Sunflower Beaches Mix

Highly drought tolerant, resistant to salt spray, sea winds and dry, poor soils, this tough but graceful sunflower is particularly well-suited to coastal gardens and challenging situations where it delivers an abundance of showy flowers over an impressively long season. Throughout summer, Sunflower 'Beaches Mix' produces masses of small yellow flowers with dark centres, each flower about 7cm in diameter. Unlike other sunflowers, these bushy plants cope well with exposed sites. Plants are fast-growing, spreading by runners to anchor themselves in the ground, and their flexible stems don’t easily snap in the wind. A magnet for beneficial pollinators, it’s an excellent choice for a wildlife or butterfly garden. Its long flowering season and elongated stems make it superb for cutting. Height: 1.5m (5ft). Spread: 60cm (24in).

Sowing Information

Direct sow Sunflower seeds outdoors where they are to grow from April to May. Choose a position in full sun on well drained soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Sow seeds thinly, at a depth of 1cm (&frac;1/2”) in drills spaced 45cm (18”) apart and cover seed with its own depth of soil to exclude light. Water the ground regularly, especially during dry periods. Germination usually takes up to 21 days. When sunflower seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out to 30cm (12”) apart.

Alternatively, sow indoors in individual 7.5cm (3”) pots from March to April at a temperature of 20-25C (68-77F). Once germinated, grow sunflower plants on in cooler conditions until large enough to plant outdoors after all risk of frost has passed.