How to Germinate Sunflower Seeds Indoors

The sunflower both resembles the sun and follows the sun through the sky each day. Sunflowers are available in numerous varieties in a choice of plant sizes and flower colors. This hardy annual plant is native to North America and grows under both high and low temperatures. Sunflowers germinate in temperatures as low as 39 degrees Fahrenheit, but this is not recommended. Germinating sunflower seeds indoors a few weeks ahead of the last freeze gives you a jumpstart on the growing season.

Small pots or seed trays
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Fill small pots or seed trays with a top-quality potting soil. Never use pots that don’t have drainage holes. Place the pots on a large drainage tray if each doesn’t have its own tray.
- 2
  Sow one or two seeds 1 inch deep in each pot, or space the seeds 3 inches apart along a row in seed trays.
- 3
  Water as needed dampening the soil, but to not displace the sunflower seeds. Remove any water remaining in the drainage trays.
- 4
  Place the pots in a warm and sunny spot. The lowest recommended temperature range for sunflower seed germination is 46 to 50 F with the ideal growing temperatures for sunflowers are 70 to 78 F.
- 5
  Check the sunflower’s soil often and add water as needed to maintain damp, but not soaked soil to encourage germination.
- 6
  Watch for seedlings to emerge in two to three weeks.

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