Planting My Second Sunflower Garden

When it comes to planting sunflowers from seeds, I feel rather like a professional. This is my second sunflower garden from seed. For my first sunflower garden, in February 2013, I picked out the area that I wanted for my garden and started digging. Then in early March, I started with a few packets of Burpee Sunflower Seeds in a Burpee Starting Kit.

This year, for my second sunflower garden, I was doing things just a little bit differently. I opted to wait a little while longer to start! I waited until March 14, 2014 to get started. You see, this year we had some up and down weather and I didn't want my seedlings to face a hard freeze.

 Tilling the Garden Plot for Sunflowers by JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: March 14, 2014

The garden plot already had plenty of mulch, but had a few weeds and some errant grass that shot its roots into the soil. I had to first rake away all the mulch and then used my shovel to dig down and pull up all the grass roots.

Next, I opted to try four rows of sunflowers this year as opposed to the three rows of 2013.

Digging 4 Rows for Sunflower Seeds by JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: March 14, 2014

I probably would have used a hoe if I had one. Instead, I took my shovel and dragged it down the soil to create a row. A couple of passes got the depth a bit deeper.

In last year's sunflower garden, I used Miracle-Gro Potting Mix. This year, I opted to spend a little less and use Sta-Green Potting Mix. It was approximately three dollars less per bag for the Sta-Green product.

Getting my four rows ready for the sunflower seeds, I added a generous application of Sta-Green Potting Mix in each of the rows.

Adding Sta-Green Potting Mix to the 4 Rows by JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: March 14, 2014

If I had a second bag of potting mix, I would have added more to each of those rows. Next, came the fun part! It was time to add the sunflower seeds. For 2014, I didn't need to buy Burpee Sunflower Seeds as I had harvested my own seeds from my 2013 garden! There were quite the proliferance of sunflower seeds, even after I started The Sunflower Project. I had more than enough sunflower seeds for this garden.

Sunflower Seeds Planted in Garden by JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: March 14, 2014

Take a good look at that photo of the "blank canvas" so to speak! If you followed my sunflower garden in 2013, you got to see quite a different view of that garden plot as the sunflower plants began to grow. Check out the Sunflower Seedlings Emerging in Six Days! Follow me on my 2014 sunflower journey. Get on the blossom watch.

Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground

Ah, the moment that you realize the fruits of your labor! Sunflower plants are prospering outside in the ground. I now can say I have a Sunflower Flower Garden. I had never in my life planted sunflowers. This is my first experience and I am quite pleased with the success of the Burpee Sunflower Seeds!

Imagine some time-lapse photography as you take a look at the following photos which show the growth, over the weeks, of those Sunflower Seedlings which magically became Sunflower Plants.

Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground : Take One
Photo taken April 28, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground : Take Two
Photo taken May 5, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground : Take Three
Photo taken May 8, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground : Take Four
Photo taken May 9, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground : Take Five
Photo taken May 12, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground : Take Six
Photo taken May 15, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground : Take Seven
Photo taken May 17, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Nurturing the sunflower plants in the ground, I made sure that I watered them every day when there was new growth. After there was good growth, if we didn't get a rainy day, I'd be sure to water at least every other day to be sure the soil didn't get too dry. I also sprinkled Miracle-Gro Shake'n Feed Bloom Booster Plant Food along the three rows of sunflower plants. Oh, and in my Mexican Petunia gardens too where I have two Peter Pan Agapanthus!

As the rain washed through my Sunflower Garden, I needed more top soil. So, I added a layer of Miracle-Gro Garden Soil For Flowers and Vegetables to the rows. And, recently, I freshened up the red mulch throughout the flower garden.

The Growth Chart:

• March 2nd = 0 inches
• April 2st = 22 inches
• April 28th = 33 inches
• May 5th = 42 inches
• May 9th = 49 inches
• May 12th = 54 inches
• May 15th = 62 inches
• May 17th = 67 inches

It took approximately 2-1/2 months to hit 5 feet of growth for my sunflower plants! Of course, it was sooner than that in which I got my first sunflower bloom!

Next, I will share some very cool sunflower blooms.Oh my, but My Sunflower Blossoms are Blooming!

Planting Sunflower Seedlings in the Ground

When you are getting ready for planting your sunflower seedlings in the ground, it's important that the weather cooperates. Living in Jacksonville, Florida, our weather can be quite different from day to day. As we head towards Spring, we can still experience some frosty mornings and nights.

Once you are sure that you have no more freezing weather, you can venture on to planting your sunflower seedlings.

Planting Sunflower Seedlings in the Ground : Left Row
Right Row: Sunflower Seeds from 3 Seed Packets
Photo taken March 18, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

In one row, in my prepared garden area, I used Miracle-Gro Potting Mix and planted all the 25 cells of sunflower seedlings which I had been nurturing. In the second row, I planted the remaining seeds from the 3 seed packets.

Sunflower Seedlings Planted in the Ground by JaguarJulie
The very first look at what will surely come!
Photo taken March 27, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

Once I got my sunflower seedling planted, they looked quite vulnerable to critters with the open garden. I happened to find some decorative metal edging at Big Lots. I placed the edging around the perimeter of the garden. Not only did it look pretty cool, but the critters stayed out of that garden area with the exception of one! It was that dog-gone mole.

Oh, please take a look to the left of that picture. You can see my Mexican Petunia garden. Note how those were pruned and don't currently look like much. Stay tuned for developments!

Sunflower Seedling Emerging from the Ground : Middle Row
Top Row: 2 packets of "organic" sunflower seeds from Lowe's
Photo taken April 3, 2013 by JaguarJulie Ann Brady

In the picture above, you can see that I have little sunflower seedlings already emerging from the ground in the middle row. Those came directly from the sunflower seeds being planted in the ground. In the top row, I planted more sunflower seeds. Those were 2 packets of Organic Sunflower Seeds, Autumn Beauty, purchased at Lowe's on April 3rd for $1.88 per packet.

I counted 28 sunflower seedings in the first row and 48 in the second row. That's 76 from 3 packets of seeds. I was quite pleased with the rate of growth that I got from the Burpee sunflower seeds! Little did I know what to expect: Sunflower Plants Prospering in the Ground.

Nurturing Sunflower Seedlings for a Flower Garden

It is so exciting to grow flowers from seeds! And, it is especially exciting when you are starting seeds inside, literally right under your nose. Nurturing sunflower seeds [into little sunflower seedlings] for a flower garden can be quite fulfilling and rather invigorating. I can well imagine how farmers feel tending their newly planted crops from seeds.

If you are following along with my flower garden progress, you have read about the first step; i.e., Planting a Flower Garden From Scratch and step two, Starting Sunflower Seeds for a Flower Garden. Hey, you can't go about planting a garden half-assed, you know?

I am working with the Burpee Eco-friendly Seed Starting 25 Pellet Greenhouse Kit. Let me tell you, I would recommend that product every time! If you want to start your flower seeds from scratch, get the Burpee Seed Starting Kit! They come in bigger sizes, but for us feminine ladies, 25 works great.

Burpee Seed Starting Kit
Photo Taken: March 8, 2013

So, about one week into the daily nurturing, I wake up one morning to find a bunch of seedlings pushing up on that biodegradable germination sheet.

The less expensive seeds comprise the 2 left columns, whilst the more expensive seeds are in the 3 right columns.

Do you notice that the "cheaper" seeds are nearly 100% seedlings?

Burpee Seed Starting Kit
Photo Taken: March 9, 2013

A few days later, I am seeing the more expensive seeds have germinated!

There was only one cell that hadn't yet sprouted a sunflower seedling.

I continued to water the cells daily, being careful not to over-water.

A little tip: Place the tip of your little finger into the side of the cell to feel if it is damp.

Watering these, I used a tablespoon and sprinkled water over the tops of the cells.

Burpee Seed Starting Kit
Photo Taken: March 10, 2013

It was surely interesting is to see the difference in growth of the seedlings.

The nurturing conditions up to this point were controlled.

Once I started seeing the seedlings sort of bending over, I put the starting kit on the floor in my Florida Room near the sunlight.

I avoided direct sunlight so as not to fry the little seedlings.

Burpee Seed Starting Kit
Photo Taken: March 11, 2013

The little sunflower seedlings were well on their way.

I was still seeing better growth from the $1.09 sunflower seeds.

The Jacksonville Florida weather was still too chilly to contemplate putting these seedlings in the ground.

It was still mid-March!

The seedlings were growing at a pretty solid rate that I knew I'd need another temporary flower pot.

Sunflower Seedlings in Burpee Seed Starting Kit
Photo taken March 11, 2013 by JaguarJulie

I hope you have enjoyed my step-by-step photos using the Burpee Eco-friendly Seed Starting 25 Pellet Greenhouse Kit. I feel like a mother nurturing her young child ... stand up straight now!

Sunflower Seedlings in a Rectangular Flower Pot
These are just about ready to be planted in the ground.
Photo taken March 14, 2013 by JaguarJulie

I found a rectangular flower pot at Lowe's which would work for transplanting the sunflower seedlings until I was ready to take them outside for planting in my flower garden. I separated each fiber cell, opening up the sides, and placed it in Miracle-Gro Potting Mix in two rows in the flower pot.

Now, it was only a matter of timing to move the growing sunflower seedlings outdoors into the flower garden. That would be the next step: Planting Sunflower Seedlings in the Ground.

Starting Sunflower Seeds for a Flower Garden

Now that I had prepared the area in my backyard for the flower garden, it was time to start the seeds! On March 2nd, I stopped by my neighborhood Target store to check out their garden department. I knew that I wanted to pick up some sunflower seeds, but I hadn't thought about a seed starting kit.

I was quite surprised to see a really nice selection of seed packets. There were so many different sunflower seed packets, that I found it rather challenging to settle on just one. So, I didn't. I opted to try 3 different packages of sunflower seeds.

Burpee Sunflower Seed Packets - Photo by JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: March 2, 2013

Left to Right: Del Sol Hybrid (Pollenless) Classic Cut Flower 5-7 feet - $1.89, Summer Evening Mix Warm Colors 6-7 feet - $1.09, and Summer Cutting Garden Mix for Vases and Blooms 5-7 feet - $1.69. Each of the seed packets are from the Fordhook Collection. Of course, they all require Full Sun.

By the way, I am really amazed at the variety of Burpee Sunflower Seeds on Amazon. I believe you will be personally challenged to settle on just one sunflower seed packet.

Burpee Seed Starting Kit
Photo Taken: March 2, 2013

For me, finding the Burpee Seed Starting Kit was a real blessing! I was a complete novice with such a kit. The kit of 25 cells cost $6.99 at Target.

Since it was my first time going this route, I thought the size was perfect. You get a tray of fiber planting cells with the super-growing pellets and a biodegradable germination sheet.

There is also a watering tray, wooden plant labels and a package of organic fertilizer.

Burpee Seed Starting Kit
Photo Taken: March 2, 2013

Reading the directions helped! It was really cool how the pellets expanded to fill the fiber cells once you added water.

As I had 3 packets of seeds to work with, I decided to plant, left to right, 2 columns of $1.09, 1 column of $1.69 and 2 columns of $1.89 sunflower seeds. One packet had smaller-sized seeds, so I planted 2 seeds in each cell. The other two packets had fairly large sunflower seeds, so those got planted one per cell.

Burpee Seed Starting Kit
Photo Taken: March 2, 2013

Once I had planted the seeds, I placed the starter kit on a plastic placemat on my kitchen table.  I covered it with the biodegradable germination sheet. Next, all I had to do was check the cells each day to be sure they did not dry out and had plenty of water.

See the complete process with the seed starting kit.

By the way, I found a similar kit on Amazon, in case you want to try it: Burpee Eco-friendly Seed Starting 25 Pellet Greenhouse Kit.

Planting a flower garden, step 2 completed! Now, onto Nurturing Sunflower Seedlings for a Flower Garden.

Planting a Flower Garden From Scratch

If you are considering planting a flower garden from scratch, the first step is to identify a good patch of yard. For me, it was easy! I didn't have to go too far to identify the next area of my yard; it was right out back, outside my office window. I selected this rectangular portion of yard because the grass had issues and was pretty sparse. This past year, the weeds had pretty much invaded that section.

I had already used two large rectangular areas of my yard for Mexican Petunia gardens. Both of those patches of yard were selected as flower gardens because of grass issues. Not having an irrigation system, it was imperative to plant smart.

For quite some time, I had been telling my next door neighbor Janice that I wanted to plant sunflowers in my yard. Last year, I was too late to put in sunflowers. I was also too busy planting Mexican Petunias and Peter Pan Agapanthus. I've had so many flower garden ideas on my mind that I am happy to have a large, cooperative yard with plenty of sunlight!

In February, I set my mind to digging up that area of yard. Check the picture below! Preparing the ground for sunflowers required that I use choppers to remove many thick roots which criss-crossed this area.

Patch of Yard Prepared for Sunflower Garden by JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: February 24, 2013

Our weather forecast still called for some intermittent freezing temperatures, so I wasn't ready to put any seeds in the ground. Since it would be a while before I was willing to add the sunflowers, I opted to add mulch and brick pavers to edge the area.

Adding red mulch and Holland brick pavers to garden by JaguarJulie
Photo Taken: February 27, 2013

The garden area measures approximately 9-1/2 feet by 15-1/2 feet. I used 6 bags of red mulch, along with ten 12-inch red brick patio stones and 52 Holland brick pavers.

So, step one of planting a flower garden from scratch = done! Click that off my bucket list and on to step two: Starting Sunflower Seeds for a Flower Garden.