The Associated Press Sunflowers have changed. So civilized are they that sunflowers are now quite welcome as a cut flower indoors and yes, even on the dining room table. Simply, the colors and versatility that have been added by breeders in recent years. Italian White is one of her favorites because it bears so many flowers and over so many weeks that it's not unusual to see, on the same plant, flowers fresh for cutting and other flowers gone to seed and being enjoyed by goldfinches and chickadees. Sunflowers are easy to grow.
Most gardeners sow seeds directly in the garden, after danger of frost has past.
Starting inside is easy and takes just five weeks to raise a plant ready for transplanting. This process is called hardening off. Like other seeds started indoors, a lot of light is critical, and the best way to provide this is with a 4-foot fluorescent shop fixture set 6 inches from the top of the seed tray or germinated plants, and left on 12 to 16 hours a day. Outside in the garden, sunflowers do best in full sun and average soil. They need a fair amount of water, especially in hot, sunny spots, because a lot of moisture is lost through the abundant foliage.