The Popular Flower You Should Grow From Seed And Not Buy As A Seedling

Of all the thousands of flowers in the world, one is almost universally recognizable: the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). With towering stems, bright yellow petals, and yummy seeds, sunflowers are a classic addition to any garden. If you're planning on growing sunflowers this year, you should start with seeds rather than seedlings, according to House Digest's Garden Editor and in-house Master Gardener, Tiffany Selvey.

Growing from seed can be intimidating since there's a chance that the seeds don't germinate or thrive, whereas with seedlings, some of the work has already been done for you. High-quality seedlings are guaranteed to be pretty healthy and are already on their way to maturity (which also saves time). However, there are pros and cons to both methods, and ultimately, the best choice depends on the plant's growing preferences, not yours. By understanding when to use seeds vs. seedlings, you can maximize your chances of success and work more efficiently in your garden.

Sunflowers are one of many flowers that tend to do better when you direct sow the seeds in your garden rather than buying seedlings or starting the seeds indoors. There might be some limited scenarios where buying sunflower seedlings is worthwhile, but "generally speaking, I can't think of any benefits to buying or transplanting seedlings," Selvey explained exclusively to House Digest. On the other hand, there are perks to growing sunflowers from seed.

"It may not be a big mistake, but growing sunflowers from seedlings is rarely successful," Tiffany Selvey told House Digest exclusively. "As their name implies, sunflowers are sun-lovers, and they need that bright, warm environment to grow well. It's simply not a condition that can be truly replicated indoors." Sunflowers are also quick growers that prefer not to have their roots disturbed — another reason that it's better to take the transplanting process out of the equation altogether. "When they are sown directly in the ground, they start developing sturdy stems from the moment they sprout, and there's no need to slowly acclimate them to the outdoors," Selvey said.

The other major consideration is cost and availability. Selvey pointed out that sunflower seeds are widely available at a very low cost at almost any food or gardening retailer, allowing you to plant rows of sunflowers for roughly a dollar. By contrast, sunflower seedlings are harder to find and can cost in the $6 to $9 range or so — and that's just for one individual plant. Since those seedlings are not more likely to thrive than their seed-grown counterparts, it's not worth such a pricey investment. The only scenario where Selvey said seedlings might work is if you're looking for a specialty type of sunflower, such as a dwarf variety that you can't find anywhere else.

Sunflowers aren't difficult to grow from seed. As a native plant to North America, they're not fussy about the soil type or pH and don't need frequent watering. What they do need, unsurprisingly, is lots of sunlight. Choose a spot with six to eight hours of direct sunshine per day. They also need plenty of room to stretch out — depending on the variety, sunflowers can grow several feet tall and have long tap roots. Plant each seed 6 inches apart and leave about 30 inches between each row to allow for future growth. With sunflower seeds being so affordable, you can also plant multiple seeds and thin them out later to keep the strongest individuals. Plant after the last spring frost and enjoy blooms through mid to late summer.

According to Selvey, one of the biggest challenges you'll face when growing sunflowers from seed is fending off pests. "Birds are particularly fond of sunflower seeds, as are squirrels," Tiffany Selvey told House Digest in her exclusive interview. To make sure your seeds make it to the germination stage, Selvey recommended, "Planting the seeds at the depth listed on the package and covering the area with a thin layer of straw can help protect those seeds from hungry wildlife."