Sowalong: Sunflowers with Lily Middleton

This time on Sowalong, BBC GardenersWorld.com’s Content Creator Lily Middleton shares why growing sunflowers from seed, on a balcony in West London, brings her so much joy. Injecting brightness into an urban environment, Lily initially started growing long-lasting Helianthus annuus during the first lockdown, letting their cheery, daisy heads peer over the balcony for passers-by to spot on their daily walks. 

Easy to start, this season Lily is growing sunflower ‘Red Sun’, making a change from the yellow ray florets she usually leans towards. With limited pots to fill and even less propagation space, Lily explains that while it’s often challenging deciding what to grow, sunflowers always make the cut, providing guaranteed, speedy and beautiful results. 

Listen now, for tips on seed sowing, raising seedlings, watering, feeding and how to provide support with bamboo cane stakes as they grow. Lily covers seed saving and leaving the central discs of the flowers heads out, for wildlife to feast on. Plus, why sunflowers are the ultimate plant to encourage children to catch the gardening bug early on.

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